SOS> Drum Tuning.
- Thread starter Phanto
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drum_hobbyist
New member
Hope to make it at the next meet up... 8)
RudimentalDrummer
Moderator
NO drum_hobbyist do not PM Techniques - he post it here so all can share one...Kekekeke....Better still - yes he comes to 5th Drum-Meetup in July share share with we all....Tuning really have to watch and listen - then one will know how to do it...I never believe in tunning drums to Chords...but by ears...because it depends on how big is the kit - - - if more toms - diffently liao all the toms...further more different type of skins (1ply or 2 ply) are tune very differently for both Batter & Reso...it's ears here and a methodology how to tune - then fine tune...just dont use TAPES.
drum_hobbyist
New member
RD - I am a believer of letting the drum head resonates in its pure form. Tuning can only be learnt by observing and listening... hope to share my experience... 8)
RudimentalDrummer
Moderator
Exactly - That's what in my opinion that I believed - have to see how's it's been done & tune. I had tried using those Tuning Guage before also - no uise lah. Then I pay people to come and tune my kit's - and I saw how they do it...differently of course...but I learn alot from them while they tune - I asked....
For instance - Helmi from Swee Lee tune my snare using a Piano (using what Notes) I do not know - He press a key on a Paino then tune my Snare...You asked me - If the snare sound good after that - I dunno cause I dunno the way he tune is proven or not...but I dont like the sound
Tony Zee Tune my Pearl MLX (which are using Remo PinStripe)...Test this kit to my Yamaha Stage Custom (using Evans G1 - which I tune myself) and compare the difference - My Yamaha Rocks man - Killer Sound - even Bro Zen said so - whenever he comes my home - He loves to wack my Yammies - Solid Sounding Drums man....the difference Single Ply skin & Double ply skin here so both the Batter & Reso are tune very differently too due to that - People says tune the top skin looser, bottom tighter and I think it dont works that way - depending on the skin you use.
My Opinion which I strongly believed is this: -
(1) Bearing Edge of Shells must be Perfect (or else the rest no use - cannot be tune & sound good)
(2) The Type of Skin we used very important (Single ply always better tonal quality & easy to tune).
(3) Actual Tuning has to do also with how big is the Kit - eg Standard Tom-1, Tom-2 & a Floor-Tom only - or....4 toms altogether, or 5 toms altogether etc.....because - It has to be tune altogether to get the tone right - so it's melodic - also people says - If one of the Batter is spoiled - I dont just change the damaged one - I have to change the entire set - and I did it.
(4) The 14" Tom is most difficult tom for me to tune as always
But the above is what I went through when I change my skins & it had to be tuned.
PS: - The most funny is The Yamaha Guy came and tune my Kit put Masking-Tape - I told him off - Do you know how to tune or not actually - none of my kits use Masking Tape - Rings yes of course. If someone come and tune my Kit - use Masking Tape better I do it myself who dunno how? correct
For instance - Helmi from Swee Lee tune my snare using a Piano (using what Notes) I do not know - He press a key on a Paino then tune my Snare...You asked me - If the snare sound good after that - I dunno cause I dunno the way he tune is proven or not...but I dont like the sound
Tony Zee Tune my Pearl MLX (which are using Remo PinStripe)...Test this kit to my Yamaha Stage Custom (using Evans G1 - which I tune myself) and compare the difference - My Yamaha Rocks man - Killer Sound - even Bro Zen said so - whenever he comes my home - He loves to wack my Yammies - Solid Sounding Drums man....the difference Single Ply skin & Double ply skin here so both the Batter & Reso are tune very differently too due to that - People says tune the top skin looser, bottom tighter and I think it dont works that way - depending on the skin you use.
My Opinion which I strongly believed is this: -
(1) Bearing Edge of Shells must be Perfect (or else the rest no use - cannot be tune & sound good)
(2) The Type of Skin we used very important (Single ply always better tonal quality & easy to tune).
(3) Actual Tuning has to do also with how big is the Kit - eg Standard Tom-1, Tom-2 & a Floor-Tom only - or....4 toms altogether, or 5 toms altogether etc.....because - It has to be tune altogether to get the tone right - so it's melodic - also people says - If one of the Batter is spoiled - I dont just change the damaged one - I have to change the entire set - and I did it.
(4) The 14" Tom is most difficult tom for me to tune as always
But the above is what I went through when I change my skins & it had to be tuned.
PS: - The most funny is The Yamaha Guy came and tune my Kit put Masking-Tape - I told him off - Do you know how to tune or not actually - none of my kits use Masking Tape - Rings yes of course. If someone come and tune my Kit - use Masking Tape better I do it myself who dunno how? correct
drum_hobbyist
New member
Tuning experience comes from trial and error... it is hands on... i know of someone who paid some Swee Lee guy $50 extra to tune Pearl RT when the kit was delivered... when one day i went to the home for a gathering, it was so out of tune... i took the opportunity to tune the kit and the owner can really hear the difference... $50 ripped off :x
RudimentalDrummer
Moderator
Exactlly - mine was tune by Yamaha/Contempo staffs - pay S$80.00 you know....I pay nevermind - a service from them - That fellow put Masking-Tape on top of my Batter, then when I told him "Hey like that one har"...he took it out -put the masking tape at the Bottom Reso...shit I'm piss off man....Somemore mine is not Stock-Skin...STock Skin (very difficult to tune- maybe he needs to do it- maybe I said)...mine is Evans G1 Batter & Reso ...could you believe it..
He say I put masking Tape - so it don't ring so much....Hahahahaha :lol: - anyway I pay him and ask him to FO....I pay someone else to do it and I learn it from that guy...it takes quite some time to tune my 9pcs kit really.....The Yamaha guy ...wahlow damn fast 10 minutes only...knn wanna bluff me.
PS; - one more thing I fogot to tell you all - he roll some blady toilet paper foil it actually - put it inbetween the Masking Tape then paste on my Toms -wah law so ugly you know....Luckily I neber learn this style hahahah or else I go tuning for ppl - I say can you pass me some toilet paper bro - he says "why? you wanna shit izzit?...hahaha"
Tunning have to learn through experience - after tunning still have to fine tune..not easy work - or else why they charge market rate S$80.00....correct
He say I put masking Tape - so it don't ring so much....Hahahahaha :lol: - anyway I pay him and ask him to FO....I pay someone else to do it and I learn it from that guy...it takes quite some time to tune my 9pcs kit really.....The Yamaha guy ...wahlow damn fast 10 minutes only...knn wanna bluff me.
PS; - one more thing I fogot to tell you all - he roll some blady toilet paper foil it actually - put it inbetween the Masking Tape then paste on my Toms -wah law so ugly you know....Luckily I neber learn this style hahahah or else I go tuning for ppl - I say can you pass me some toilet paper bro - he says "why? you wanna shit izzit?...hahaha"
Tunning have to learn through experience - after tunning still have to fine tune..not easy work - or else why they charge market rate S$80.00....correct
RudimentalDrummer
Moderator
Bros...Kekekeke we have Soundman here at Soft right?...you know who he is lah...Kekekeke....everyone chip in share share experience - sure we all can tune our own drums one....
drum_hobbyist
New member
Just got back from tuning another kit in kallang... wow been to boon lay, seletar and kallang so far... may be engaged to tune a kit for performance down town on Sat... then next week may go down to Simei... wah... have drum key will travel... 8)
