How to Improve at Tuning Drums | Season Three, Episode 42

Рет қаралды 14,354

Күн бұрын

Learn more about the X-Click from Gruv-X here: sladl.ink/gruvX
If you really want to get better and improve your confidence when it comes to tuning, there’s absolutely only one way. You have to practice it! We’ve put together a collection of exercises based on experience level that you can go through regularly to hone your skills.
While we could have demonstrated each of these in detail, we didn’t want this to end up being a 40min video. That said, keep and eye out for walkthroughs of each available exclusively on our Patreon in the coming weeks for Acrolite members and above.
Speaking of which…
Can't get enough of Sounds Like a Drum? Want to access to our brand new cymbal series? Join us on Patreon for exclusive content and MUCH more:
sladl.ink/Patreon
Signal chain:
Mics - Focusrite Clarett 8Pre USB & OctoPre - MacPro w/Pro Tools 12.8
Recorded at 48kHz / 24bit
Focusrite Clarett 8Pre USB tinyurl.com/Clarett8Pre
Focusrite Clarett OctoPre tinyurl.com/ClarettOctoPro
Full kit: AKG C314 at drummer's perspective
Snare drum & tom tom close mics: AKG C518M
Bass drum: AKG D112
Drums:
Pearl Masters Maple Custom Extra
Cymbals:
15” Prototype Zildjian “Fat Hats”, 22” Jesse Simpson custom modified ride
Drumheads:
Snare: Evans UV1 / Snare Side 300
Main Bass Drum: Evans UV EMAD / EQ3 Coated White reso w/port
Toms: G12 coated / G1 clear
Hosted by: Cody Rahn
Production & Consulting: Ben O'Brien Smith @ Cadence Independent Media
Production Partners: AKG Microphones, Evans Drumheads, Promark Drumsticks
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Пікірлер: 62

@SoundsLikeADrum 3 жыл бұрын

We're REALLY digging this X-Click! Such a solid, distinct sound without coming off as artificial. Want to learn more and maybe pick one up? Visit their site: sladl.ink/gruvX

@leeasbury7273 3 жыл бұрын

I'm the only person I know that likes maple sticks. I love the light weight and able to use 5B for my preferred grip. I never break them either, which is the problem people tell me I'm gonna run into...nope! I use Xcel Speedsticks 5B maple natural tips. Sometimes u gotta talk to them and ask, but they're a small operation that has happily made whatever I asked for. Check em out.

@carlupthegrove262 3 жыл бұрын

Perhaps one of your best episodes yet... this is not talked about enough

@martinkent_ 3 жыл бұрын

Totally needed this! One of the most valuable lessons you guys could have dropped

@ayuu. 3 жыл бұрын

Ah, my long story: When I was first starting out, I used to tune with tunebot. Eventually, I realized that the best way is still to tune by ears and explore the sound I love by watching tons and tons of videos on KZfaq. I was always fearful that if I touch it, the sound I like will be gone forever. Back when I was using my old account, I found your channel when you're first starting out, but I didn't subscribe till you posted the ruler method. Since then, I've been using that and also the tips and tricks you've shown us. You have no idea how many times I've repeated some of your videos back then (I even wrote down the steps & read it when I was free haha). I was determined to get it. I used to spend many hours tuning one drum. But after spending countless hours meddling with tuning, I can finally tune without that huge fear. Now I can even dismantle every single part of the entire drumset and put it back and tune it decently. Something that I will never imagine if it wasn't for this channel. TLDR: I love your channel!! ❤💛💚💙💜

@addisoncarpenter5675 3 жыл бұрын

You guys are definitely the best for explaining the drums I have learnt so much from this channel

@MartinBellamyMBDrums 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this!!!! I find it's always a struggle to pick out which lug is higher or lower. This channel never disappoints 🤘

@jonashellborg8320 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for encouraging me to practise lower tunings! For snare drums, after getting tired of losing Moongels everywhere, I went for high tunings to control overtones. I associate low tunings with crazy overtones, much like you talked about. I have also blamed my lower cost drums. You reminded me, it’s just a skill i’m lacking. Time to practise lower tunings!

@rorymcclellan3740 3 жыл бұрын

If you notice my profile pic, Iv been playing guitar between 15 and 20 years, and always just dabbled with drums because my dads always played drums and had a kit set up. So when it came to tuning drums and pitch matching lugs, my ear was already developed enough to hear a small change with only a small input, just like tuning keys on a guitar. My big hurdle is just practicing drum tuning and learning what the general schools of thought are. Which your channel has been just integral for! Love this kind of content and experiments. My biggest influence at the moment now is John Bonham. I also really look up to Steve Jordan, (Cause John Mayers guitar playing brought me there) as well as Brian Downey crazey hands! And Mark Berzizickey.

@Loki_FPV666 3 жыл бұрын

After watching this video I ordered a Gruv-x and just got it. I love it. I have always been frustrated at how hard it is to get a good cross stick sound. Normally you have to hit the right spot on the rim with just the right part of your stick to get a good sound. With the Gruv-X it sounds good no matter where you hit it or which end of the drumstick you use. Way cool product, thanks for sharing it. Their shipping is really fast too I got mine in two days.

@DrGray_Drummer 3 жыл бұрын

Finally, the episode I've been waiting for

@laurdessvalentino5849 3 жыл бұрын

This might be the best tuning video on KZfaq. Thank you for posting it.

@NikkeK 3 жыл бұрын

Such a good video, thank you!

@drummercarson896 3 жыл бұрын

This is so incredible

@benjiwill 3 жыл бұрын

Great video! Thanks! 😃

@davidsuprenant893 3 жыл бұрын

For me using 2 drum keys really changed my sound.Its a huge deal to me.i started playing and tunning drums in 1964. Ya ,I'm old.! Have seen drums tunned dead to now days making them SOUND LIKE A DRUM. Back when people were using ducktape on there heads and blankets in there bass drum,My tunning wasn't cool to A lot of my friends when they sat behind the kit,but when they would see me play with a band they would rave how great my drums sounded.I always used one key until about a year ago.when I purchased 2 firefly drum keys and started using both at the say time.These keys are worth there weight in gold. With the ratcheting device you can dial a drum in to where you are real close to being where the drum needs to be without driving yourself nuts trying to figure out what lug may be a touch high or low.I use 1/4 turns in the beginning and once I'm close I drop down to maybe 1/8 of a turn.This drum key is the key for me.Thank you guys for your continued commitment to this instrument. Your the best.!

@leonardoortrom6643 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks!!! This is the video I needed 🤩

@JohnD72277 3 жыл бұрын

I've been playing drums since 1988 and never felt confident in tuning. This really helps, thanks!

@drewskis3880 Жыл бұрын

Hey guys! Cheers for the video, this is a very well presented channel and you guys do a killer job and I have had many takeaways from watching your videos. Totally agree with you on the self taught aspect, as I am finding my own my throughout my drumming journey and at nearly 40 it is teaching me many other things about myself as I learn the instrument. You said leave some feedback, so I thought I would reach out and quickly explain something that helped me understand tuning a drum head better and also help develop my ear. I spent about a year learning on a friend's kit, a yamaha oak custom 4 piece and left the tuning as it was, I recently purchased a tama starclassic walnut birch as a 6 piece, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 22 and am now totally learning that before you can tame the beast you must first be able to tune the beast! It's a lot of drums and a lot of intervals! Anyway the simple trick that helped me speaks in volumes to the bit you spoke about which was that unlike a piano or guitar, it's harder to hear if the pitch is higher or lower at the tension rods making it difficult to tune. What I found when I listened closely when tapping the heads Is that if the pitch bends up after the initial tap to met the fundamental tone at the time then the tuning is slightly low and if the pitch bends down to meet the tone than it is tuned slightly high. This helped me out hugely. Another problem I ran into was with a wide open, low tuning, the second strokes of doubles were almost not present at all due to the sustain! The learning never ends! Cheers from Australia guys, love your work!

@Brosenbrose 3 жыл бұрын

Starting at the beginning! Maybe this video should be named Episode 0? 🙃

@andrazi4050 3 жыл бұрын

Super useful! I didn't know that low tuned drums interacted with the snare more.

@zhongxina8426 3 жыл бұрын

Haven't watched the video and already dropped like.

@aaronswearingen3708 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent video as always! My "curriculum" was a lot of trial and error. And a snare drum instruction book I got whilst in band in jr. high. Then KZfaq brought lots of videos. You guys are, to date, the most comprehensive and helpful in my snare drum tuning and understanding how the two heads (on any drum) really relate to each other. I like using Rob "Beatdown" Brown's method of tuning for my toms and bass drum. It's simple and produces the sound I'm looking for. Thank you all again!! For all new drummers or those who don't feel confident in tuning, don't get discouraged!! It takes time and experience. There is always something new to learn and explore!!

@TsunamiBeefPies 3 жыл бұрын

I LOVE tuning drums. I taught myself how to do it. The only thing I was ever told early on was about the star pattern, and I've always used it. I stumbled on "reso for pitch, batter for bounce" sometime in there, and it's kind of been my thing ever since. If I had more money and more drums, I could envision myself nerding out in a big way. Also, in a callback to a much earlier episode, I use precisely 8 cotton balls in my 16x16 floor tom ever since I saw your video. Thank you for that fantastic little trick!

@danielbeach920 3 жыл бұрын

Fantastic guys! I needed that pep talk. Would be great to have an advanced follow up that gets into how to make the jump to tuning to intervals and pitch. Keep up the great work.

@remygaron8311 3 жыл бұрын

Loved it very well presented 👏👏👏🇨🇦🇨🇦

@NeverSickAtSea Жыл бұрын

Thank you for all the work you do and the brilliant input! Just FYI, if you ever decided to publish a structured guide/book/encyclopedia on drum tuning, I would definitely buy it.

@johnbmx4christ 3 жыл бұрын

2:46 make it "stick" out. 🤣 I see what you did there. I think it kinda sucks that you don't have more subscribers than you do. This is one of the best channels. Thank you so much.

@lm8404 Жыл бұрын

I’ve been using a tuner form my kit… I was pretty good at getting any single Tom tuned..(two hi, and floor Tom) But I was struggle with tuning the three so they had a nice sound when rolling down the small to big.. The tuner helped me tune so they were in key I guess. But I’m ready to go back and mess around with out the tuner again..

@homerinchinatown2 3 жыл бұрын

Despite the many years I've been playing, I've always been skittish about tuning - and I still am. I know a number of the usual tricks but it seems for me that sometimes these techniques work and sometimes they just don't. My hope is usually to get a good combination of heads that seem to cooperate with the drum and, if things work out, I leave the drum alone! It makes sense to practice tuning more, although my experimentation usually seems to lead to making things worse and then hoping I can get back to where it was! I have some 'extra' drums around, though, so I could experiment without affecting the stuff I gig with....

@ranieriscoccia9444 3 жыл бұрын

Great video! I have alaways been intrigued by drum tuning and how we can manipulate the sound through it. I might suggest a similar tutorial/practice that explains tuning drums in different environments. Maybe we can experiment in Controlled rooms, dry spaces or extremely messy and resonant corridors. During my works I noticed that the place in which is the instruments affects the most of its sound.

@leeyork9411 3 жыл бұрын

I tune mine to the bass guitar like kick drum to the top string open then the floor tom to the next string down open and then the next tom and the next tom

@johnkavaudio4695 3 жыл бұрын

While I don’t really have to do this anymore (as my tuning has improved thanks to these types of videos), if people are having a hard time working out pitch differences between lugs, what i used to do is place a roll of Gaffer tape onto the head in the centre to completely deaden the drum, and just tap and listen to which lug is higher or lower than the other. Sometimes this can be a really useful tool/technique without going crazy figuring out pitches on drums!

@patdeniston3697 3 жыл бұрын

I noticed that wood thing tight away,nice Tuning? I think im always learning and never satisfied

@marceugeni 3 жыл бұрын

Too nice

@patrickmcguire7929 2 жыл бұрын

Hey guys. Maybe I was impatient or Congas are slightly different? I know no Congueros. I definitely use the star method but more than a slight twist, sometimes 1-2 .. Still have yet to figure out how my head on Djembe (lugs not rope) got so far off. Agreed re: personal preference- the mood, situation. I seem to rediscover new "sweet spots" when tuning-everyday unlike (exact) day before & rotating drums (sometimes after tuned which again I find things) And hands (fingers after many hours can get sore so new ways of hitting like a fighter that has injury. I've been "At it" several decades & still feel I'm growing, (unfortunately I play solo) to other's Music. Thanks for ongoing tips..

@dodge4x418 2 жыл бұрын

The most difficult drums to tune I've ever owned was a set of Ludwig Standards ( yes in the early 70's) I'm guessing it was the coating on the inside of the drums.

@briandommel6179 3 жыл бұрын

So is it possible to have the same pitch around each lug but still not have the head in tune with itself? Sometimes I find there is one outlaw tension rod that affects the other ones so they all sound the same when you tap near them but one rod is either tighter or looser than the others. And the whole head sounds like crap :(

@richi1543 3 жыл бұрын

Super 👍

@jameslockhart3526 3 жыл бұрын

I find one lug often sits higher than the rest of my snare. Even when I make significant changes to the other lugs (i.e. half turn on the other 7), that lug can still be quite a bit higher. The only way I can solve this is to tune down and tune back up. Do you have ideas or solutions to this?

@simonvasey8546 3 жыл бұрын

This is hard to explain, but I think a Tunebot is a great training tool when you are learning to tune because it provides confirmation that that the difference in lug notes you're hearing is really there and not just overtones or the natural sound of the drum. Hope this makes sense 🤣

@yelltempus 3 жыл бұрын

I predate home video & computers so no pros doing educational videos. No KZfaq & no drummers with websites. The Bible was Modern Drummer Magazine. In it's early days it was much less a fanzine & much more of an educational tool. The interviews were a lot more about how a famous drummer approached what they do & what methods & gear helped them get there. The articles were essentially written versions of what you guys do. 95% of what I know about tuning & maintenance came out of Modern Drummer & hours upon hours in the basement trying the things i read.

@SoundsLikeADrum 3 жыл бұрын

Sad to see that things have changed so much but we’ve got a vision for the future. Thanks for watching and sharing your experience! -Ben

@yelltempus 3 жыл бұрын

@@SoundsLikeADrum The information doesn't change, just the medium in which it's shared. You guys do a superb job You still add to my knowledge once in a while. :0)

@tambourini 3 жыл бұрын

Still a beginner and still totally not confident about tuning. I wish I had a pro/tech here to give a personal lesson and help :( Still, I appreciate your vids.

@SoundsLikeADrum 3 жыл бұрын

We're available for one-on-one sessions! Please message via the business contact link in the "About" section of our channel.

@tambourini 3 жыл бұрын

@@SoundsLikeADrum sorry but I don't have a camera or mic on my computer :(

@SoundsLikeADrum 3 жыл бұрын

@@tambourini How about a smart phone?

@addisoncarpenter5675 3 жыл бұрын

Where could I purchase the X click, really liked the sound!

@SoundsLikeADrum 3 жыл бұрын

There's a link in the description but here's one just for you 😉 sladl.ink/gruvX

@addisoncarpenter5675 3 жыл бұрын

@@SoundsLikeADrum thank you so much!

@Havron 3 жыл бұрын

"The X-Click is mounted to the tension rods" _cries in DialTune_

@arthurazoubel5344 3 жыл бұрын

At some point of my musical life I decided to invest in a DIY drumkit. A local drum factory around here which makes things at plyshell's level, so it's 100% customized. Boy, I never ever had such difficult drums to tune. They were like really really tough to get where I wanted them to sound. I regretted buying those for years but after a time I realized they were absolutely primordial to teach me and practice tuning over and over. Now I feel almost like intuitive to tune famous branded drums or more high end stuff because they behave more or less like you would expect them to. Also, I think it's important to mention you should always practice tuning in a environment you feel comfortable to play drums at any volume level! Great video as always!!

@andrewelledge1714 3 жыл бұрын

that 2 3 clave tho

@rontripp1395 3 жыл бұрын

Am I imagining this or does it seem like it’s easier to tune an even number size drum

@SoundsLikeADrum 3 жыл бұрын

You're imagining it.

@zhongxina8426 3 жыл бұрын

Am I the only drummer that struggles on tuning the second tom? It doesn't even matter what size it is, it's always the second tom.

@SoundsLikeADrum 3 жыл бұрын

This is quite common and it tends to have a lot less to do with tuning it independently but rather figuring out where it should live intervallically between the lowest and highest toms. We've addressed this in some previous episodes regarding tuning scheme for the full kit but the key is to be intentional about it- determine the relationship you want between each of the drums.

@zhongxina8426 3 жыл бұрын

@@SoundsLikeADrum Interesting, will definitely look into it. Thanks! 😁

@jeremyschneider9531 3 жыл бұрын

Yes! I've had it 12-13, or 10-12, and the small one sounds good while the bigger one sounds "meh". By itself, I tune it up to where it sounds awesome, but on the kit...not so much. So one time I set up my double tom holder on a stand away from the kit to experiment. I didn't know if proximity to the kick, or FT, or cymbals, or the double tom holder, or what it was, but something dampens the second rack tom. Bottom line - it was physical proximity to the small drum that dries the bigger one out. Not the holder, not anything else...just being next to each other. The smaller rack tom seems to be a vampire to the resonance of the bigger one I've tried different intervals, and also head intervals as I used to always tune the bottom head just slighly (half step) higher than the batter. It's better now, but still not as good as it is with that drum off by itself.

@thetruthexperiment Жыл бұрын

Buddy rich took lots of amphetamines. It was very popular and over the counter back then. Just as many people if not a lot more people take them today. Mostly kids who don’t follow directions because they see the futility of the public school system and do not want to play along. But long before Rich was a drug addict he simply enjoyed playing and played all the time. The word PLAY is very important here. If it isn’t fun, you should probably make room for people who do have fun. Maybe you could be an accountant. Don’t play music for the chicks. Play because you love it and you won’t every have to practice.