I have no idea how to tune.

[Thelios(D)]

I got my drums about two days ago. I can do nothing with them yet, but I intend to learn. But for one thing, I was going to tune them, but I have no idea how! I need to know if anyone can type me a small guide on tuning?

I need to know basically everything. Haha.

Thanks,

Thelios(D)

[drummer]

Follow this link Thelious:

http://www.drumsdatabase.com/tuning-drums.htm

It's got a ton of stuff on tuning.

[Pearl MCX Man]

HI Thelious and welcome to the DC. I will try to explain in a very short format how to tune or basic tuning. First unloosen your top head till the ring or hoop is loose. Then start turning tension rods with finger till tight ( finger tight) do this from the side by turning the rods with your fingertips, now take your drum key and in a criss cross pattern give a full turn all aroung the rods. Once this is accomplished hit the drum with a stick and what you will hear is the lowest pitch of the drum. Now take stick or key and tap about 1 inch from the hoop on the head and try to equal out the tone but turning up or down and once you have gone around the head and it sound all the same then you are done. If this is not your sound then turn it up 1/4 of a turn at a time at each lug till you hit the desired pitch or sound that you like. Remember everytime you turn a rod you have to do the tap test all around. Hope this is not too confusing. You do the same with the reso head. Some may give the reso head an extra turn but for you try to keep both heads tuned in the same matter till you get more experienced. After doing a few heads you will get to the point where you will be able to tune just by the feel of the key like myself without tapping but learn it both ways. Good luck

[clrizz]

If you're more a visual person, look up Bob Gatzen on YouTube, he has some great videos on tuning. They have helped me immensely!

[Pearl MCX Man]

Yes Bob is good but the only thing is you gotta have patience with YouTube which takes so long to run the video. It starts good ,then it pauses then it goes again then pauses never had the patience to wait around to see any video on YouTube. Maybe it's me and my server or is it the way it is?

[dave0549jv]

If you're more a visual person, look up Bob Gatzen on YouTube, he has some great videos on tuning. They have helped me immensely!

+1 these are the best videos ive found so far.

Yes Bob is good but the only thing is you gotta have patience with YouTube which takes so long to run the video. It starts good ,then it pauses then it goes again then pauses never had the patience to wait around to see any video on YouTube. Maybe it's me and my server or is it the way it is?

I rarely have problems loading. you might just have a slower connection.

[Riouel]

good advise over there
welcome to drumchat Thelios(D) and to the drum world

[Crosswire]

Yes Bob is good but the only thing is you gotta have patience with YouTube which takes so long to run the video. It starts good ,then it pauses then it goes again then pauses never had the patience to wait around to see any video on YouTube. Maybe it's me and my server or is it the way it is?

The whole start/stop/restart/etc. thing gets old, yes.
It's almost always an issue with your connection, or your route to YouTube's servers.
If you have a 4GB+ download speed, you'll almost never see it.

At home, I currently have a 'slow by today's standards' connection, and if I want to watch anything
recorded in more than 380p resolution, I usually let the whole video buffer up 'first.' to not get stutters.

Click the link for a video, wait for it to 'start' playing, then hit pause.
Go make a sandwich or something. When you come back, watch your video.

You can see the progress of the buffering. It will be the red shaded part, beyond your current position:
.............................Buffered/ Unbuffered------------>

Wait until the shaded part gets to the end, or 3/4 way or so, before playing.

[yohin]

I agree with the suggestion for the Bob Gatzen videos, they're immensely helpful even for non-beginners. And videos on Youtube get "stuck" for me sometimes but not often. Usually only if they're like 720p hi-def vids.

[fumbled time]

Welcome to the forum Thelios! Great advice here, and just alot of patientce and practice. best of luck F/T

[Locky305]

all you need is a loooooooot of patience i just got my new kit and gave up tuning it 3 times and had to restart 3 times cause i rushed it. btw it took about 3hours in all

P.S its a 7 piece and its off tap xD

[pastor_bob]

Welcome to Drum Chat Locky 305!

[DrummerD]

If you're more a visual person, look up Bob Gatzen on YouTube, he has some great videos on tuning. They have helped me immensely!

Welcome to Drum Chat.

+1 on seeking out Bob Gatzen for tuning insight. He also has a DVD on tuning and everything else about drum sound and design that's very good. Much more in depth than what's on youtube.

I can't emphasize enough on the patience thing that everyone here has mentioned. We've all been there and I guarantee none of us learned how to tune overnight.