I like a certain amount of snare buzz. For the right song it can really bring a recording to life - especially in this era of hyper-controlled drum mixes. Instruments interacting acoustically is just so damn evocative. I mean, listen to the opening of "Don't Let Me Down" by the Beatles and tell me you can't feel the cold breeze on that rooftop in '69.
I can't stand snare buzz and it is a big issue for me. Thanks for sharing your video. Hopefully the tips that you have suggested will have some affect on the buzz from my snare drum.
I've learned to live with it, quite frankly. And none of my colleagues have ever called me out on it fortunately! In fact, only a couple of my snare drums really have any pronounced snare buzz when hitting the toms. The other snares, while still creating a buzz, are not as offensive or the snare buzz they produce seems to get lost when surrounded by music. My snare side heads are usually pretty tight, but not table-top tight. If snare buzz is ever a problem for me in the studio (which it rarely seems to be these days given how much engineers like a very ambient sound), a little bit of gating on the snare mic seems to do the trick and can often eliminate it from the track entirely. But if I get the whole kit sounding good and working together I'm less inclined to make any changes tuning-wise in attempt to get rid of something like snare buzz. Overall I feel like it is an accepted transgression and is tolerable unless the music calls for sensitivity and low volume. It's one facet of our instrument: inherent resonances. You may as well do a video on how the toms ring whenever you hit the bass drum!
Thanks for sharing your experience! For me personally snare buzz is always a part of the whole drum sound. Toms and bass drum often sound very different when the snares are turned off. Bringing in the snare wires just adds that little extra attack and texture that brings them to live. But in many situations it is great to know some simple tricks, not to eliminate, but to control the amount of snare buzz to suit my personal taste. Thanks for the suggestion regarding the ringing toms! We will definitely look into that but you can already find some tricks regarding this issue in our drum hack videos.
@@ArtOfDrumming Also want to mention that properly mounted and aligned snare wires of good quality will go a long way, not only with snare buzz but with a good snare sound in general.
Definitely! There is also no doubt that 30 strand snare wires will react different than 20 strand models. Also the material of the wires themselves changes a lot. But if we start discussing all those topics we won’t stop talking about snare wires ever again :D
I have 2 more suggestions for cutting down on snare buzz: 1. Using less snare wires (12 strand or less ideally). This can be done by taking a standard 20 strand snare and cutting out wires. 2. Using a die cast hoop on the resonant side. Bob Gatzen talks about both of these here: ruclips.net/video/Dq6oDRwhk-I/видео.html
I am taking this video as a sign from above. I just got out my Acoustics drums and I've got serious snare buzz from my mid tom. The timing from this video couldn't be better. I'm going to try a few of these things.
And another thing. The first suggestion I have questions about because I have learned that a drum needs to be in tune with itself period meaning all of the tension rods must be equal in tension. Then the drum is in tune with itself. To lower one tension rod would defeat that purpose.
Hey Ron Perfect! Hope you could use those tricks to deal with your mid tom snare buzz! And yes, getting all tension rods to an equal tension usually is the goal when you look at drum tuning in general. So like we mentioned in the video, retuning the whole tom would be the ideal solution. Using only one tension rod is the fast "quick and dirty" way to go. It works but your tom sound will change. So if you have the time to really work on that issue definitely work on the pitch of the whole tom instead of using only one tension rod.
@@ArtOfDrumming just wanted you to know I tried all these steps. The first one was changing the pitch on one of the lugs on the tom. Didn't work. And it made me feel uncomfortable so I put it back where it was. After trying the other things I decide to try to raise tension on the snare reso. It actually worked
I've learned to live with it as long as it isn't excessive or produces a sour harmonic warble. When the usual fails, you can sometimes fix that sour warble by trying a thinner or thicker ply reso. If new to drums, a lot of the cringing is due to lack of knowing what is normal. As someone pointed out, listen to the updated studio release of "Don't Let Me Down" (Beatles) as an example of snare wires noticeably singing duet with the guitars the whole time. We laugh now but try to imagine how acoustically stale the song might be without it.
I got a less strand snare wires to start .. I also loosened the snares up a little and did the tom trick .I put a small towel hanging off the back of my snare and doing all 3 really helped a lot .But when the bass player hits that evil note my snares still rattle
Yes it can be a distraction for sure. Its a battle. A short strip of tissue paper under the wires (the kind used in gift wrapping) will reduce buzz but also make your snare work at about only 75% of normal.
Turning one tension lug slightly out of tune with the other lugs on the toms tends to produce weird harmonic overtones. Why not simply use a strip of masking tape to hold the snare wires snug against the resonant snare drum head? Works for me. 🤔🙂
I find the very best way to cope with the God awful snare "BUZZ" is on your bands next break go on & catch a "BUZZ" yourself, this way you & the snare "BUZZ" are on the same wave length. There you have it-- problem solved! Drink & smoke responsibly please.
Thanks!! I’ve been in my basement for hours wondering why my new snare was buzzing more than ever. This really helped after a fustrating few hours
me too!
I like a certain amount of snare buzz. For the right song it can really bring a recording to life - especially in this era of hyper-controlled drum mixes. Instruments interacting acoustically is just so damn evocative. I mean, listen to the opening of "Don't Let Me Down" by the Beatles and tell me you can't feel the cold breeze on that rooftop in '69.
I can't stand snare buzz and it is a big issue for me. Thanks for sharing your video. Hopefully the tips that you have suggested will have some affect on the buzz from my snare drum.
I've learned to live with it, quite frankly. And none of my colleagues have ever called me out on it fortunately! In fact, only a couple of my snare drums really have any pronounced snare buzz when hitting the toms. The other snares, while still creating a buzz, are not as offensive or the snare buzz they produce seems to get lost when surrounded by music. My snare side heads are usually pretty tight, but not table-top tight. If snare buzz is ever a problem for me in the studio (which it rarely seems to be these days given how much engineers like a very ambient sound), a little bit of gating on the snare mic seems to do the trick and can often eliminate it from the track entirely. But if I get the whole kit sounding good and working together I'm less inclined to make any changes tuning-wise in attempt to get rid of something like snare buzz. Overall I feel like it is an accepted transgression and is tolerable unless the music calls for sensitivity and low volume. It's one facet of our instrument: inherent resonances. You may as well do a video on how the toms ring whenever you hit the bass drum!
Thanks for sharing your experience!
For me personally snare buzz is always a part of the whole drum sound. Toms and bass drum often sound very different when the snares are turned off. Bringing in the snare wires just adds that little extra attack and texture that brings them to live. But in many situations it is great to know some simple tricks, not to eliminate, but to control the amount of snare buzz to suit my personal taste.
Thanks for the suggestion regarding the ringing toms! We will definitely look into that but you can already find some tricks regarding this issue in our drum hack videos.
@@ArtOfDrumming Also want to mention that properly mounted and aligned snare wires of good quality will go a long way, not only with snare buzz but with a good snare sound in general.
Definitely!
There is also no doubt that 30 strand snare wires will react different than 20 strand models. Also the material of the wires themselves changes a lot. But if we start discussing all those topics we won’t stop talking about snare wires ever again :D
@@ArtOfDrumming 😆
I've also adopted the Charlie Watts trick of putting remo black dot on the bottom of my toms. Seems to help.
I have 2 more suggestions for cutting down on snare buzz:
1. Using less snare wires (12 strand or less ideally). This can be done by taking a standard 20 strand snare and cutting out wires.
2. Using a die cast hoop on the resonant side.
Bob Gatzen talks about both of these here: ruclips.net/video/Dq6oDRwhk-I/видео.html
12 strand is hardly a snare drum sound though. 24 minimum for my ears. 30 is my minimum.
Great ideas!! Nicely done guys ! Thanks for sharing :)
I am taking this video as a sign from above. I just got out my Acoustics drums and I've got serious snare buzz from my mid tom. The timing from this video couldn't be better. I'm going to try a few of these things.
And another thing. The first suggestion I have questions about because I have learned that a drum needs to be in tune with itself period meaning all of the tension rods must be equal in tension. Then the drum is in tune with itself. To lower one tension rod would defeat that purpose.
Hey Ron
Perfect! Hope you could use those tricks to deal with your mid tom snare buzz!
And yes, getting all tension rods to an equal tension usually is the goal when you look at drum tuning in general. So like we mentioned in the video, retuning the whole tom would be the ideal solution. Using only one tension rod is the fast "quick and dirty" way to go. It works but your tom sound will change. So if you have the time to really work on that issue definitely work on the pitch of the whole tom instead of using only one tension rod.
@@ArtOfDrumming just wanted you to know I tried all these steps. The first one was changing the pitch on one of the lugs on the tom. Didn't work. And it made me feel uncomfortable so I put it back where it was. After trying the other things I decide to try to raise tension on the snare reso. It actually worked
I've learned to live with it as long as it isn't excessive or produces a sour harmonic warble. When the usual fails, you can sometimes fix that sour warble by trying a thinner or thicker ply reso. If new to drums, a lot of the cringing is due to lack of knowing what is normal. As someone pointed out, listen to the updated studio release of "Don't Let Me Down" (Beatles) as an example of snare wires noticeably singing duet with the guitars the whole time. We laugh now but try to imagine how acoustically stale the song might be without it.
I got rid of the buzz and loved the tone I settled with on the toms then the bass player ruined it all🤣🤘
Same issue for me the Bass
Always challenging
that tom sounds amazing
I'm using a cotton pad between snares and reso head for years now, works like a charm 😅
Great advice - we will definitely try that 🙏
A lot of the buzz I’m hearing from this video sounds like overly-tight snare wires, but too loose causes a similar problem. Check that tension!
Great suggestions, can't wait to try! I really dislike snare buzzzzzzz . . .
I got a less strand snare wires to start .. I also loosened the snares up a little and did the tom trick .I put a small towel hanging off the back of my snare and doing all 3 really helped a lot .But when the bass player hits that evil note my snares still rattle
Thank and yes, there is no recipe against the evil bass notes
Yes it can be a distraction for sure. Its a battle. A short strip of tissue paper under the wires (the kind used in gift wrapping) will reduce buzz but also make your snare work at about only 75% of normal.
The Ambassador X is a sleeper head to I’m playing one on my Grestch 14x6.5 Black Nickel over steel and is has the best of both worlds
very good.
Snare buzz is a fact of life. It’s just a matter of controlling how you wish.
🤔
Great tips
Which mics are you using for the toms?
Beyerdynamic tg i51 and tg d70
Turning one tension lug slightly out of tune with the other lugs on the toms tends to produce weird harmonic overtones. Why not simply use a strip of masking tape to hold the snare wires snug against the resonant snare drum head? Works for me. 🤔🙂
My basedrum is also triggering the snare buzz how would I fix that?
I raised the snare wire tension about 3 turns on each end.
👍🏻
Just found this channel great videos but there’s no Bonham?
i like the buzz but also hate it...... on good days I love them, but when I got a bad day.......
CORONA DRUM TUNER
Snare buzz prove your drum is alive. don't care that much.
True
Amen. If you can't live with real snare drum sound get a plastic bs electric kit
I find the very best way to cope with the God awful snare "BUZZ" is on your bands next break go on & catch a "BUZZ" yourself, this way you & the snare "BUZZ" are on the same wave length. There you have it-- problem solved! Drink & smoke responsibly please.
Hate it
In my opinion , if you don't like the "snare buzz", you don't like playing drums. Maybe the banjo is made for you ...!