I've notice the same thing, a B note for your lowest floor tom is a good place to have it. And then m3rds apart with the different size toms (if possible) is also a good place to start. Something I'd say to drum tuners watching: The bottom head is EVERYTHING on a tom in my experience. Too often people start cranking on the batter head or adding tape or other stuff on the batter head when the reso head is really what needs fixed. I had a 12-inch rack at a gig that was just not cooperating, I took it off, flipped it over, detuned completely then retuned it up until just where it started to resonate, flipped it over, gave it a whack, and it sounded killer. Never touched the batter head, it really isn't as critical as people think.
I’ve been playing 50 years myself, and finally in the last five years, I’ve gotten tuning down pat all of what you said is true and exactly what I have found to work grade in my tuning
Awesome, glad that you have gotten comfortable with tuning. It can be a challenge, but with experimentation and patience, it usually works out well. Thanks for the comment!!
We literally have the same kit, but I have a hammered shell, with tube lugs black beauty. Used the drumtune pro app and put new coated G2s on mine. Results were fantastic. Zero muffling and the Tom’s sound amazing. The app was a little finicky, the readings would jump from expected numbers to like 300-400hz. End results were great, so I appreciate you posting this very helpful.
Great! Very cool we have the same kit. I know what you mean about the app being finicky. Once I find a lug that is clear and the frequency is correct, I hit the lock target button and it eliminates overtones that may interfere with getting a clear reading. That seems to help a lot. Glad the video was helpful, enjoy those Ludwig’s! 😁
Hey Peter! Thanks for checking it out. I’m not the best at doing instructional videos, but hopefully this helps when trying to tune floor toms. All the best!
Over the years I've found tuning by feel is something should be learned aside from tech gadgets and trying to get every tension rod close in pitch by ear. Tuning by feel aka equal pressure of each tension rod, while doing the same concept you mentioned with bottom drum head about a full step higher than top seems to work best. Yeah agreed to each their own as you mentioned. All I know is that having to retune while on stage with noise in the room makes a drummer glad he's adapted to tuning by feel as well, otherwise your doomed either because of noise interference and/or time constraints with the band and audience waiting on a drummer who's not competent in tuning by feel.
Tuning by ear is priority as you have limited time to tune your drums on live gigs.. you cant tune a single drum 1 hour by just getting that piano tone lol.. not unless your just recording then yeah pitch tuning maybe will work lol
This is a great video, I always tuned by ear but it sounds a lot better when referencing for the right notes, this gives me a better understanding of the intervals, thanks for the tip for the Tune App
Thank you bro! Almost same gear, Classic and 2002, almost same setup, almost same background... That video is real helpful to nearly all of us! Thanx a lot!
When I ordered my classic maples with 16 and 18 inch floor toms, I decided to go with the 16x14 option. 14 inch depth seems to help with tuning it closer between the 13x9 and 18x16. Thanks for the lesson on use of that app, I need that.
Great Video, thanks i was having trouble finding that right sound. I followed your videos and wow i couldn't believe how close i was tuned to what i was looking for s few more turns here or there and Bam. My lives and recordings have never sounded better. Thanks for sharing. Cheers
I aim for 1.2 x the frequency of the intended final note for the top lugs, and 2.3 x the intended frequency on the bottom lugs. (So for A110 as the target note, the top lugs would be at 132Htz and the bottom lugs would be at 253Htz) I also mute the head that I'm not tuning. It's a basic formula from the tunebot folks. It's pretty amazing how close the note is after applying this technique. It's their recommended settings for fast punchy attack and low resonance. Great for live rock if the sound guy doesn't know what a gate is lol. Many schools of thought on this subject for sure but this is the way I tune for live. Too many sound guys reach for the eq to cut the ringing out if you tune for high resonance. Kills the meat of the drum. If you have and use frequency targeted gating then it's less of an issue but who knows about those lol. Thought your drums sounded awesome by the way! Well tuned and well processed and mic'ed. Very cool!
I loved your drum tuning, I used almost the same thing, but I tune my 16 inch floor Tom to a D2, put a little bit of gaffers tape on the resonant head to get some of the overtones out, and I put a piece of moon gel on the logo, and it sounds perfect to me.
Awesome video and awesome drum set. I like my floor toms to be deep as they can be with mostly attack and just a boom of tone and quick sustain. Good luck with your channel man! Subbed and looking forward to more content!
Nice! I have a 1978 luan Pearl kit. Same sizes. All coated Remos, Emps on top and Ambs on bottom. I tune reso higher at a P4 interval. I start with each reso head being perfectly tuned to an octave above the fundamental pitch. Then I bring the batter up until the fundamental note is achieved. Hint. The batter is never an exact P4 below the batter, but generally close. It's the reso that really defines the tone. With the tighter reso, the shell gets activated more and the fundamental note activates the reso more because they are the same note at two different octaves. So the drum gets great attack, a full tone, and a naturally controlled sustain because of the tighter reso. No Moongel needed. It hits, makes a tone, then gets out of the way. Size Batter / Reso 13 F / A# 16 A# / D# 18 F / A# If you throw in a 10 or 12 to the left, as in offset toms, I use a C# fundamental with the reso at a minor 3rd higher. That note gives more character to the kit than a D#. Also, the pitch bend of the minor 3rd just sounds cool with smaller toms. Again more character while still blending well with the kit overall. Sometimes I use a 14x10 between the 13 and 16. I tune this to a fundamental of G with the reso a P4 high, same as the 13 16 and 18. I've performed with this tuning without any mics in rock bands. It cuts perfectly! And the drums are able to breathe naturally. On the flip side, I own a small blues venue in Japan. My house kit is a Pearl Reference Pure. 10 12 13 16 22. All coated Ambs. All resos at a minor 3rd higher. And the fundamental pitches are all a half step lower than what I described above. No mics except kick. It's a completely different drum set, but it never moves. So I was able to fine tune it to the room. And yes, I've been experimenting with different tunings every week this year. The room will tell you what it likes because of physics. Try my P4 tuning on your Ludwig! You might like it! Or at least experience something new. Thanks for your video. That 16 sound of yours is killer!
Very detailed comment. Thanks for giving your settings and examples. I’ve done just about every possible tuning experiment on drums over my playing career, so I appreciate your suggestions. Yes, the room definitely changes things. I find that in a more ambient room I usually prefer to tune my toms a bit higher. Anyway, thanks for the comment on my 16”. I’m a tuning nerd so like you, I’m always looking for the best sound I can get, both recorded and live.😁🤘🏻
Hey man! So back when I had 10” and 12” toms, I had the bottom head tuned higher than the top head (mostly because the top head was 2 ply). My 12” tom top head was tuned to around a G (196 hz) bottom a minor third higher to an A# ( 233 hz). If you feel that is too high, just loosen the head by 1/2 step on each head and see how that sounds and feels. 10” tom was tuned about a major third apart from the 12”, top head was about a B (246 hz), bottom a minor third higher..about a D (293 hz). See if that doesn’t get you in the ballpark, then tweak to your liking.
@EcHo Luckyy I agree with CC Drums' comment. One thing I will add here is that no matter how many toms you use, the main high and low toms should be a Perfect 5th apart with their fundamental note. For my example, the 12 (or 13) and 16 are A# and D# respectively. And the middle tom, 13 (or 14) is a G. When using a 14 floor tom, as in a 10 (or 12) and 14 setup, then I'd use a Perfect 4th spread between them because of the smaller size of the 14FT. If your question is about a 10 12 16 setup, try CC Drums' advice then adjust the 16 to make it a Perfect 5th from the 10. My personal preference is also a 10 12 16, but with the rack toms offset to the left. So my 12 and 16 are the main toms, like a four piece, but I also get the higher 10 just to the left. Also, while the 12 and 16 have resos a Perfect 4th higher, the 10 has a minor 3rd higher. Fundamental notes 10 C# 12 A# 16 D# Reso heads are 10 C 12 A# 16 D# Bring all the batters up to reach those fundamental notes. Then notice the pitch bend on the 10. It's awesome! Don't tune the 10 to a D or D#! It won't sound as cool. Also the 10 will breath better.
One last comment I would make is that try not to get TOO obsessed with tuning to exact notes and frequencies. I’ve talked with pro drummers who are adamant about tuning to notes and frequencies , while others couldn’t care less about what the note was, as long as the drum sounded and felt good to them. Their kits sounded great too, and recorded well…just like those who tune to exact pitches. There are no rules…..whatever works, works. Good luck!
@@ccdrums1290 That's the best advice. The only benefit to tuning to pitches is that one gets to experience the tuning ranges from a different perspective. For me, it just gave me a baseline and decent starting point, which is what many drummers don't know how to find. So the Tunebot is now my tool and not a solution. In fact, I feel like a don't usually need it every time. Our ears have the final say. Tunebots are very useful in noisy environments backstage and when there is very limited time to unfudge a beat up backline kit at a venue. I feel like a superhero when I remove duct tape from drum heads! Haha!
You can also tine the bottom head slightly lower. This lends to bigger, deep 80s tom sound. I always tune the bottom head slightly lower than the top. This works either way because of the way air moves through the shell. Its a wave. So having the top and bottom head slightly different tuning stops the wave from rebounding and causing phase issues. Very similar to microphones. If the wave can move freely without running into itself and causing resistance then you will have a good tone. Tuning them the same will cause the basketball bounce sound. This is when the air wave crashes into itself. This is also why usually 22” and up bass drums have a porthole. Otherwise you get double hits due to the wave rebound. If the air can move freely then it will cause the shell to resonate. Head tuning has more to do with how the shell resonates as opposed to the head tension. They are related but think of how tuning affects shell resonance instead of head pitch.
Cozy Powell was an advocate of tuning the reso head lower than the batter. It never worked for me, but I think with big diameter toms with the batters tuned up a bit higher it can obviously be made to work.
@SAHBfan yeah, tuning and sound is subjective, but I found the majority of drummers I know, as well as myself, get great results with the bottom head tuned up a little higher than the top.
I don't feel alone bro .... I tune also in pitched way 3rd minor intervals between the items ... I have a ton of them in my kit ... 3 octaves high from the kit the snare 3 octaves from the kit higher the 10 inch snare I have ... also for the heads I use 5ths interval for the heads interval as this does great cancellation and reduces the ring to a great point .. I am usually shredding so I am busy behind the kit and when playing busy stuff rings will make the sound muddy ...
Excellent! Watching many videos on tom tuning before my Yamaha set arrives in a few days. Initially, wanted to tune them to notes, later to tune them till the wrinkles just disappear with weights on the heads. With your video, now a mix of wrinkles and notes method. Ha. I prefer the lower notes sound. Will look for your other videos. Thanks for sharing!
Can you do a video on cymbals and what thin,medium,dark etc mean and mixing them or using the same all around(all thin or all medium or mix)Love the videos brother.🤘
Hey man! Thanks for checking out the videos. I’m not really knowledgeable on cymbals…there are so many companies, different types (dark, dry, power, etc.) and different techniques used in the manufacturing process to get the particular sounds….it’s kinda over my head. I chose what I play for a couple reasons: 1, they don’t break. 2, I love the Paiste “shimmer” from the 2002 line. Lastly, some of my favorite drummers played them and they just feel like “home” when I play them.
In all seriousness though thank you for the video and the info. I just got an 18” floor and I’m having a hard time getting the sound that I want out of it so thanks for the tips man!
@@ccdrums1290 yeah it won't apply to elctronic kits, but i love Acoustic kit's more, very hard for me to play electronic kit's,, but i only have budget for electronic kit's,, my kit was very cheap, i got it only $350 🤣🤣🤣, i'm a poor guy,, hope i will have my acoustic drum for the future,, please teach me how to tune my acoustic kit when i have it my friend 🤜🤛🥁🥁🍻
Hey I love this video - thanks! My kit has never sounded this good. I have a question: I’ve got hold of a Ludwig 15x12 rack tom; any tips for tuning frequencies to make it sing? Thanks again!
Yes, I would kind of go by where a 16” floor tom is tuned and look to go a minor third or third higher in pitch. So, I’d say try the batter head around 146 hz., bottom about a step or so higher, about 165hz. That should be close. If it’s too high or too low sounding, just take it up or down ever so slightly until it’s where you want it. That should be in the ballpark though.
I need to install that app!!!!! Thanks sooo much for this!!!! You so helpful my friend!!!!!! What was it like talking to Gavin Harrison,,,, that must have been incredible!!!!!
Talked to him via email/drummerworld. Very nice and very forth coming about how he tunes his kit. His 18” floor Tom is tuned identical to mine, it just sounds right 😁
@@ccdrums1290 CC!!!!, man,,,, that’s awesome dude,,,,, I’ve learned so much from this video!!!!! I only have a 16”! But it still applies to my rack toms too!!!!! I just installed that app!!!! I’m going to use it next time I’m in my studio!!!! Thank you 🙏
@@bryandrums32 yeah, it applies to all drums really. To each his own and wide open drums like I like is kind of an acquired taste, but the concepts here are widely used and seem to work well for rock drum sounds.
Haha, I’m happy you are able to get something out of this stuff. I’m embarrassed to say how much time and effort I put into learning about drum tuning. I’ll never play like a Thomas Lang or Mike Mangini, but I CAN get my drums to sound as good or better than those guys.
My clear heads (clear emperors), when playing live, sound very similar, just a bit more attack and “open-ness” if you will. I like them both for different applications.
Would it help with pitch differentiation to have different heads on the 16” & 18” ? I currently have Evans UV1 heads on my 16” (and all smaller Tom’s as well), but would really like to add an 18” Tom to my kit. I was considering putting an Evans black chrome on the 18”though. Any input would be much appreciated.
It may give you a “perceived” pitch difference in that the black chrome head may produce more lower overtones, making the pitches sound farther apart, but the actual pitch difference would probably be the same with any head tuned the same way. The feel would be a little different as well compared to a UV1, but if it sounds good to your ear, then it works. 🙂
@@ccdrums1290So between the different heads and the proper tuning I should be able to create a noticeable tone differential? Or are you suggesting the single different head may cause it to sound completely out of place with the others? Also, thank you for the reply. You’d be surprised how many people never respond.
@@jeshurunabinadab6560 I totally get it about not responding. Hardly anyone does. What I’m saying is you should be able to get a nice pitch differential between a 16 and 18 with a UV1 head on the 18 too. A different head on the 18, for example a thicker one, may produce more low end, giving the perception of a greater difference. It may not necessarily sound out of place, and may work fine. But if you’re concerned with the 18 having the same feel and characteristics as the 16, you should get a great sound with the same head combo as the 16, with proper tuning. Does that answer your question?
If the toms are both exactly the same size, it will be difficult to get enough pitch separation between the two. You’ll have to take one up to the high end of its tuning range and the other to the low end. For example, a 12” tom will have a pitch range of about 4 to 5 notes where it will sound good. Above that and it’ll feel “hard” and sound choked, below that and it will sound and feel floppy. Just tune one up as high as you can within its range and the other as low as you can. That’s about all you can do. If you can get a 3 note difference between the two drums, you should be ok.
Tried both of these tunings today… finally dialed in my stage custom birch 16/18 floors. Noticeably fat and full of character. I’m running cotton balls in each drum to act as a natural gate (thanks Matt Garstka). My biggest issue now is matching my 14” rack tom to the floors. Any tips for that? Thanks again for the help, subbed!
Very cool man. Glad you got them happening. Sounds like you have Bonham sizes and others who have that size usually tune the 14” tom to a fundamental pitch of about an A. That’s achievable with different tensions, you can try an E on top (165 hz.) an F# or G on the bottom ( 185 to 196 hz). That will get you in the ballpark. Then adjust accordingly. To high, drop the pitch a touch, vice versa. Thanks for your comment!
@@ccdrums1290 I recently picked a 70’s early 80’s 18 inch Gretsch floor tom, it has what looks like the original permatone. Heads on it but they are pretty wrecked, would you recommend remo ambassador coated or similar ? Thank you, greetings from 🏴
@@jarrahdrum Hey man! Congrats on the new drum. So as far as heads go, it depends on what type of music you’re playing, if you’re a hard hitter, etc. For rock and most popular music, and if you hit relatively hard, a 2 ply head on top sounds good and will last longer…like an emperor. Ambassadors sound great too, they can just dent up and wear out faster and sometimes sound a bit thin on floor toms…if you’re playing rock. Hope that helps!
@@jarrahdrum Also, I’m playing coated emperors over clear ambassadors. I use those in the studio but live I usually use clear emperors over clear ambassadors. More attack and projection. 😁🤘🏻
Super helpful video. I have that app and this was a game changer. What would you tune a 12x11 Tom to in the current set up you have in this video(I have a 12/13/16/18 80s Tama Superstar set up). Thanks!
Hey Mike! Glad it helped! So having only a one inch difference between the 12 and 13 inch toms makes it a little harder to get a good pitch separation. You have to take the 12” up a bit and the 13” down a bit and then see how they feel and sound. If it were me, I’d try to tune in thirds first to see if that worked. That would be the 12” top head at a G (196 hz), 13” at a D# (155 hz.), 16” at a B (123.5 hz) and 18” at a G (98 hz). The bottom heads I would tune 1/2 step (1 note) to a full step (2 notes) higher. If the 13” sounded too low, just take it up to an E and the 12” either leave alone or take it up to a G#. That should at least get you in the ball park. Good luck and let me know how you make out!
Cool. It should put each drum in their perspective tuning ranges….you may have to tweak to your liking as far as what music you play, how hard you hit, the sound in your head, etc.
Hey man, so again, the note values are subjective….but this should get you in the ballpark. It will be very close to a 16”, and if it’s the biggest floor, you’ll just have to determine how low you want it. The value I suggest may or may not be too high pitched. With that being said, I would say the overall pitch of the drum would be somewhere around an “F”( around 87-88hz). That’s the pitch of the drum when struck NOT the pitch of the head. You can achieve that pitch with both heads tuned to about 155 hz (around a D#). Note that the frequency of the overall fundamental pitch will be lower than the frequencies of the pitch of the heads. If you are tuning the bottom head tighter, I would try the top head at around a “D” (146 hz) and the bottom a step higher, around an “E” (164 hz). Try that and see how that works. If it’s too high, just slightly lower the pitch ( just a 1/8 of a turn on each lug) on each head until you get the pitch where you want it. Hope that helps!
I've seen videos where they tune both heads the same pitch and they say you get more sustain. I have'nt tryed it yet, so i don't know for sure. What do you think?
Yes that’s true, a full note that sustains as long as it can. It kinda depends on your head choices top and bottom…..you just have to decide what you like better sound wise. You may not want long sustain, especially on floor toms. In my experience, drummers who have 2 ply heads on top and 1 ply heads on the bottom usually go with the bottom head tighter, due to the difference in thickness of the heads. The bottom head will have a higher pitch than the top under the same tension because it’s single ply. For me, I think the drums sound more lively and musical with the bottom head tighter, but again, whatever you think sounds best is the way to go. Hope that helps!
You must have just read the description. All the frequency numbers are given in the video, with the exception of the bottom of the 13” tom. I added them in the description now too. They are as follows: 13” batter 165hz, reso 196 hz. 16” batter 123.5 hz, reso 138.5hz. 18” batter 98 hz, reso 110 hz.
This is a good video, but it would be better if we could hear how the drums sound through the cell phone mic without any processing at all. Part of the reason drummers have a hard time tuning is that processed drums sound nothing like drums in a room
What about inverted tunings? So like, a perfect 4th from A is a D. On a tom the D note being on the top and the A on the bottom how far would you space the toms in turns of tone?
Hey man, thanks for your question. I am assuming you mean that the bottom head is a perfect fourth higher in pitch than the top head? The interval between the top and bottom head really doesn't matter much in terms of how far apart the toms are spaced. As long as you get an interval between the toms where they both are distinguishable and they each sound full and feel right. The notes or pitches don't really matter all that much. You can be anal about it and tune to notes and precise intervals, but it's not necessary. What sounds good to you is what is right, but I'd bet that once you set an interval between two toms that you think sounds right, it'll be very close to a major third or perfect fourth. But to go into more detail..... for example, let's say that the fundamental pitch of the tom you describe (the overall pitch when the drum is struck) is a "G" and it's a 14" tom. If the next tom has a 2" difference in diameter, say a 16" tom, it's likely that the fundamental pitch of the 16" tom will sound about right when there is a major third or perfect fourth interval between the two drums. That pitch would be about a "D" or a "D#". If you wanted the same interval relationship between the top and bottom head on the 16" tom that you have on the 14" tom ( a perfect fourth), then you'd tune your head accordingly to get that fundamental pitch. A ballpark tuning would be an "A" on the top head and a "D" on the bottom. I hope that answers your question.
Any advice on what to do if I have my rack and floor sounding really good individually, but when i hit them together they don't resonate very well with each other? Ive tried tuning them each in a few different sweet spots where they each sound great on their own, but seems like no matter what when I hit them together its just a weird wobbly/ out of pitch resonance. Any tips at all you may be able to think of?
Yes, that usually happens when the drums’ fundamental pitches are dissonant. The best way to correct that is to make sure they are tuned in a complimentary interval, like a perfect fourth or fifth. So, if you could tell me what size your rack and floor toms are and if you are able to tell me what frequency or note/pitch that either the top head of the rack or floor is tuned to, I can suggest some tuning that should help. Let me know.
@@ccdrums1290 Hey! Ya thanks, that might help for sure. I do see why a lot of people say why they don’t tune to specific notes or HZ, only because every drum is different, but that said I would like to learn the theory/intervals, and if nothing else it’s always a starting point at least. One of the things iVe struggled with with this kit is that the Rack toms sweet spots seem to be pretty high in pitch (med - high) anyway, and the floor Tom seems to like to sit pretty low, so when I have the rack tom tuned pretty high, when I bring the floor tom up to abit of a higher range, it doesn’t sound good, and if I bring the rack tom down to somewhere I think it would be in a closer range with the floor it sounds bad lol. Usually I tune my racks and floors pretty low , but i don’t usually have to many issues with dissonance, but with this kit it’s been a struggle. It’s a Pearl Reference kit (22” / 16”/ 12” ) It’s the older reference kits, with rounded 45 birch/maple 12” and fully rounded Maple/mahogany floor Tom.
@jamescassidy4045 awesome! If you have 12” and 16” toms, that should lend itself to around a perfect fifth interval, which is 7 notes apart. So for example, my 12” tom I used to have was tuned to a G on top (medium tight) and an A on the bottom, which gave a fundamental pitch of about an A#. So knowing that, my 16” tom should be about a fifth apart, which would be a C on the top and a D on the bottom. That will give a fundamental pitch on the 16” tom about a D#, a fifth interval from the 12”. Those pitches should be very close to the sweet spots as well. If you can find a reference note to tune your tom to, try those pitches and see how it sounds to you. Let me know how you make out!
@@ccdrums1290 I could hear the slight accent, my ears are pretty attuned to it because I grew up there. Great drumming videos, keep up the good work! Remember "Piano's & Stuff"? I think a version of it is still there I hear. I'm in LA. Nice to meet ya! 🙂
@skyko wow! You have a great ear picking up that accent! I didn’t even know I had one!😁 Not sure about pianos and stuff, not super familiar with Pittsburgh, although I frequented it quite a bit growing up. Great to meet you as well and thanks so much for watching and dropping me a line!
@dgutierrez4 Thanks for watching. Experimenting is the key. You may like that tuning, you may not. You’ll find what sounds good to you, that’s what matters most!
Yeah man, that’s the main reason why I made this video. You really don’t have much choice other than to get your 18” low and solid feeling, then get the 16” up from that approximately a major third. Right around that area should get both drums to sound big, deep and powerful. It doesn’t have to be exact and precise like tuning it with a device…as long as they both sound big on their own and when played together with no pulsing overtones.
@@gabrielbarrera8662 I get what you’re saying, but for me, I want my toms to sing and have lots of tone. I never muffle my toms live or in the studio. Most times with proper tuning, they don’t need gated. For me, double ply heads on the bottom just dulls the sound and hinders the resonance. To each his own, but you’ll find 99% of pro drummers have a single ply resonant head. There’s a reason for that.
Hey I wanted to write you an email in regards to my vistalite kit. Would you mind adding that to your about page so I may email you? Would appreciate some advice!
I want them to resonate, that’s where all the tone comes from. They resonate quite a bit….but controlled, meaning the resonance isn’t obnoxious and decays nicely after a second or so. Tuning the bottom head tighter shortens the sustain and helps control the resonance. The “ringing” resonant tone is what gives you the presence in the mix. To cut it off completely leaves the drums sounding lifeless. Hope that helps.
I've notice the same thing, a B note for your lowest floor tom is a good place to have it. And then m3rds apart with the different size toms (if possible) is also a good place to start. Something I'd say to drum tuners watching: The bottom head is EVERYTHING on a tom in my experience. Too often people start cranking on the batter head or adding tape or other stuff on the batter head when the reso head is really what needs fixed. I had a 12-inch rack at a gig that was just not cooperating, I took it off, flipped it over, detuned completely then retuned it up until just where it started to resonate, flipped it over, gave it a whack, and it sounded killer. Never touched the batter head, it really isn't as critical as people think.
Right on! Thanks for your comment!
I was wondering same thing and I usually tune it to the same thing as 1st mounted tom,if playing with 5 pieces and 2 floor toms
Drum dial tension tuner..are spot on..made my kit sound amazing..took the guess work out of it..and fine tuned them perfect..
Whatever works man, cool.
What was ur setting
I’ve been playing 50 years myself, and finally in the last five years, I’ve gotten tuning down pat all of what you said is true and exactly what I have found to work grade in my tuning
Awesome, glad that you have gotten comfortable with tuning. It can be a challenge, but with experimentation and patience, it usually works out well. Thanks for the comment!!
We literally have the same kit, but I have a hammered shell, with tube lugs black beauty. Used the drumtune pro app and put new coated G2s on mine. Results were fantastic. Zero muffling and the Tom’s sound amazing. The app was a little finicky, the readings would jump from expected numbers to like 300-400hz. End results were great, so I appreciate you posting this very helpful.
Great! Very cool we have the same kit. I know what you mean about the app being finicky. Once I find a lug that is clear and the frequency is correct, I hit the lock target button and it eliminates overtones that may interfere with getting a clear reading. That seems to help a lot. Glad the video was helpful, enjoy those Ludwig’s! 😁
Wonderfull Video. Greetings from Germany. Peter
Hey Peter! Thanks for checking it out. I’m not the best at doing instructional videos, but hopefully this helps when trying to tune floor toms. All the best!
Over the years I've found tuning by feel is something should be learned aside from tech gadgets and trying to get every tension rod close in pitch by ear. Tuning by feel aka equal pressure of each tension rod, while doing the same concept you mentioned with bottom drum head about a full step higher than top seems to work best. Yeah agreed to each their own as you mentioned. All I know is that having to retune while on stage with noise in the room makes a drummer glad he's adapted to tuning by feel as well, otherwise your doomed either because of noise interference and/or time constraints with the band and audience waiting on a drummer who's not competent in tuning by feel.
Tuning by ear is priority as you have limited time to tune your drums on live gigs.. you cant tune a single drum 1 hour by just getting that piano tone lol.. not unless your just recording then yeah pitch tuning maybe will work lol
This is a great video, I always tuned by ear but it sounds a lot better when referencing for the right notes, this gives me a better understanding of the intervals, thanks for the tip for the Tune App
You bet! Glad you found it helpful! I tune by ear too at first, I just quantify it with a pitch so I can fine tune and replicate!
Excellent, enough said. Thank you for sharing your expertise.
Thanks for watching!
Thank you bro! Almost same gear, Classic and 2002, almost same setup, almost same background...
That video is real helpful to nearly all of us! Thanx a lot!
Thank you man!
When I ordered my classic maples with 16 and 18 inch floor toms, I decided to go with the 16x14 option. 14 inch depth seems to help with tuning it closer between the 13x9 and 18x16. Thanks for the lesson on use of that app, I need that.
I agree. I like the 14” depth on a 16” diameter floor tom. Hope your diggin’ your kit!
Masterclass in a nutshell, Daaaaaaaang! all the best wishes for you always, great info, thanks so much for sharing such a treasure
Thanks brother!
Great Video, thanks i was having trouble finding that right sound. I followed your videos and wow i couldn't believe how close i was tuned to what i was looking for s few more turns here or there and Bam. My lives and recordings have never sounded better. Thanks for sharing. Cheers
Awesome! Glad it worked out for you!!
I aim for 1.2 x the frequency of the intended final note for the top lugs, and 2.3 x the intended frequency on the bottom lugs. (So for A110 as the target note, the top lugs would be at 132Htz and the bottom lugs would be at 253Htz) I also mute the head that I'm not tuning. It's a basic formula from the tunebot folks. It's pretty amazing how close the note is after applying this technique. It's their recommended settings for fast punchy attack and low resonance. Great for live rock if the sound guy doesn't know what a gate is lol. Many schools of thought on this subject for sure but this is the way I tune for live. Too many sound guys reach for the eq to cut the ringing out if you tune for high resonance. Kills the meat of the drum. If you have and use frequency targeted gating then it's less of an issue but who knows about those lol. Thought your drums sounded awesome by the way! Well tuned and well processed and mic'ed. Very cool!
Yes, there are a million ways to tune and whatever gets you to your final destination is what is right. Thanks for the comment!
I loved your drum tuning, I used almost the same thing, but I tune my 16 inch floor Tom to a D2, put a little bit of gaffers tape on the resonant head to get some of the overtones out, and I put a piece of moon gel on the logo, and it sounds perfect to me.
Cool brother, whatever works!
I also use and love this app. Its only 4.99 for the full Version and really helps a lot.
I agree!
Awesome video and awesome drum set. I like my floor toms to be deep as they can be with mostly attack and just a boom of tone and quick sustain. Good luck with your channel man! Subbed and looking forward to more content!
Thanks man, thanks for watching and commenting. I hope to share some more good information in the coming weeks and months!
i like the low end sound for punch
Cool
Thank you ! Love your kit!
Thanks man!
Nice! I have a 1978 luan Pearl kit. Same sizes. All coated Remos, Emps on top and Ambs on bottom.
I tune reso higher at a P4 interval. I start with each reso head being perfectly tuned to an octave above the fundamental pitch. Then I bring the batter up until the fundamental note is achieved. Hint. The batter is never an exact P4 below the batter, but generally close. It's the reso that really defines the tone. With the tighter reso, the shell gets activated more and the fundamental note activates the reso more because they are the same note at two different octaves. So the drum gets great attack, a full tone, and a naturally controlled sustain because of the tighter reso. No Moongel needed. It hits, makes a tone, then gets out of the way.
Size Batter / Reso
13 F / A#
16 A# / D#
18 F / A#
If you throw in a 10 or 12 to the left, as in offset toms, I use a C# fundamental with the reso at a minor 3rd higher. That note gives more character to the kit than a D#. Also, the pitch bend of the minor 3rd just sounds cool with smaller toms. Again more character while still blending well with the kit overall.
Sometimes I use a 14x10 between the 13 and 16. I tune this to a fundamental of G with the reso a P4 high, same as the 13 16 and 18.
I've performed with this tuning without any mics in rock bands. It cuts perfectly! And the drums are able to breathe naturally.
On the flip side, I own a small blues venue in Japan. My house kit is a Pearl Reference Pure. 10 12 13 16 22. All coated Ambs. All resos at a minor 3rd higher. And the fundamental pitches are all a half step lower than what I described above. No mics except kick. It's a completely different drum set, but it never moves. So I was able to fine tune it to the room. And yes, I've been experimenting with different tunings every week this year. The room will tell you what it likes because of physics.
Try my P4 tuning on your Ludwig! You might like it! Or at least experience something new.
Thanks for your video. That 16 sound of yours is killer!
Very detailed comment. Thanks for giving your settings and examples. I’ve done just about every possible tuning experiment on drums over my playing career, so I appreciate your suggestions. Yes, the room definitely changes things. I find that in a more ambient room I usually prefer to tune my toms a bit higher. Anyway, thanks for the comment on my 16”. I’m a tuning nerd so like you, I’m always looking for the best sound I can get, both recorded and live.😁🤘🏻
Hey man! So back when I had 10” and 12” toms, I had the bottom head tuned higher than the top head (mostly because the top head was 2 ply). My 12” tom top head was tuned to around a G (196 hz) bottom a minor third higher to an A# ( 233 hz). If you feel that is too high, just loosen the head by 1/2 step on each head and see how that sounds and feels. 10” tom was tuned about a major third apart from the 12”, top head was about a B (246 hz), bottom a minor third higher..about a D (293 hz). See if that doesn’t get you in the ballpark, then tweak to your liking.
@EcHo Luckyy I agree with CC Drums' comment. One thing I will add here is that no matter how many toms you use, the main high and low toms should be a Perfect 5th apart with their fundamental note. For my example, the 12 (or 13) and 16 are A# and D# respectively. And the middle tom, 13 (or 14) is a G.
When using a 14 floor tom, as in a 10 (or 12) and 14 setup, then I'd use a Perfect 4th spread between them because of the smaller size of the 14FT.
If your question is about a 10 12 16 setup, try CC Drums' advice then adjust the 16 to make it a Perfect 5th from the 10.
My personal preference is also a 10 12 16, but with the rack toms offset to the left. So my 12 and 16 are the main toms, like a four piece, but I also get the higher 10 just to the left. Also, while the 12 and 16 have resos a Perfect 4th higher, the 10 has a minor 3rd higher.
Fundamental notes
10 C#
12 A#
16 D#
Reso heads are
10 C
12 A#
16 D#
Bring all the batters up to reach those fundamental notes. Then notice the pitch bend on the 10. It's awesome! Don't tune the 10 to a D or D#! It won't sound as cool. Also the 10 will breath better.
One last comment I would make is that try not to get TOO obsessed with tuning to exact notes and frequencies. I’ve talked with pro drummers who are adamant about tuning to notes and frequencies , while others couldn’t care less about what the note was, as long as the drum sounded and felt good to them. Their kits sounded great too, and recorded well…just like those who tune to exact pitches. There are no rules…..whatever works, works. Good luck!
@@ccdrums1290 That's the best advice. The only benefit to tuning to pitches is that one gets to experience the tuning ranges from a different perspective. For me, it just gave me a baseline and decent starting point, which is what many drummers don't know how to find. So the Tunebot is now my tool and not a solution. In fact, I feel like a don't usually need it every time. Our ears have the final say.
Tunebots are very useful in noisy environments backstage and when there is very limited time to unfudge a beat up backline kit at a venue. I feel like a superhero when I remove duct tape from drum heads! Haha!
You can also tine the bottom head slightly lower. This lends to bigger, deep 80s tom sound. I always tune the bottom head slightly lower than the top. This works either way because of the way air moves through the shell. Its a wave. So having the top and bottom head slightly different tuning stops the wave from rebounding and causing phase issues. Very similar to microphones. If the wave can move freely without running into itself and causing resistance then you will have a good tone. Tuning them the same will cause the basketball bounce sound. This is when the air wave crashes into itself. This is also why usually 22” and up bass drums have a porthole. Otherwise you get double hits due to the wave rebound. If the air can move freely then it will cause the shell to resonate. Head tuning has more to do with how the shell resonates as opposed to the head tension. They are related but think of how tuning affects shell resonance instead of head pitch.
You can tune them however you want, up down or sideways haha. For me and in my experience, bottom head tighter wins.
Cozy Powell was an advocate of tuning the reso head lower than the batter. It never worked for me, but I think with big diameter toms with the batters tuned up a bit higher it can obviously be made to work.
@SAHBfan yeah, tuning and sound is subjective, but I found the majority of drummers I know, as well as myself, get great results with the bottom head tuned up a little higher than the top.
Head choice definitely matters also.
@Jbrant29 For sure.
I don't feel alone bro .... I tune also in pitched way 3rd minor intervals between the items ... I have a ton of them in my kit ... 3 octaves high from the kit the snare 3 octaves from the kit higher the 10 inch snare I have ... also for the heads I use 5ths interval for the heads interval as this does great cancellation and reduces the ring to a great point .. I am usually shredding so I am busy behind the kit and when playing busy stuff rings will make the sound muddy ...
Right on man!
Excellent! Watching many videos on tom tuning before my Yamaha set arrives in a few days. Initially, wanted to tune them to notes, later to tune them till the wrinkles just disappear with weights on the heads. With your video, now a mix of wrinkles and notes method. Ha. I prefer the lower notes sound. Will look for your other videos. Thanks for sharing!
Have fun with your new kit!
Another great video. Just great information. I subscribed.
Thank you man! Glad you found it useful.
Great tutorial cc thanks for sharing mate
Thanks man.
Can you do a video on cymbals and what thin,medium,dark etc mean and mixing them or using the same all around(all thin or all medium or mix)Love the videos brother.🤘
Hey man! Thanks for checking out the videos. I’m not really knowledgeable on cymbals…there are so many companies, different types (dark, dry, power, etc.) and different techniques used in the manufacturing process to get the particular sounds….it’s kinda over my head. I chose what I play for a couple reasons: 1, they don’t break. 2, I love the Paiste “shimmer” from the 2002 line. Lastly, some of my favorite drummers played them and they just feel like “home” when I play them.
“We’ll I’m a certified drum tuning fanatic!” 😂 nice one bro🤣
Thanks….I think?
Stay humble my friend
In all seriousness though thank you for the video and the info. I just got an 18” floor and I’m having a hard time getting the sound that I want out of it so thanks for the tips man!
You’re welcome. Hope you get the sound you’re looking for.
If one could put a measuring device on a drummers ego,there would be a revolution in measurement equipment before you could even start.
Great content!
Thank you sir!
Good lessons my friend,, i'll try it if i have a drum acoustic, thank you 🤜🤛🤘🥁🍻
Yeah, won’t apply to electronic kits haha 😁. Good info to know regardless.
@@ccdrums1290 yeah it won't apply to elctronic kits, but i love Acoustic kit's more, very hard for me to play electronic kit's,, but i only have budget for electronic kit's,, my kit was very cheap, i got it only $350 🤣🤣🤣, i'm a poor guy,, hope i will have my acoustic drum for the future,, please teach me how to tune my acoustic kit when i have it my friend 🤜🤛🥁🥁🍻
@@drumateur4100 you got it brother!
@@ccdrums1290 thank you my friend 🤜🤛
certified by the "international brotherhood of drum tuners?"
The IBDT. 😁
Love it 😍
Thanks!
Fun video man! 👏👏👏
Thanks!
Nice sounds
Thanks Tony
Thanks frand 😃
You’re welcome!
Hey I love this video - thanks! My kit has never sounded this good. I have a question: I’ve got hold of a Ludwig 15x12 rack tom; any tips for tuning frequencies to make it sing? Thanks again!
Yes, I would kind of go by where a 16” floor tom is tuned and look to go a minor third or third higher in pitch. So, I’d say try the batter head around 146 hz., bottom about a step or so higher, about 165hz. That should be close. If it’s too high or too low sounding, just take it up or down ever so slightly until it’s where you want it. That should be in the ballpark though.
@@ccdrums1290 thanks so much!
I need to install that app!!!!! Thanks sooo much for this!!!! You so helpful my friend!!!!!! What was it like talking to Gavin Harrison,,,, that must have been incredible!!!!!
Talked to him via email/drummerworld. Very nice and very forth coming about how he tunes his kit. His 18” floor Tom is tuned identical to mine, it just sounds right 😁
@@ccdrums1290 CC!!!!, man,,,, that’s awesome dude,,,,, I’ve learned so much from this video!!!!! I only have a 16”! But it still applies to my rack toms too!!!!! I just installed that app!!!! I’m going to use it next time I’m in my studio!!!! Thank you 🙏
@@bryandrums32 yeah, it applies to all drums really. To each his own and wide open drums like I like is kind of an acquired taste, but the concepts here are widely used and seem to work well for rock drum sounds.
@@ccdrums1290 CC!!!! Yes!!! Exactly bro!!!! Man, I’m so glad I’m friends with you on here!!!! I’m learning a lot!!!! Thanks 🙏
Haha, I’m happy you are able to get something out of this stuff. I’m embarrassed to say how much time and effort I put into learning about drum tuning. I’ll never play like a Thomas Lang or Mike Mangini, but I CAN get my drums to sound as good or better than those guys.
Drum Tune Pro is amaaazing!!! i bought it... just forgot to use it!!! hahahahaha
Haha! It is cool. I don’t use it a whole lot, but it comes in handy now and then.
Can never get my Clear heads to sound like that..😊
My clear heads (clear emperors), when playing live, sound very similar, just a bit more attack and “open-ness” if you will. I like them both for different applications.
Would it help with pitch differentiation to have different heads on the 16” & 18” ? I currently have Evans UV1 heads on my 16” (and all smaller Tom’s as well), but would really like to add an 18” Tom to my kit. I was considering putting an Evans black chrome on the 18”though. Any input would be much appreciated.
It may give you a “perceived” pitch difference in that the black chrome head may produce more lower overtones, making the pitches sound farther apart, but the actual pitch difference would probably be the same with any head tuned the same way. The feel would be a little different as well compared to a UV1, but if it sounds good to your ear, then it works. 🙂
@@ccdrums1290So between the different heads and the proper tuning I should be able to create a noticeable tone differential? Or are you suggesting the single different head may cause it to sound completely out of place with the others? Also, thank you for the reply. You’d be surprised how many people never respond.
@@jeshurunabinadab6560 I totally get it about not responding. Hardly anyone does. What I’m saying is you should be able to get a nice pitch differential between a 16 and 18 with a UV1 head on the 18 too. A different head on the 18, for example a thicker one, may produce more low end, giving the perception of a greater difference. It may not necessarily sound out of place, and may work fine. But if you’re concerned with the 18 having the same feel and characteristics as the 16, you should get a great sound with the same head combo as the 16, with proper tuning. Does that answer your question?
@@ccdrums1290Absolutely! Greatly appreciate it 🍻✨
New Subb here, More vids like this!...Thanks!!
Thanks for the sub! More to come soon!
Would the same apply to same size drum tuning? I bought a pearl rhythm traveler kit and it has 2 12's and 2 14's ...thanks in advance
If the toms are both exactly the same size, it will be difficult to get enough pitch separation between the two. You’ll have to take one up to the high end of its tuning range and the other to the low end. For example, a 12” tom will have a pitch range of about 4 to 5 notes where it will sound good. Above that and it’ll feel “hard” and sound choked, below that and it will sound and feel floppy. Just tune one up as high as you can within its range and the other as low as you can. That’s about all you can do. If you can get a 3 note difference between the two drums, you should be ok.
Tried both of these tunings today… finally dialed in my stage custom birch 16/18 floors. Noticeably fat and full of character. I’m running cotton balls in each drum to act as a natural gate (thanks Matt Garstka).
My biggest issue now is matching my 14” rack tom to the floors. Any tips for that?
Thanks again for the help, subbed!
Very cool man. Glad you got them happening. Sounds like you have Bonham sizes and others who have that size usually tune the 14” tom to a fundamental pitch of about an A. That’s achievable with different tensions, you can try an E on top (165 hz.) an F# or G on the bottom ( 185 to 196 hz). That will get you in the ballpark. Then adjust accordingly. To high, drop the pitch a touch, vice versa. Thanks for your comment!
Quick response and full of knowledge. You’re the man! Cheers fella 🫡
@@Curtis.720 haha, long time studio drummer and live player. Glad I can help!
Yes, the 16 is a 2G I have found that out myself I use a tune bot
Subscribed 👍🏻
Thanks brother!!
@@ccdrums1290 I recently picked a 70’s early 80’s 18 inch Gretsch floor tom, it has what looks like the original permatone. Heads on it but they are pretty wrecked, would you recommend remo ambassador coated or similar ? Thank you, greetings from 🏴
@@jarrahdrum Hey man! Congrats on the new drum. So as far as heads go, it depends on what type of music you’re playing, if you’re a hard hitter, etc. For rock and most popular music, and if you hit relatively hard, a 2 ply head on top sounds good and will last longer…like an emperor. Ambassadors sound great too, they can just dent up and wear out faster and sometimes sound a bit thin on floor toms…if you’re playing rock. Hope that helps!
@@jarrahdrum Also, I’m playing coated emperors over clear ambassadors. I use those in the studio but live I usually use clear emperors over clear ambassadors. More attack and projection. 😁🤘🏻
@@ccdrums1290 hey thank you Brother for the guidance
I will go with the coated emperor on top and clear ambassador on the bottom ❤️🙏
Super helpful video. I have that app and this was a game changer. What would you tune a 12x11 Tom to in the current set up you have in this video(I have a 12/13/16/18 80s Tama Superstar set up). Thanks!
Hey Mike! Glad it helped! So having only a one inch difference between the 12 and 13 inch toms makes it a little harder to get a good pitch separation. You have to take the 12” up a bit and the 13” down a bit and then see how they feel and sound. If it were me, I’d try to tune in thirds first to see if that worked. That would be the 12” top head at a G (196 hz), 13” at a D# (155 hz.), 16” at a B (123.5 hz) and 18” at a G (98 hz). The bottom heads I would tune 1/2 step (1 note) to a full step (2 notes) higher. If the 13” sounded too low, just take it up to an E and the 12” either leave alone or take it up to a G#. That should at least get you in the ball park. Good luck and let me know how you make out!
Thanks for the input. Definitely going to try this out
Cool. It should put each drum in their perspective tuning ranges….you may have to tweak to your liking as far as what music you play, how hard you hit, the sound in your head, etc.
What is your note recommendation for a 15×14 floor?
Hey man, so again, the note values are subjective….but this should get you in the ballpark. It will be very close to a 16”, and if it’s the biggest floor, you’ll just have to determine how low you want it. The value I suggest may or may not be too high pitched. With that being said, I would say the overall pitch of the drum would be somewhere around an “F”( around 87-88hz). That’s the pitch of the drum when struck NOT the pitch of the head. You can achieve that pitch with both heads tuned to about 155 hz (around a D#). Note that the frequency of the overall fundamental pitch will be lower than the frequencies of the pitch of the heads. If you are tuning the bottom head tighter, I would try the top head at around a “D” (146 hz) and the bottom a step higher, around an “E” (164 hz). Try that and see how that works. If it’s too high, just slightly lower the pitch ( just a 1/8 of a turn on each lug) on each head until you get the pitch where you want it. Hope that helps!
I've seen videos where they tune both heads the same pitch and they say you get more sustain. I have'nt tryed it yet, so i don't know for sure. What do you think?
Yes that’s true, a full note that sustains as long as it can. It kinda depends on your head choices top and bottom…..you just have to decide what you like better sound wise. You may not want long sustain, especially on floor toms. In my experience, drummers who have 2 ply heads on top and 1 ply heads on the bottom usually go with the bottom head tighter, due to the difference in thickness of the heads. The bottom head will have a higher pitch than the top under the same tension because it’s single ply. For me, I think the drums sound more lively and musical with the bottom head tighter, but again, whatever you think sounds best is the way to go. Hope that helps!
Can you give the frequency numbers for each Tom batter and reso side please? :)
You must have just read the description. All the frequency numbers are given in the video, with the exception of the bottom of the 13” tom. I added them in the description now too. They are as follows: 13” batter 165hz, reso 196 hz. 16” batter 123.5 hz, reso 138.5hz. 18” batter 98 hz, reso 110 hz.
This is a good video, but it would be better if we could hear how the drums sound through the cell phone mic without any processing at all. Part of the reason drummers have a hard time tuning is that processed drums sound nothing like drums in a room
I agree Jeff, may update it sometime soon.
What about inverted tunings? So like, a perfect 4th from A is a D. On a tom the D note being on the top and the A on the bottom how far would you space the toms in turns of tone?
Hey man, thanks for your question. I am assuming you mean that the bottom head is a perfect fourth higher in pitch than the top head? The interval between the top and bottom head really doesn't matter much in terms of how far apart the toms are spaced. As long as you get an interval between the toms where they both are distinguishable and they each sound full and feel right. The notes or pitches don't really matter all that much. You can be anal about it and tune to notes and precise intervals, but it's not necessary. What sounds good to you is what is right, but I'd bet that once you set an interval between two toms that you think sounds right, it'll be very close to a major third or perfect fourth. But to go into more detail..... for example, let's say that the fundamental pitch of the tom you describe (the overall pitch when the drum is struck) is a "G" and it's a 14" tom. If the next tom has a 2" difference in diameter, say a 16" tom, it's likely that the fundamental pitch of the 16" tom will sound about right when there is a major third or perfect fourth interval between the two drums. That pitch would be about a "D" or a "D#". If you wanted the same interval relationship between the top and bottom head on the 16" tom that you have on the 14" tom ( a perfect fourth), then you'd tune your head accordingly to get that fundamental pitch. A ballpark tuning would be an "A" on the top head and a "D" on the bottom. I hope that answers your question.
Any advice on what to do if I have my rack and floor sounding really good individually, but when i hit them together they don't resonate very well with each other? Ive tried tuning them each in a few different sweet spots where they each sound great on their own, but seems like no matter what when I hit them together its just a weird wobbly/ out of pitch resonance. Any tips at all you may be able to think of?
Yes, that usually happens when the drums’ fundamental pitches are dissonant. The best way to correct that is to make sure they are tuned in a complimentary interval, like a perfect fourth or fifth. So, if you could tell me what size your rack and floor toms are and if you are able to tell me what frequency or note/pitch that either the top head of the rack or floor is tuned to, I can suggest some tuning that should help. Let me know.
@@ccdrums1290 Hey! Ya thanks, that might help for sure. I do see why a lot of people say why they don’t tune to specific notes or HZ, only because every drum is different, but that said I would like to learn the theory/intervals, and if nothing else it’s always a starting point at least.
One of the things iVe struggled with with this kit is that the Rack toms sweet spots seem to be pretty high in pitch (med - high) anyway, and the floor Tom seems to like to sit pretty low, so when I have the rack tom tuned pretty high, when I bring the floor tom up to abit of a higher range, it doesn’t sound good, and if I bring the rack tom down to somewhere I think it would be in a closer range with the floor it sounds bad lol. Usually I tune my racks and floors pretty low , but i don’t usually have to many issues with dissonance, but with this kit it’s been a struggle.
It’s a Pearl Reference kit (22” / 16”/ 12” )
It’s the older reference kits, with rounded 45 birch/maple 12” and fully rounded Maple/mahogany floor Tom.
@jamescassidy4045 awesome! If you have 12” and 16” toms, that should lend itself to around a perfect fifth interval, which is 7 notes apart. So for example, my 12” tom I used to have was tuned to a G on top (medium tight) and an A on the bottom, which gave a fundamental pitch of about an A#. So knowing that, my 16” tom should be about a fifth apart, which would be a C on the top and a D on the bottom. That will give a fundamental pitch on the 16” tom about a D#, a fifth interval from the 12”. Those pitches should be very close to the sweet spots as well. If you can find a reference note to tune your tom to, try those pitches and see how it sounds to you. Let me know how you make out!
@@ccdrums1290 Thanks man, I'll do some work tonight/tomorow and check in! I appreciate it!
@jamescassidy4045 no problem!
Pittsburgh? (...or nearby?) 😉
Grew up near there ( Altoona), live in Atlanta now🙂
@@ccdrums1290 I could hear the slight accent, my ears are pretty attuned to it because I grew up there. Great drumming videos, keep up the good work! Remember "Piano's & Stuff"? I think a version of it is still there I hear. I'm in LA. Nice to meet ya! 🙂
@skyko wow! You have a great ear picking up that accent! I didn’t even know I had one!😁 Not sure about pianos and stuff, not super familiar with Pittsburgh, although I frequented it quite a bit growing up. Great to meet you as well and thanks so much for watching and dropping me a line!
It don’t need to be that complicated
To each his own brother.
What note was the 16” reso head tuned to?
It was tuned a full step above the batter. The batter was at a B (around 123.5 hz), so the reso was a C# (around 138.5 hz). Hope that helps!
@@ccdrums1290 thank you. I’m going to experiment with this method of tuning. I appreciate your video.
@dgutierrez4 Thanks for watching. Experimenting is the key. You may like that tuning, you may not. You’ll find what sounds good to you, that’s what matters most!
If the 13” batter head is an E, then a minor third up is a G for resonant head?
@dgutierrez4 yes sir!
how deep is the 16?
It’s a 16”x 16”.
1:38 ... Always been my biggest problem .....
Yeah man, that’s the main reason why I made this video. You really don’t have much choice other than to get your 18” low and solid feeling, then get the 16” up from that approximately a major third. Right around that area should get both drums to sound big, deep and powerful. It doesn’t have to be exact and precise like tuning it with a device…as long as they both sound big on their own and when played together with no pulsing overtones.
@@ccdrums1290 yeah much appreciated brother thanks for the great tips ... Will definitely try these out
You got it man, hit me up if you have any trouble or questions 😁
Nice credentials
Double ply coated on the resonant side. And you’ll be OK. Get rid of that annoying overtone.
Nah, no one does that brother.
@@ccdrums1290well I do, unless you have a top of the line drum kit. Good bearing edges. All that good stuff
@@gabrielbarrera8662 I get what you’re saying, but for me, I want my toms to sing and have lots of tone. I never muffle my toms live or in the studio. Most times with proper tuning, they don’t need gated. For me, double ply heads on the bottom just dulls the sound and hinders the resonance. To each his own, but you’ll find 99% of pro drummers have a single ply resonant head. There’s a reason for that.
Hey I wanted to write you an email in regards to my vistalite kit. Would you mind adding that to your about page so I may email you? Would appreciate some advice!
How do you get those toms to have no resonance whatsoever?
I want them to resonate, that’s where all the tone comes from. They resonate quite a bit….but controlled, meaning the resonance isn’t obnoxious and decays nicely after a second or so. Tuning the bottom head tighter shortens the sustain and helps control the resonance. The “ringing” resonant tone is what gives you the presence in the mix. To cut it off completely leaves the drums sounding lifeless. Hope that helps.