| Tuning your drum set is one of the most important | | | | the snare drums. |
| maintenance activities as a drummer. Even before the | | | | After tuning your toms, the next step in tuning your |
| drummer starts playing or recording he has to ensure | | | | drum set is the bass drums. |
| that the drum is well tuned and ready to sound good. | | | | Start by tuning the head at first. It is advisable not to |
| A general drum kit consists of bass drum, cymbal, | | | | spend too much time tuning, as the head does not |
| snare, hi-hats and toms. | | | | have much impact on the sound of the drum. After |
| So while tuning your drum set, you can start by tuning | | | | you have spend time tuning the head, you can start |
| the snare drums. | | | | tuning the lug of the back head in the same manner as |
| Tune the top head at the very start. Turn each lug | | | | you tune the toms and snare. You should make sure |
| clockwise to increase the tension of the head and to | | | | your drum is tuned neither too high nor too low. Bass |
| increase the drum pitch. You can also, tune one lug | | | | drum sounds really depend on the style of music |
| and then tune the lug on its opposite side preferably | | | | you're playing and how much impact the drum has |
| 180 degrees away. The drums are bound to sound | | | | with the group you play with. |
| better when you do not tune these lugs in a circular | | | | When tuning your drum set, you must initially imagine |
| sequence. However, be careful not to tune it too high, | | | | the tones you want to hear, it is then important that |
| as the heads tend to break easily. | | | | you must discover how to tweak those exact tones |
| While tuning your drum set test the pitch of each lug | | | | from each drum. While tuning your drum set look |
| when finished by lightly playing about one inch away | | | | closely at your snare drum and try to decide exactly |
| from the lug with a drumstick Also, make sure while | | | | what factors most affect the tonal quality. |
| tuning your drum set that all lugs have equal pitch. At | | | | Notice the square headed screws around the top and |
| this point your drum should be tuned. | | | | bottom rims of the drum. They are known as tension |
| The next step in tuning your drum set is by tuning the | | | | rods or tension screws. They screw into the lugs, |
| toms. | | | | which are usually mounted permanently on the sides |
| You can start by tuning the bottom head of each | | | | of the shell of the drum. You may tighten or loosen |
| tom-tom. You can then use the same tuning sequence | | | | these screws with a tool called a drum key. |
| as the snare technique for tuning each lug and then its | | | | A drum key can be purchased at any music store for |
| opposite. After tuning the bottom move to the head. | | | | a dollar or two. Adjustments to the tension screws |
| The head is where the pitch is located. Thus, it is very | | | | with a drum key will affect the tension on the |
| important that you have an idea of what pitch you | | | | drumhead, which will raise or lower the pitch of the |
| want. Tune it to the pitch you want. | | | | drum. |
| After you have got the right pitch, check each lug pitch | | | | However, tuning your drum set depends more on your |
| so that it matches the others in the same manners as | | | | ear and the tone you want. |