I just got my bro this drum kit, and I need some tips on tuning them. I've been playing guitar for a few years, so I have a trained ear, but for some reason I just can't tune drums. I think it's the fact that I have no patience.

I know what I'm listening for...I just don't know what sounds "right" if you can follow me.

Could anyone offer me some advice? Thanks

[oh, and I searched youtube and watched a few videos on it...but they just didn't seem to help me]

To tun your bass drum, get the batter head only finger tight and then maybe an eighth of a turn tighter or something so it doesn't just come way too loose and then do the same with the resonant head. Experiment with heaving the resonant head the same or a little tighter. You shouldn't need to put anything in your kick but if you need to dampen it, try a very thin pillow or some kind of foam hunk cut to size if you have it.

To tune your snare, tighten the batter head until it is at your desired pitch and bring the resonant head to about the same tightness. If the resoant head is looser than the batter your snare will sound a but punchier while making it tighter will make it crackier (all depending on your snare I guess).

Toms I also tune to a rough desired pitch and bring the resonant heads to the same tightness.

Remember to tighten tension rods in a star pattern to keep even tension.
Just experimenting will teach you how to tune better than anyone on here can.


Also, this is a jazz trick as far as I know but it works. If your drum is ringing like crazy and you can't control it for some reason (or want a more muffled sound), you can loosen one tension rod.

You probably want to buy new heads too if you have the stock ones on the set.

Oh yeah. If you are buying new heads anyways, an Evans Emad will help you have a sweet sounding kick if tuning is kicking your ass.

Yea...I think I definitely need new heads...this is the link to the kit I got him

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Pul...e-Drum-Set-with-Hardware?sku=445229

well i sorta agree with ZJD.

although:

To REALLY tune drums, you NEED new heads, its not a preference.

You should tune the resonant head first :by starting with all lugs finger tight, then turn all lugs a 1/4 turn listen to pitch, if you want higher, do a 1/4 turn on all lugs again, repeat.

Once you have resonant head to ABOUT where it should be, start with one lug and match the overtones to the lug across from it. Do this with all the lugs around in a star pattern. CONTINUE THIS until you hear no clashing overtones. Honestly most people could tune drums, but they are too lazy to take the time it takes. When i tune new heads, i have to go in the star pattern 4 or five times just to get the resonant head.

Once resonant head is good, put on batter head. (It should be off of drum for tuning resonant head) get all lugs on batter side finger tight, then turn every lug 1/4 of a turn and listen to pitch while muting the resonant head. Do this until the batter head is close the resonant head pitch.

Now, this is a little tricky. If the batter is a little higher than the resonant head, start with the star pattern on the lugs, but start with the lowest sounding lug, tuning the others down to it. go around the batter lugs in the star pattern 4 or five times till all lugs are the same.

Lastly repeat the same star pattern method (four or five times) with the batter head to make SURE its exactely the same as the beater head.

...The thing is, if you kindoff do this, but dont give it the time it needs, or dont get the tones exactely right, your drums wont sound good. actually drums that are real close but not on actually sound WORSE than if they were just not on at all, so either tune them right, or don't worry about it.

And you should use this method for ALL of your drums.

Alright thanks guys, I appreciate the help!