How to Install a Snare Drum Head

Changing your drum heads is routine drum maintenance and can dramatically improve the quality of your drum’s sound. Follow these steps to make sure you’re installing the head properly and tuning it appropriately. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Snare drum with all of its lug screws
• Replacement snare head
• Drum key

1. If an old head is still on the snare drum, use the drum key to loosen and completely remove all of the lug screws from the top of the drum. The lug screws have a square shape and usually rounded tops.
2. Remove the metal hoop and old drum head from the top of the drum.
3. Place the new head over the top of the drum, replace the metal hoop and replace each of the lug screws, screwing them back in by hand until they’re finger tight.
4. Tighten one lug screw about four turns with the drum key, then tighten the screw directly across the drum head by the same number of turns. Move around the drum head tightening each screw and then the screw directly across the drum head by the same number of turns. Do this until the screws become reasonably difficult to turn, but do not force or over-tighten them.
5. Do not play the drum yet. Allow the tightened head to wean on the drum for about 24 hours. After 24 hours, test your new head and tune it to your liking by tightening or loosening the lug screws.

Tips & Warnings

• If you tighten a new drum head too much while installing it, it may break.
• If you play on a newly installed drum head immediately, it may break, warp or otherwise start to sound terrible.