How to Professionally Tune a Snare Drum

Each drum in a kit is important, but the snare drum is the centerpiece. Its signature cracking sound comes from the wires that run underneath ir. Ironically, these same wires make the snare drum the most difficult drum to tune correctly. By following this guide, you will learn some easy steps that you can take to ensure your snare drum is tuned properly.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Drum key
• New drum head (optional)
• New snare wires (optional)
• Tympanic pressure gauge (optional)

Tuning the Snare

1. 

   Find the throw-off lever on the side of the snare drum and release it. The snare wires underneath should be loose now. Remove the wires.

2. Choose one lug to start tuning. Lightly tap 1 inch toward the center away from this lug. Tighten or loosen this lug until the tap sounds correct.

3. Make the lug directly across from the previous lug sound exactly the same as the lug you just tuned. Lightly tap 1 inch toward the center away from this lug, and tighten or loosen the lug until it sounds the same as the lug directly across.

4. Continue tuning opposing pairs of lugs in this fashion until you can lightly tap your finger 1 inch away from any two lugs and have them sound the same. Once the resonant head is in tune, flip the drum over and tune the batter head.

5. Tune the batter head in the same fashion as before by choosing one lug to start. Tune in opposing pairs until they all sound the same. Once this is done, you may need to fine tune the resonant head and then the batter head until they match. When satisfied, replace the snare wires, flip the throw-off, and start enjoying your newly tuned snare.

Using a Tympanic Pressure Gauge

6. 
   DrumDial Tuner

   Refer to the owner's manual for your tympanic pressure gauge. Determine which pressure range is suited for a snare of your dimensions. Make sure you look at the diameter of the head as well as the depth.

7. Place the tool 1 inch toward the center as before, and tighten or loosen the lug until you reach the appropriate pressure. You do not have to tap the drum when using this type of gauge.

8. Using the opposing-pairs method from above, tune each lug until you reach the same pressure. Once you have tuned all the lugs on both heads to the same pressure, replace the snare wires.

Tips & Warnings

• When getting started, tune with a tympanic tuner when replacing heads, but try the other method for minor tune-ups. This way you can train your ear to know what you should be hearing in a well tuned drum. Stay away from drum tools that say they will put the same amount of torque on each drum lug. While they do what they advertise, equal torque on each lug does not always equal perfect tympanic pressure. Spend the extra few dollars and get a tool that measures exactly what you are trying to achieve: perfect tympanic pressure, not rod torque.
• Don't neglect tuning in opposing pairs. If you simply go around the rim and tune in order, you will put too much pressure on the head and it may bend. If you bend the head, you will have to buy a new one. Do not hit the resonant head with your drumsticks. The resonant head is made of different material and is not meant to take this type of beating. You can easily puncture the resonant head and have to replace it.

Resources

• The Snare Drum Experts