Tuesday, January 3, 2012

How To Tune A Snare Drum Correctly Properly

By Robert Scott


Snare drums are musical instruments which are made out of strands of curled metal or cables called snares that are then stretched over the head of a drum. Most drum enthusiasts consider the snare to be the drum kit's most important component due to its higher sound and ability to play a backbeat pattern. For owners who want to keep theirs in top playing condition, learning how to tune a snare drum would be a good skill to learn.

Tuning snare drums, while it may sound easy, can actually be pretty difficult. It can end badly as well if it is done incorrectly so you need to be sure of all the necessary steps before attempting it. How one is tuned and maintained depends on what it is made out of as well, whether its aluminum, wood, or another material.

Start with the resonated head of the item to begin tuning. The resonated head is the "bottom" of the drum, the surface that is never hit with the sticks. Keep in mind before tightening it that its material is much weaker and thinner than other types of drums.

Begin tuning the item by hitting the head of the drum while keeping one hand on the tightening lug. For snare drums, tight ringing sounds are what you're aiming for but, ultimately, the pitch sound is completely up to you, use your ears or a tuning device to help you. Just be sure that the item's head is even.

Once you finish, turn over the item and then tune its batter head the same way. This is the "top", the surface which is hit by the drumsticks. Take it and using a two key method of tuning, take up the tension as you hit it. Depending on their size, most snares need to go up in tension about three or two times.

Check and be sure the head is evenly tuned across and then continue on with smaller turns. The major focus of the batter head is to get the right feel that you are comfortable with but think about the amount of ring you want your drum to have.

If the sound resonating from the item still just doesn't appear to sound tuned, it may be due to a number of issues. For one, the batter head may be screwed on too tight. The problem may also lie in the snare's wires, hit the head softly and listen for their rattling sound. If there are none, then they are fastened way too tightly.




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