Snare Drum - This is the lead voice of the drum set. How many times do you hit the snare drum compared to all the other drums? The Snare Drum is the drum that really defines your sound.

First make sure you are tuning the drum so it resonates with itself. Don't try and make a 13" x 3" brass snare drum sound like a 15" x 8" maple snare drum. It just isn't going to happen.

Start by turning off the snares so they are off the snare head. Next loosen all the lugs on the top and bottom heads. Then set the rim onto the head. This is done by applying pressure using both your hands on the rim of the drum and then going around the rim. You will probably hear some clicks and creaking noises but that ok.

Next: Using the cross pattern finger tighten each lug so that it comes in contact with the rim. Do this for both the top and bottom heads. Don't over tighten the lugs

Cross Pattern 8 lug snare

------1------
---3-----5---
-8---------7-
---6-----4---
------2------

Depending upon how you want your snare drum to sound: tighten the lugs on the top head in 1/4 turns (using a drum key). Then do the bottom head. Go back and continue this pattern until you find where the drum resonates or sounds good. If the rims are warped this may be difficult to do. Also the bottom head usually doesn't need to be tighten as much as the batter head (top head). At this point you can tune bottom head up or down using the drum key turn each lug by the same amount.

Finally turn on the snares and slowly tighten the snares against the snare head. Again it's up to you on how tight or loose you want your snare to sound.

For the most part that's it:)

For variation try using different heads and thicknesses for the snare drum head. Also the number of wires on the snares themselves will sound different.

Here are some drum tuning patterns:
For a 12 lug Snare Drum:

------1------
----12--5----
--8-------9--
-4---------3-
--10------7--
----6---11---
------2------


------1------
----12--5----
--10------7--
-4---------3-
--8-------9--
----6---11---
------2------

Or this to tune a 10 lug snare drum:

------1------
----6---7----
--9-------3--
--4-------10-
----8---5----
------2------

How to tune drums - The Kick Drum

The kick drum is the next most important drum voice in the set.

It's tuning really depends upon the style of music you are playing. I've found that most drummers usually remove the front head or cut a hole in it. This allows them to leave the kick drum hoop and lugs on which will stop the lugs from rattling. It'll also give you room to position a microphone in the kick drum without too much trouble. The larger the hole, the flatter the sound. Many place a pillow or foam rubber in the kick drum to deaden the ringing.

Tuning the drum is much like the snare drum. Lets start with placing the batter head on first. Position the kick drum on the floor or table so it the batter drum head (the side that gets hit by the beater) in facing up towards the ceiling.

Next place the drumhead and hoop on the drum. Next insert and finger tighten each lug. Again I would use the cross pattern:

------1------
---3-----5---
-8---------7-
---6-----4---
------2------

Next place your hands on opposite sides of the drum and apply a mild amount of pressure. If the head is new you'll hear it creak and other noises. This is called seating the drumhead. Reposition your hands by 90 degrees and do the same thing. Then keeping both hands at opposite edges apply pressure and move them about 6 inches and apply pressure, repeat this going around the drum until you don't hear many creaks or noises.

Next referring back to the cross pattern above: If your kick drum has more lugs than what's listed then just add them to the sequence. The idea is to have each lug applying the same amount of pressure on the drumhead.

Continue to tighten each drum lug in 1/4 turn. Make sure not to miss any of the lugs. At this point you should tap the drumhead about an inch or 2 from each lug. You will have to listen and match each lug so they all have the same pitch. Again as with the snare drum if the drum hoop is warped things become a bit more complicated. If at all possible try and obtain a new hoop. The amount that you tighten the head will depend upon the sound you want. For a more dry sound I would tighten it until you hear a tone.

The front head tuning is very similar to that of the batter head. Place the kick drum with the front head facing the ceiling. The only thing that you need to be careful of is when tuning the front head to the same pitch on each lug. I would slightly muffle the batter head while doing this. This way the batter head's tuning won't interfere, or ring, with the front head tuning.

Tuning the Kick Drum - Tips

As previously mentioned many drummers place a pillow or foam rubber in the kick drum to deaden the ringing. Depending upon how much of the bass drumhead the pillow covers also effects the sound. If you put a large pillow in the kick where it ends up covering 1/3 to = of the drumhead then you will end up with a somewhat dead sound kick. Dead sounding is not a bad thing - it's just how it sounds. If you place a 1" to 2" piece of foam in the bottom will give you a larger sounding kit with some ringing.

My favorite material for deadening the kick drum is to use a 2" piece of foam that is about 1'-9" long and cut about a = larger that the width of the kick drum shell. I used double-sided tape to secure it to the bottom of the shell but that isn't necessary. I then put the front head back on and tune it to the same pitch as the batter head. I then tune the top two lugs of the batter down anywhere from = to > of a turn. This gives a more fat and wet sound to the kick. Very solid low end. The front head adds depth and character to the sound. The type of kick drum beater will also effect the sound of the drum. A wood beater is much louder and gives you more attack while a felt beater has a much milder sound. I have two different wood beaters with one of them shaved flat. This allows more wood to be it contact with the head and gives a real click or pop sound. This along with the foam rubber and front head give an excellent attack with some added depth and sustain from the front head. My favorite kick drum size is 24 inches, but I also use a 22 inch as well as a 20 inch for studio work.