Support
Do you have any questions, issues or ideas that help us improve DrumTuner? Please let us know. Maybe you find your question below, check it out. If not, send us an message and we come back to you within 48 hours and maybe ad your question to our Q&A.
How can I reduce resonance?
Tuning the top and bottom heads to the same pitch gives more tone and longer sustain or resonance. The higher or lower you take the bottom head the less resonant the overall sound becomes. Using a thicker head, a dual-ply or an hydraulic heads on the batter side will give a lesser amount of initial resonance thereby damping the sound of the drum somewhat. Read the Extended Manual for more information.
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Do I always have to put my index finger on the head while tuning?
Putting your index finger on the centre of the head reduces the overtones and isolates the lug frequency you want to measure. It’s not always necessary but works better in general.
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Do I have to seat the head before tuning?
Yes. Seating your head stretches your head so you won’t have to re-tune too often. Even after a couple minutes playing, the frequency of your drums will be much lower when you have not seated the head.
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How can I define the fundamental pitch?
The fundamental frequency is lower and roughly 0.55x the lug pitch, depending on the tom depth and the heads you are using. A lower or higher tuned bottom head will increase or decrease this factor. Of course you can use Drum-Tuner to measure this. You can use the Measured Frequency, or set the Tune Frequency 0.55x lower.
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Can I use a normal head as a snare drum resonant head?
The bottom head of a snare drum is much thinner than a top side head. This is the key to a good snare sound. Never use a normal drum head as your bottom snare head.
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One of my toms triggers another, how can solve this?
Sympathetic resonance occurs when the fundamental tone of one drum shares pitch with the fundamental or harmonic of another drum.
This is normally not huge problem with rack toms, unless you are in the studio, however with your snare drum it can be a serious problem. Try to find out which tom triggers another, and then re-tune it a little to reduce the sympathetic resonance.
But don’t try to eliminate it totally; this is impossible. Normally it’s masked by the sounds of the other drums in your set and the sound of the other musicians who surround you.
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Do I need to tune my drums in specific notes?
No, but most drummers tune their drums to particular intervals. This means that the distance (the interval) between the tuned note of one drum and that of another, is a recognisable one. This doesn’t mean that you need to tune to specific chromatic notes.
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When measuring two lugs, I read the same Tune Frequency, but I hear a big difference. How is this possible?
If one lugs is way out of tune an overtone can be the same as lug frequency of the other lugs. So you think your read the correct Tune Frequency, but it isn’t. Tap all lugs and check by ear. You should hear it immediately.
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How do I choose my drumheads?
Choosing drums heads is very personal. As a general rule, the thinner the head the more resonant it will be and it will tend to favour higher pitches. Thicker heads and double ply heads will offer less ‘ring’ and prefer lower frequencies.
A resonant head should always be a single ply, otherwise you’ll get a very ‘dull’ sounding drums (or use no bottom head).
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Do I need to muffle my bass drum?
That’s up to you, but most drummers do. It also depends on the head you are using. Some heads already have a ‘damping system’. But other drummers prefer a good old blanket or pillow for damping or because it gives you a ‘faster head’. But if you like a long sustain, don’t muffle your bass drum.
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My head sounds dull or dead, how is this possible?
You need a new head or one or two lugs are way out of tune. An overtone of a lug that’s way out of tune can be the same frequency as the other lug frequencies the head. So you read the correct Tune Frequency, but it isn’t. Tap all lugs and check by ear. You should hear it immediately. Re-tune this lug and use Drum-Tuner from here.
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What do you suggeste as a frequency for a snare bottom head?
We suggest trying a top head Tune Frequency between 220Hz and 340Hz for a snare drum. Try tuning the bottom head 1,33 to 1,5 times higher (but not higher than 400Hz).
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Should I also use a cross pattern?
Yes, always use a cross pattern when tuning your drums. Only for fine tuning this is not necessary. Can find the details and cross patterns in the Extended Manual.
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