*Let me just say for the record that I DO NOT condone trollin’ of any sort ✋🏾😑 But I kinda had fun doing this one 😏 Enjoy the video!*

Greatest intro of all time.

Rob Brown: "I think tuning your toms to specific notes is kinda stupid." Terry Bozzio: * *TRIGGERED* * 😂😂

Rob, that intro just about killed me. I was laughing so hard , I missed the first 2 mins. of the video. I have a D.W. kit and I've never tuned it to the notes on the inside of the shell. I got a new Gretsch USA Custom kit last weekend. No notes on the inside of the shell, just the gray sealer. I've been tuning my drums using the finger in the middle of the head, and tightening the tension rods until the wrinkles are gone. like you show in a previous video. Works great every time. Thanks Rob for all your great videos!!!

I absolutely lost it when he hit the tom and it was a piano hahahahaha

I’m fifty years old and I’ve been playing drums most of my life. This is one of the best channels on KZfaq. I really enjoy Rob’s playing, teaching, input, and enthusiasm. Another quality video. Thank you.

"I don't care what your grandmom told you, SHE WAS WRONG! " Lol You craked me up with that one... 🤣

“Nobody cares!” - My all time favorite reason of them all!! Love it! It is absolutely the truth!! I love the dig on DW too. Having toured the factory and talked to John Good and a few of the folks who build them, the purpose of that stamp is so you know the primary pitch of the drum shell without anything added. You know when your tuning a Tom and you hit that “sweet spot” where the shell just comes alive and sings? You are near that core note and the frequencies are just working better than the rest of the range. That so called “sweet spot” and the core note of the shell are somewhat related. But that’s all there is to it. As you said; there’s a range. And it is absolutely true that nobody cares!! Lol... Keep it focused on rhythm!!

BRUH I LOST IT WHEN YOU HIT THE TOM ANDA PIANO TRIGGERD LMAO

The piano note when you struck the drum was so perfect.

He said: “Never sacrifice your snare drum for the sound of your toms.” 🤯 I’ve spent more than two weeks trying to figure out why my snare drum is buzzing every time I hit the toms. I’ve been looking everywhere until I got into this video wow. I hope this knowledge will help me to fix the issue when I get into my studio.

I love how straight to the point you are lol legend 💚

OMG THAT INTRO WAS PERFECT

It goes back to what you said in another video. "It's not the drums that sound good. It's me." 100% true! I could sit on your set and still sound like an amateur, because that's exactly what I am. And you could sit on my set and sound like a professional, because that's what you are. Great video and thank you very much...

That's a relief! Thanks for all the logic Rob

Best intro I have seen in any KZfaq video 🤣🤣🤣

I've been tuning my drums the way I learned from you for a long time, and my kit sounds badass always.. Thanks for the vid man... Hope all is groovy..

Iconic fills....anything that Neil Peart played

Your drums sound amazing

100% correct. Especially about the "Nobody Cares". Tune according to what you like to hear, and in the way that's going to get you there the fastest. i recently changed the heads on the church kit last week for service recording. Took me about 20 minutes to remove all 3 old heads, place the new heads, give them a little stretch, and tune them up to my desired pitches. 20 minutes to reskin the entire kit (minus the kick drum. That one is still sounding amazing) and my sound guy, who also happens to do sound semi-professionally and does recordings all the time, said "The drums sound amazing. I can't wait to record them". Tuning drums is not rocket science. Make sure you're getting a clear tone, and simply your 10 inch tom should be a higher pitch than your 12 and 16.

Couldn't agree more, Rob! Always love your videos.

Agree with ya brother. It just doesn’t matter. Early in my playing ‘life’, I tuned to notes for a few years. Man it takes a long time. Then realized that a drum shell has a resonant-sweet spot. THAT is where that thing will sing, regardless of note. (Which can be quite a large range). Make them sound good from one tom to the next, and in turn your kit will sound kick-ass on its own. 🇨🇦👍🏼

Thanks, Rob. You’re a seasoned musician and an amazing educator; experienced, knowledgeable and FUN to be taught with. 🎉

I always have a clear idea of what toms should sound like compared to eachother based on thousands of records and live shows that I heard and I just tune until I reach those notes.

Just love your presentations Rob. Wether or not we all totally agree they are honest, challenging and refreshing. One of the most humorous presenters ever - that's a compliment as humour adds colour to the subject matter and makes it easier to understand.

Dude, I SO ENJOYED your take on that whole thing! Not only were you SPOT ON, but very entertaining as well. I got the biggest kick out of some of your analogies. There was absolutely NOTHING for anyone to get angry about in this video, (well, maybe my Grandma, lol) Thank you for the enjoyable take on this much debated subject. I'm in your camp with this all the way! 🥁

Rob - My first introduction to you was your video, "TUNE YOUR TOMS QUICK & EASY!! - TOM TUNING 2018 WORKSHOP". More than removing my frustration as a new drummer not knowing how to to tune my kit and the science lesson a well meaning drummer friend extended, it gave me lasting confidence to tune all my drums and the ability to relate to the excellent points you make here. Great job.

Well said I had a moment of insanity I was thinking of buying a tuning toolbut I thought to myself I'm just tuning for my room not for a gig.I found your tutorials for tuning snare Tom Tom's floor Tom's and kick drums are absolutely what I needed. Thank you for the video.

always like to come and check some of your videos, common sense and experience and loads of good tips. good job Rob!

You are the best. Good comedy and learning channel.

Answered every beginner question I've ever had in two videos

So, you're telling me all the time I've spent developing the C flat infrared helical signature from my 13" rack tom was in vain? And all I really had to do was relax, have fun experimenting and use a little common sense (with a little guidance from BeatDown)? Joking aside, I did try pitch tuning many years ago and learned quickly that it was not worth the effort. What a pain in the keester for such an insignificant result. Not to mention that I had no clue what notes to even try tuning them to. Thanks for another great vid!

Simply, great! I am so relaxed now. And the intro is hilarious! All the best!

I 100% agree with you. The only thing that confuses me, is... Why does my set sound so good when they are tuned to set frequencies (220 Hz, 330 Hz) and intervals (4ths, 5ths, etc)? I totally agree with your logic, but for an ordinary person like me, tuning to tensions/pitches with a drum tuner, really does make it generally easier to get a consistent sound...

Buddy Rich once said, “You don't tune drums. You tension them.”

Mr. Brown, this is the 3rd or 4th video I've seen of yours (1st one was during Covid lockdown when you reviewed "silent" practice heads and cymbals) and your videos always have positive and relative impact on common drum/drumming issues. Thank you sir!

Mr. Rob Brown, you’re a very reasonable man and I like what you play and the sound you get. I’m glad you’re on KZfaq. Thanks!

The guys at Sounds Like A Drum would be frothing at the mouth if ever they see this video 😂. Nice explanation Rob!

Thats what I like about your videos. You dont make a rocket science out of everything when it can be done much more the simpler way with the same endproduct. Just like your drum tuning videos, nice and simple with the result the most are looking for not like other complicated videos that make you wanna just leave haha.

That piano note had me cracking up!! LOL!!

I totally agree! And really laughed out loud in several spots in this video... totally loved the tuning intro to the video! 🤣😂😅😆🤣

"i think it's pretty stupid --but i'm gonna be respectful"

I started watching and was like, WTH...? when you hit the drum, I died laughing!! I watched it a couple more times!!

This is great. I've always done it by ear, use the "crinkle" method and then dial it in from there. Always gotten compliments since I started doing it that way. I try to keep the intervals between toms appropriate but again, it's all by ear

Another superb video! Couldn’t agree more. Once I started using your tuning method I’ve never looked back

Thanks for all of your videos and hard work, rob. Hope you're healthy and safe.

Love the intro...you comedic sense of timing is also on point

You Entertain,,, AND,, Educate,,,, I cracked up at the intro to this!

Man you got it all going on. It's a pleasure watching your vids loaded with a wealth of knowledge and experience and topped off with a heavy layer of common sense.

A tune-bot is great for helping you determine the tuning for each head of your kit and saving those frequencies in the tuner so you can check and retune your drums that same way (especially in a recording studio) every time. The end game is remembering those tones so you can tune them by ear, which of course is much more efficient.

I 100% agree with your points. but you would totally rock Mary Had A Little Lamb, just saying. My first book on drums in high school. Basic for the Untuned Percussion. The only "drum" instrument that I can think of that is tuned is the timpani/kettle drum, but that makes sense because they really resonate and hold the note.

I do use a tunebot and tune to a specific resonance on each tom and a set interval. I do this to eliminate competing frequencies and minimize sympathetic snare buzz and to have systematic way to keep the interval range between Tom's consistent. It is kind of pain staking, but I like the tone I get. I completely agree that it is silly to think that it is melodic or that it has to be a set note. You are absolutely right about range within each tom and I liked the fact that you lead with the snare and work around that, not the the other way around. Love your videos.

Thanks for this relevant approach that demistify drum tuning, it really helps to turn the keys without mind complications and more than everything, it goes straight to the point. I'm sure this kind of mindset is also a huge source of freedom and happinness when playing, which certainly makes us sound better or at least feel true authentic good vibes, kind of essence of drumming. Your snare sounds so good.

This was dead on! After years of tuning experimentation early on in drumming, at some point I found drums had sweet spots and just about any kit will sound good if you find the sweet spot of the lowest tom and tune the rest of the kit to "First Call" (the trumpet call that lines up horses before a horse race.) all the drums will just sound great! I never play more than a 2 up 2 down kit, usually 1 up 2 down so, with my snares off I tune my snare to the highest tone but when playing with 2 floor and 2 rack I tune them to First Call and the bass and snare to something that just feels right! This way, as you say, you're tuning the drums not to a specific key but to themselves instead. This has worked for me for over 40 years of drumming.

Excellent info, I agree. Sounding good is what matters.

Rob is right, the sound of your drums are personal and unique to you, don't try and be some one else. Rock on Rob 🥁

I love your easy, quick and very practical method of tuning toms as it averts great frustration and needless agony hahaha love your channel man you are the best!

This is why I chose you as my go to KZfaq drum guy. You talk sense and lots of it, humour too and you are just way too cool. Great Video. 👍

Mary had a little lamb. Lol straight up broke my side on that. 🤣

awesome intro,,knocked me for a loop drummer humor

This intro is the funniest thing I’ve seen in a while.

You are 1000% right about this!Nothing else to say!Except as you said NOBODY CARES!As allways great video!Thanks, bro!

Dude....you kill me! I've been playing for a very long time and am super appreciative of the instruction. That said, I tune in as much for the belly laughs I get. Grandma was wrong.

Rob, you killed me with this video dude!😂😂..... I know nothing of notes or scales but i can tell high from low!.... served me pretty well so far!... keep it up dude, absolute gold!🙌

Great Video 👍 thanks Rob I agree 100%

Love how you do it Rob!....... You flow with what you know and pass it down to the rest of us so it stays fun and pleasing...... Thanks my brother......😄👍🏾🙏🏾👏🏾👌🏾

Being self taught, I was always intimidated about knowing how to properly tune. I have bought tunebots, torque keys, and drum dials. But once i saw Rob Brown's first tuning video, I tried it and never looked back. Next time Rob, pull out the thermometer to see if the drums are feeling well too. Lol

Great video! Tuning by ear is the best way to do things. You'll learn a lot that way. I do own a Drum Dial and a Tune Bot, but they normally sit dormant in a box. Both can be tools to help you along the way, but should be used as tools. I find it helpful most times to tune by ear, and then check tensions with a Drum Dial and use that to fine tune anything that might be off.

Hey man just wanted to say that I’ve recently started watching your videos and I really enjoy them. They’re really helpful. And you seem real you know? Keep them coming.

Rob, you made my day with that beginning 😃 great, thanks for that

Good on you Rob. I totally agree with your views here. There are literally too many variables to tune a drum kit to specific notes, without getting into specific issues. Surely thinking people do have some kind of clues on this point. Shalom.

Reason number 10 was the most important one.

I had a 32 year break from playing drums but got into playing again with the band a use to play with back then (Horse of Troja) I had forgetting most of my drumming skills so I had to start all over again. Like tuning my drums. And then I found you👍 And my life gets so much easier 🤗 So big thank you for all of your great videos. I'm very greatful to have found your videos. Have a great week 😎

#1 did it for me! just subscribed!! 63 here and could not agree more! STILL way rockin!!!

ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS !! You're the best 😂😂🤣🤣

You nailed it. 😎 You rock!

Your last reason was perfect. I used similar response when ask if I tune my toms to specific note. I was a CB keek back in the day and like using CB codes to reply to questions the were dubious at best. When ask if I tuned to exact note I would respond " that's a big 10/28 on that good buddy" which translate..." obviously you've mistaken me for someone who gives a s..t"😉🎼🎶😎

I used to obsess about tuning until I watched your 'wrinkly head/not wrinkly head' tuning vid a couple years back.You lifted a heavy weight off my shoulders back then and I never looked back or worried anymore about it.

Great Tip Man Thanks 👍

Yeah, DW puts notes value on their shells.That is the resonant frequency of the shell. But as soon as you add hardware, and heads, all bets are off. You are completely correct. Just set them where you like them.

Great points Rob. Keep up the good work.

Rob: I think you nailed it!! In my opinion, you're exactly right on all issues!

I use a tunebot for tom and snare tuning. Learned to do it by ear first, but was introduced to the bot later by a studio engineer I worked with. He was a stickler for maintaining tom and snare tuning thorough the recordings so that the drums sounded the exact same in every song. It’s something that I utilize at all times now because it is easy, consistent, and reliable.

Thanks, i like it in simplicity....you are spot on brother...

💯% agree. I’ve been tuning my drums on Rob Brown way after saw your tuning video few years ago

Said no fan ever “Hey man, those drums sound great! Did I hear E flat coming from your 12”?

Couldn’t agree more!!!

Rob, the single best reason, that sums it up succinctly, that you said is: “Drums are not a melodic instrument, regardless of the fact that you may want to change the tone of a Tom to fit the style of music being played”. Thank you.

Well Said Man !!! You have a great way of explaining lol !!! Excellent Video !!!!

Im glad I listened till the end. this tuning farce goes all the way back to around 1975 give or take a few years, when a drum store salesman advised me to tune my drums in thirds starting with the bass drum at "G". I used a piano to acomplish this task and when I showed up at my next gig, not one other guy in the band noticed any difference in the drum sounds. so # 11 Rob, if you dont tell anybody, they absolutely wont know. lol good video..

Well presented. I wanted the opposite conclusion but you convinced me

Beautiful drums and great playing. I do disagree somewhat with what you’re saying. First off, I would say any instrument is melodic in it’s own way. A French horn, a guitar and a piano are all melodic but very different. Whether or not the sound of the Tom rings out for two seconds or just a fraction of a second, it’s still striking a pitch frequency from the initial attack. I think it just comes down to a matter of taste and preference. Once the toms opens up and starts to resonate, there is a variance of notes to be had in there before it starts to be over tightened and choke out. I’ve tried tuning both ways with one being just where the Tom starts to resonate and the other with finding an exact pitch note. It seems like you’re never more than just a quarter turn at most from landing on an exact pitch note… So why not? I have found that once the Tom starts to open and resonate, it’s very easy to find the pitch note of E, Ed, and F’. I experimented with this and I tuned my snare to E, then my 10 inch Tom to A, my 12 inch Tom to E, and my 14 inch Tom to B, with my kick drum at E. When I did this, what I noticed immediately was, that striking two Toms together they sounded very musical and evenly spaced. I pose this question to everyone who reads this… If it’s important to tune a Tom to itself and that all the lugs are evenly tensioned so they produce the same tone at all corners, How much better would the whole kit sound if all the toms were tuned to a corresponding pitch with one another regardless of how long the initial tone lingers ? If drums aren’t musical, then why is it important to find the same pitch at all corners of a Tom with the lugs? Toms can still resonate even if the lugs are unevenly pitched….yet, Everyone strives to get the same pitch tone at every lug.

The intro, I lost it 😂😂. I knew it was building up to something.

I remember reading about Levon Helm tuning his toms to the buzz of the fluorescent light in the studio

Oh man you are a genius! Love you Rob Brown

You're great! Very interesting contents as always and a couple of laughters here and there...really high standards Rob. Best Drum Channel

Love your honest, no nonsense tutorials. Helpped me alot

I simply love your bullshit-free content and really "sober" way of thinking about drums and music. The first video of yours that I saw a billion years ago was just about tuning the toms. While this is not always working for me in a studio (some sound engineers decide to tune my drums themself to their liking - I have no issues with that), it is working 99% at live gigs when there is little to none time and space to tune any drums, especially some backline drums shared by everyone.

I thumbs-up'd this video 20 seconds in. Lol! Rob, BRILLIANT explanation re tom tuning being a complete waste of time. Just listening and watching you play at master level tells me instinctually to follow whatever you recommend. In all reality, none of us here will ever be half as good as you, at best. If you tell me to eat lima beans, im gonna eat lima beans. Thank you brother Rob for setting this topic straight.

Good video, Rob! I would say the Interval between drums does matter. If two toms are only a half step apart they will sound "the same". I've been taught that the smallest interval between any combination of toms should be a Minor Third. Start with the Floor Tom and works UP from there. The wider, the better. Rock on, Bro.