How to Find Tools for Tuning Drums

Drums are musical instruments that require maintenance and care. To keep your drum set sounding its best, regular tuning is necessary. With the right tools, you can tune your drum set as often as is needed instead of paying someone else to do it for you.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Drum set with removable heads
• Drum key
• Carpet
• Pencil with eraser
• Petroleum jelly

1. Remove your heads using a drum key. These are available in large and small sizes. A large drum key gives you more leverage, so often they're easier to use.

2. Break in the heads by turning the head inside out. Use the tip of your thumb to apply pressure on the rounded edge of the head. This removes excessive adhesive that may affect the tuning of your drum, and it loosens the head of the drum.

3. Install the heads on the drum. First, use your fingers to tighten the tension rods to ensure they're not too tight. Once the head is secure, tighten each tension rod 1/2 turn using your drum key. Work from opposite sides of the drum to remove wrinkles from the head.

4. Tap the head to see if you can hear a tone. If you can, continue with the next step. If you cannot, continue tightening as directed in Step 3.

5. Set the drum down on a carpeted surface with the head you want to tune facing up. This helps muffle the sound so you can focus on tuning your drum.

6. Use the eraser end of a Number 2 pencil to tap about 1 inch inside each tension rod. Listen to see if any area sounds higher or lower than the other.

7. Tighten each tension rod that sounds low. Use your drum key to tighten the rod 1/4 turn. Loosen each tension rod 1/4 turn if the pitch is too high. Continue until you have a steady pitch across your drum.

Tips & Warnings

• Petroleum jelly lubricates tension rods if necessary. Simply run it on the threads of the rod and wipe off the excess.