Tuning (And Playing) Snare Drums For Great Sound!

This video is an in-depth response to the folks who have been asking me how I tune snare drums. Packed with a good bit of info it is useful for anyone really wanting to understand how to get great snare drum sound.

Tuning is HUGE... but stick with me to the end to see how tuning can only take you so far.....! (Time stamps are provided for quick navigation.)

0:00 Introduction
2:20 Broad drum tuning principles
6:06 Tuning the snare drum - my process
15:55 Why a tight snare side head? (explanation and demonstration)
18:30 Attaching snare wires (and getting them straight!)
24:00 How my initial tuning sounds (audio example)
24:44 My heads and muffling in this example
25:34 People use too much muffling (drums sound different miked)
26:27 How mics hear drums differently than our ears
28:22 My main variation to 'normal' tuning (and why...)
33:12 Alternate tunings only for flexible hoops (NOT cast hoops)
34:10 About snare wire tension
35:48 One more thing -- THE REAL MAGIC TO THE RIGHT SOUND!
39:52 Thanks for watching!! (please subscribe and share!! :)

[Harrys]

I bet I've watched 50 videos about tuning snares and I've never seen anyone explain it this way. Your way just makes sense to me. Thanks!!!

[randydoak]

After 50+ years of playing and fussing with my drums I still have a lot to learn about tuning. Thanks for a clear and practical presentation.

[TonyInterlande]

This is a great video. Finally someone else who understands that microphones hear things differently than your ears do. Well done!

[bobbymehta]

this is by far, the best snare tuning video on YouTube

[billbertwistle]

Finally!! A guy who does more action and demonstrations whilst explaining it very simply. Excellent presentation and great advice👏👏
Thank you🙏

[tyleradams]

That explanation and demonstration of how the drum is gonna sound darker from the kit mics, and muffling is over used abdolutely BLEW MY MIND.

I now need to go retune my entire kit to not be so dead.

[spadedace]

Didn't think I needed this after 35 years playing, but still learned a few things! Bravo. Great video.

[babalonsfinest]

I've been studying drum recording and tuning for years, and this is one of the best videos I've seen on how snare tuning and snare mechanics work.

[theturborob]

Great video and thank you for the tips and tricks. FYI, if you hold the filter button down on the tune bot for a few seconds, you will see it switch to "Hi-Range" on the LCD screen. This will allow you to read over 400Hz. Cheers!

[paulphillips]

This is the snare tuning video I’ve been looking for.

[af]

This is the best snare tuning video i've ever seen in my 40 years of drumming. Thank you! Subbed for more!

[jonathanmosher]

Finally, a proper tuning video. I was going to make one but this is great. I would add a secret. Felt and tape the snare wires if you want a quicker mellower attack. You'll be surprised. It will also let more ping come through.

[kjvisual]

I'm a sound engineer finally learning about drum tuning. Wow! The bottom head tuning example was shocking. Very educational. Thanks.

[SAHBfan]

Best drum lesson I ever had was about 20 years ago. I had my kit tuned how I thought sounded good “Use your ears” was a common saying at the time. I even had a DVD with that title. The guy giving me the lesson asked why I had some damping on the skins, I said to control the ring. He took me to the far end of the room (we were in a church hall, quite big). “Stand there” he said. He went back to the kit and played it. Then took the damping off and played it. Then tweaked the skins up tighter and played it.
The lesson I learned, was, don’t tune the kit to sound good to you when you sit on the kit. It will sound VERY different to someone in the audience 20 rows back mid gig. I’m talking un mic-ed. going through mics and PA changes the rules again.

[boomerguy]

I've always tuned my snare drums like you, but I didn't know the reason. I just know that after 60 years of trial and error, this is what works best! Thank you for allowing me to understand why it works.
Another great video!

[williemammoth]

This is a great comprehensive tutorial! I would recommend this to any newer / younger students struggling to understand the mechanics and practice of actually tuning drums. Edit: I'd recommend it to all drummers, and techs, actually - something for all of us :) thank you!

[hippieemogronk]

Been playing for about 20 years and I think this is the first time I've seen someone acknowledge different pitches by the snare beds/kick porthole, or interactions when tensioning adjacent or opposite lugs.

[mortenpetersen]

Hi.. 🙂.. Thank you so much for making this great tutorial on snare tuning.. This was a real gem for me, as I understand, how to get the most out of my snare now..At the age of 61... I have just purchased a Ludwig LM 402 14"x 5" 1974, and now, all of my snares sounds like heaven.. 🙂Thank you 🙂 .. With kind regards from Morten in Denmark..

[AlexanderMarshallI]

Best drum tuning video on the internet

[iRideuWatch]

Outstanding video. I've watched pretty much every snare tuning video on YouTube and this was the most thorough and informative one I've seen. Good job.