Things You'll Need:
- Drum key
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Step 1
Start with your snare drum. The way you tune your snare drum will be the way you tune your other drums, but the sound quality you want from each drum differs. Start at the top lug nut on your snare drum; using your drum key, tighten or loosen the lug nut according to preference. Use this rule of thumb: Right equals tight, left equals loose. A snare drum should have a tighter, "pop!" type of sound. Be careful not to over-tighten, or the head will break. Then go in an "across the way" pattern around the drum, meaning from top lug to bottom lug, then from right lug to left lug, then from diagonal lug to diagonal lug. This can also be referred to as the "star pattern."
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Step 2
Tune your top tom-tom using the same process. The sound quality of your tom should amount to a lower, lighter thud, which means you will be doing a bit more loosening instead of tightening on this particular drum. Don't loosen the head too much, or it will start to come apart from the rim.
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Step 3
Tune your floor tom next. The process for tuning is exactly the same as on the last two drums. The sound you should achieve tuning your floor tom should be lower than that of your snare drum and top tom. A heavier thud is what you are aiming for.
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Step 4
Finish by tuning your bass drum. The process is again the same, but the sound you are looking for is of a lower pitch than the snare drum, top tom and floor tom. Be careful not to loosen your bass drumhead too much, or it will also come apart from the rim.
