DRUMS
[ 3 TIPS FOR TUNING TOMS | Daniel Hadaway ]
To many drummers, nothing seems more
when it isn't tight on the drum.
organized" mean in the context of tuning
intimidating than tuning toms. I have to admit
a drum?
that, for me, toms are the hardest of all the Now I'm not a heavy-hitter (anymore), so my drums on a drum set to tune. But just because tom heads don't get "dented" like they used to, Staying organized means: you keep track of
they're harder to tune than kick drums or so it can be a little harder to tell if I need to which tension rods have been tightened, and
snares, it doesn't mean they're exceptionally replace a head, even when I loosen it all the that you always rotate/tighten each tension rod
difficult; they just aren't as easy to tune as way. But I’m also aware that most of us aren’t the same amount (this is assuming that you've
the others. the only drummers at our churches. Even if I’m followed Step 1 above and are starting over).
not a heavy-hitter, it doesn’t mean the other
So here are 3 tips that I always use to help
drummers that play the kit aren’t.
For example: sometimes I'll start tuning by
me tune toms... And hopefully they will help tightening each tension rod one and a half
you too! turns. I'll do this for the top and bottom head.
1. START OVER
If I have a tom that's giving me trouble, and I
know that I need to tune it, many times I'll just
start turning tension rods to try and "isolate"
the issue. Most of the time I end up discovering
that I'm making things worse! I've learned
that, in most cases, the best way to fix the
tuning problem is to start over from scratch.
That means I loosen all the tension rods and
pretend that I'm putting the head on the drum
for the first time. Starting over is a good way
to GREATLY simplify the tuning process,
and it makes the next 2 tips I've got for you
even easier!
2. BLAME YOUR HEADS
If you followed step 1 and your head is sitting
completely loose on the drum, you might
My rule of Assuming the drum is fairly well-maintained
thumb... is staying organized) can get me a pretty good
and/or not 50 years old, simply doing this (and
tom sound. From there, I'll tighten the resonant
head another quarter turn (if you're a tuning
always this:
pro: I try to tune the bottom head a minor
third higher than the top). And again: If I've
If I think I
stayed organized, the drum will sound pretty
might need to
replace a head, I
darn good!
Then I'll just make minor adjustments to what
I've got, and I'm all set.
probably should I think we can sometimes get flustered when
just go ahead And
and do it.
we expect something to be really difficult.
in
the
process,
we
unintentionally
end up making it harder, thus proving our
expectations true!
discover that the head is in a lot worse shape
I hope this encourages you to take a fresh look
than it appeared when the drum was at full
at tuning toms, and to not feel so intimidated
tension. Have you ever decided to change My rule of thumb, though, is always this: If I or frustrated by the process. It doesn't have
a drum head and discovered that, once you think I might need to replace a head, I probably to be hard!
removed it, it looked caved-in like a satellite should just go ahead and do it.
dish? Do you ever cringe when you start to
guess at how long it's been in such bad shape?
3. STAY ORGANIZED
This is where many drummers miss the mark
If a head starts getting difficult to tune, it may when tuning tom heads, and why many of
already be "gone", and the only way to know us may think tuning toms is so hard. We
for sure is to start over and look at the head simply don't stay organized! What does "sta