How do we Tune a Drumset?

Welcome back to part 2 of our drum kit maintenance lesson! We will be covering the tuning of your own drum set.

If you remember, last week we taught you on the changing of the drum head as well as the overall maintenance of your drums. Watch the video below for a more thorough guide on tuning by our drum teacher Darrill. Let's get started!

Drum Tuning

Tuning your drums is crucial to getting the maximum tone, endurance and resonance of your drum head. Even the greatest drummer in the world with the greatest drum kit would sound lousy if they fail to tune their drums. Thus, it is important to learn and keep your drums in tune.

1. First thing first, you will need a drum key. A drum key is used for tuning drums and it can be obtained at most musical stores. 

2. Start by using the drum key on a tension rod, any one will do. Tighten it by turning about one and a half times. 

3. On completion of tuning the first rod, you might want to locate the rod directly opposite of it and tighten it. Keep going back and forth rather than going in a circle so as not to create any unbalance. 

4. Next, to obtain your ideal tuning, use a drumstick and start banging on the body of the drum a few times. 

5. Try to be patient at this point of time as patience is the key to success, and it'll reward you in the end! 

6. If it is not the tuning you were looking for, keep tuning until you reach your desired pitch.

Now that you’ve properly tuned your drums, go ahead and practice. Hope that our lessons have been useful to you so far. Remember, practice makes perfect so happy practicing! :)