ok, so i know "how" to tune drums

but im a bit confused as to how i tune the bottom head

do i tune it before/after top head?

and do i just do it the same as top head

this is for snare and toms.


thanks, Nick

It doesn't matter which one you tune first, I usually start with the top head.
You can tune it to the same as the top head, or some drummers prefer the bottom head a little higher or lower than the top head.
Once you experiment around with tuning you'll probably find out what sound you like the best.

ok thanks
just bought sum evans e-rings and my kits starting to sound so nice
without the rings they sound like tin cans xD

Dampening is always good to compliment a nice tuning
But you should know that a nice tuning job can make it sound just as good
I suggest you practice tuning a bit and see how you can get them to sound without dampeners, and only dampen as a last resort
Just my opinion

This post was edited by PSPZorZ on Jan 20 2009 07:39am

i have xD
but i have a fairly cheap drum set that doesnt really help

i tune my drums down 4 steps so i can make br00tal be@tz

but iget like fret buzz so i need to get a more br00tal drum like a warlock so i can be like the dude from slipknot and shit

i've got a silvertone wal-mart brand drumset. it's a top of the line silvertone but a silvertone nonetheless. i just tighten the top head first, putting on the botton head TO THE SAME TIGHTNESS after that.

once they're both on i tune the top head by just tapping around the edges and tightening or loosening the nuts to the tone YOU want. once you get all the nuts to be the same pitch on the top head, go to the bottom nuts. what you should try to do here is to get the nuts on the bottom to stay at the same pitch as the top nuts. do the tapping motion around the edges with your stick again.

once you get them to be the same pitch you can put them back up and refine the nuts to a sound that you like. i noticed you said you had the E-rings, which i also have enen though they're pretty much perfectly tuned, i find they cut out ALOT of vribration so your snare wont give so much buzz too. if you're also wondering about your kick, what i do personally is put the pedal side head on a little tight, get a blanket or pillow inside then throw on the head with the hole in it looser than pedal side head. gives a good THUMP.

anyway, hope that helped.