Part 8 · Reading & Musicianship · Chapter 98

Tuning Your Drums

Well-tuned drums are easier and more fun to play. Every drum has two heads: the batter head you hit, and the resonant head on the other side.

1. Loosen all the tension rods. Seat the head by pressing gently in the middle.
2. Tighten each rod finger-tight, then use the drum key in a star pattern (across the drum, not around it), a half turn at a time.
3. Tap an inch in front of each rod. Adjust until every spot sounds the same pitch.
4. Tune the resonant head the same way. Equal or slightly higher than the batter gives a long, open tone.
5. Toms: high to low with clear steps between them. Snare: batter medium-tight, snare-side head tighter.