How to tune a drum

By sbhow

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Tuning a drum is a simple process that will produce a smooth consistent tone by following some simple steps

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

A drum
A drum key
A drum stick

Step1

Choose a lug to act as your model lug, this will be how you know you have tuned all the lugs on each tuning pass

Step2

Tap the drum head with the stick gently, approximately 2 inches from the lug in the direction of the center of the drum, this is your test tone

Step3

Continuing with the lug on the opposite side of the drum from the model lug, tap on on the head gently. Using the drum key turn the lug until the tone is the same as the original tone.

Step4

Moving in a clockwise direction (for consistency) tap on the drum head by the next lug

Step5

Repeat step 3

Step6

Repeat step 4 followed by step 3 until you have returned to the model lug.

Step7

Now test the tone of the center of the drum. If you are satisfied with the tone, then you are done. If not satisfied, then again starting with the model lug, turn each lug one quarter turn moving clockwise around the drum until you reach the model lug again.

Step8

Repeat step 7 until the drum makes a tone you like.

Tips & Warnings

Start with a lug that is located near a distinctive mark on the drum such as an air hole or muffler knob
To compare the tones, tap the area being tuned twice followed by taping the test tone twice.
When tuning multiple drums in a set, a similar tension should be used on each drum as well as the same relative tension between the top and bottom drum heads where applicable.
The tone of a drum with both a top and bottom drum head can be equally influenced by the tension of both heads. Be sure to tune both sides of the drum with equal care.