Having a great sounding drum kit is dependent on knowing how to properly tune your drums.If you have a good drum kit, you will stand above the other drummers.Since tuning a drum set isn't an exact science, you'll need to experiment.Determine what works best with your drums and musical style by playing around with different tunings.
Step 1: You should get a drum key.
Two dollars is the price at a music store for drum keys.If you're going to play drums, it's a good idea to get one and make sure your kit is up to date.All you need is a stick and a drum key to start tuning your drums.You're ready to start when the snares are turned off.If you have a drummer friend, you can ask if they have spare keys.Use two drum keys at the same rods on the drum.You will be able to tune faster if you keep them across from each other as you move around the drum.
Step 2: In a diagonal pattern, loosen the tension rods.
Use your key to loosen tension rods.Give a rod about half a turn and then loosen the rod across from it.Then loosen the rods again.Continue until you can loosen them on your own.If you want to evenly loosen them half a turn each, just keep going around the drum until you can start freeing them by hand.Don't loosen the rods at the same time.If you loosen and tighten the rods, use a diagonal pattern.The rim will not bend.
Step 3: The old drum head and tension rods need to be removed.
The inside and edge of the drum should be wiped with a piece of fabric.To check your drum's mounting hardware, tap the inside of the drum.There is a chance of a buzz in the head.To make sure the drum head is clean, wipe it.
Step 4: The drum head should be placed on the seat.
Put the rim and tension rods back on the drum.Since the rim's shape has probably moved to fit in that spot, you might want to place it back on the drum.Keep going until all of the tension rods are tight, if you don't have a drum key yet.The tension rods and drums need to be cleaned and lubricated.To lubricate the rods, rub something on them.
Step 5: Break in the percussion instrument.
If you want to prevent your drum from going out of tune, push down in the center of the drum with your fist.Do this a number of times.Don't worry, you will not break it.You should be able to put some of your body weight on the drum.If you hear popping or glue-cracking sounds, don't be alarmed.Make sure the tension rods are still tight.You're ready to start tuning the drum once you've got the new head seated and the tension rods relatively tight.
Step 6: The tension rods need to be tightened.
Turn the drum key half a turn tighter when you start with the tension rod closest to you.The tension rod is beside it.Turn the tension rod that's directly across from the one you already turned half a turn.The tension rod you are going to tighten is to the left of the one you started on.Continue this pattern by going directly across the drum.The drum has the sound you want it to have if all of the tension rods are even.You may have to go over the tension rods several times.
Step 7: It's up to you to give it the tone you want.
When tuning the head, many drummers will hit the drumstick or finger against the body of the drum to listen for the overtone.In order to match the tone you want, you can listen to recordings.Press hard in the center if it is a new drum head.The pitch will fall.This seats the head and pitches it correctly to get the sound out of the snare.When you're done, the top head should be tighter than the bottom.
Step 8: Make sure the tension is not too high.
If you want to get away from the tension rods, go around the drum with a drumstick.Make sure the point you're hitting makes the same sound all the way around the drum by tuning the rods.Depending on the tone you're getting, loosen or tighten the rods.If you don't like some of the overtones that your drum is giving off, you can use some form of dampening.You don't want it to be a solution to poor tuning.Good tuning can be improved with the use of dampening.
Step 9: You can do the same thing to the bottom head of your drum.
It will either be the same pitch as your batter or a little different.As you bang on the plastic covering, take the time to smooth it out with a cloth or napkin.The tone will be uniform across the drum if this is done.If you want to make sure your bottom and top heads have the same pitch, try muting the top head.While you check the bottom head, try setting the top head face-down on a drum stool.
Step 10: Take care of your snares.
It's a good idea to keep the snares in good shape.They should be tightened so that they are flat on the drum.It won't touch at all because it's too tight and it will bow off of the middle.The snares should be tightened until they stop rattling.
Step 11: The drum's body should be touched.
To get a sense of the individual drum's pitch, you need to bang on the body a few times, and keep tuning until you match it.If you want the top head to be close to the pitch, tune the smallest tom first.Continue to match the top head pitch on the other drums.
Step 12: A smooth single tone is what you want.
Follow the same procedure as you would for a snare drum, smoothing out the head with a cloth and tapping around the perimeter of the drum surface to check for evenness.You can focus on the sound by using your ears.The ideal tone should fade evenly into a single note.It is possible to find a tension or pitch that is good for your drums.Continue until you find it.If you want to experiment with what sounds you get out of your kit, compare the tunes between the bottom and top heads.It's a good idea to tune both heads to the same pitch.A dropping sound can be made by tuning the bottom head to a lower pitch than the top head.If the bottom head has a higher pitch than the top head, you will get a constant tone with little resonance.
Step 13: The first thing to do is to tune the bottom.
The bottom head of the drum sustains more than any other part.If you don't take the time to pitch the bottom heads correctly, the batter heads will not sound right.It will be easier to tune the top heads if the bottom is tuning at the correct pitch.
Step 14: Consider using a lazy Susan.
If you want to turn the drum as you work, get something that rotates.Setting your drum on a spinning surface will make it easier to turn it.You can shift things around easier if you turn all the keys.You won't have to shift around on the floor with a spinning surface.A rotating table setting called a "lazy Susan" would be perfect for the job.It can take a while to tune.