@@mikeslessons on the note of tuning though, would love to see a snare demonstration, mostly for the purpose of how you treat your snare wires and how that affects the sound. I feel like I only see people show the “put a stick under the wires” to tune trick.
@@mikeslessons I agree with you on the smell of natural wood shells, but the buttered ass smell, is still good to me but not because of the smell, more so imagining what smoky clubs and and that kit has played through. As long as I can imagine a great story then I’m ok with it.
Best tuning video i've seen. Answered questions i didn't even know i had. I love the idea of taking feel into account. That's rarely addressed in any tuning videos i've seen. Your teaching is top notch!
My dad doesn't understand why I'm always taking off the heads and putting them back on.... but now I feel that I KNOW what sound I want so it only takes me 10-15 min to tune my drums. but i personally just find it fun to take my drums apart and put them back together.
Someone told me to do that with all your new heads your buying in the store example open them up tap em and grab the ones that go together the best. I tried it and I actually found some of the same heads had a slight tonal difference and once in awhile you can get one that’s a bit dead. Great video
I ain’t going to lie, you making the sounds with your mouth acutely helped me a ton because I understood everything you were talking about from that. I’ve only been drumming for a year & some change but I’m glad I found your channel. Too many people do to much or say to much. Thank you
I must say mike, the camera quality is absoloutely amazing! I know how much effort, time and focus you put into the visuals, and trust me, it really doesn't go unnoticed!
"I've in RUclips since 2005/2006" that's how long I've been watching your videos Mike. Bought my first drumset in 2006 and went to RUclips and typed "drum lessons". Changed my life!
This is excellent. I was fortunate enough to get an in-depth lesson on tensioning from the Mighty Max Weinberg before a show back in 1980. Never forgot it. Same principles. Can't stress enough how important the feel is.
I have watched a LOT of tuning videos in my quest to hone the art of drum tuning and I must say, this is definitely one of the best vids out there. Thanks.
explaining about starting with a "pure tone" and going from there is an awesome way to think about it. Too many people miss that and tune too high and choke the head or its too loose and they try to tune from flappy. That used to be my problem when I started to try to get my tuning together and the issue most of my students have
Thank you Mike ! Yes the FEEL of the drums is just as important as the tuning . (Something I've battled with forever ) ...but it does also depend upon the genre of music you're playing . When the kit sounds & feels good it just makes you WANT to play them because it's pure joy ! God bless
Totally agree. There are some gigs where the heads feel like concrete, and other where they feel like butter -- not sure why that happens (and what combination of muscle, temperature and mindset are happening) but when they are butter it's like nothing else in the world.
Pat, I watch this and Many others (Rob Brown, Jared at DRUMEO, Cory at Sounds Like a Drum), I just can't GET THERE. That nice Sweet Spot that I hear in this Video. I have a PDP Concept maple kit, with 5 Toms (3 rack 8, 10, & 12) and 2 Floor Toms (14 & 16). I had Evans G2 coated on the Batters - finally settling on those after trying others ..... Remo Emperors, Evans GC2s Clear. I am using the Standard Remo ( I think they are Ambassadors ) Reso heads that came with the Drums. Mike seems to attain a nice sound with just a little overtone. I prefer the Doooo, Doooo sound Jared talks about. What I did learn at this video was to put the drum on a stool to Muffle the reso head and Vice Versa. Need to learn to use the TuneBot too. I hate that Growl that Mike mentions. Drives me a little Nuts - I am a Newbie at drum tuning, and at 70 YO I resurrected playing Drums after 50 Years ago (1969). I only play along to My Music about 1 hour a day. I will keep trying to tune and not let my OCD carry me a way :):)
For the past week and 1/2 I've been removing all the cobwebs off my TAMA Swingstar 7 piece set and I've already tuned up my snare but I've never been familiar with tuning up my tom toms and floor tom. Your video was super informative and I have a great knowledge of what I'm doing and looking for. Much appreciated 😊
Really helpful video. I was struggling with getting the sound I wanted. I was already using a Tune-bot for consistency. The problem was that for years I had always tuned my reso heads slightly higher than the batters to try and emulate Bonham’s tom sound . Your advice to tune both heads to the same frequency and mute the head you’re not tuning worked beautifully. I found the general pitch I wanted for each drum and tuned both heads to that frequency with the tune-bot and like magic, the perfect sound and resonance. I saved my settings and now I can retune or even change heads and dial the same sound in quickly every time. Thanks for posting this method!
“Now it sounds like buttered ass.” made me laugh harder than I have in a while. 😂 you have some of the best content on RUclips. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
This video brought tears to my eyes! Thank you for this video. I was just saying I wish there was an actual helpful video on tuning. You kit sounds incredible!! Excellent video, such a great teacher!!
Where was this video 25 years ago? This is great. Also, something you did but didn’t comment on is something one of my teachers taught me way back. For those wondering, when loosening the head while tuning, note that Mike went PAST where he wanted then slightly tuned back up. This helps the head stay in tune. Thanks for the video Mike.
James, THANK you so much for the kind words. Way to pay attention, that is definitely something my hand does without even knowing it, but it's extremely important!
Where was the internet? lol. But I know what you're saying. The younger generation is at more advantage from the start to get things right because of access to great vids and info like this.
I just want to thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience! I appreciate you taking the time to explain the process and understanding the difference between the batter and resonating heads.
I really liked this video, Mike Johnston team! Content over all is really informative and easy to digest and fun. The Audio quality really communicates the tuning very well, so good job to the audio engineer that set the mics and all that. Very good to listen to, and I might even watch it a second time through while a warm up on a practice pad, lol. Does anyone else do this?
Amazing Video ! Thanks a lot for the Tune bot readings too! Always was so interested in what Tention your toms are :) Love your content thanks . Btw: your Solo in pasic is the Best Drum Solo i Ever heard!!
Great video Mike! I really appreciate you saying that we don’t absolutely need a Tune bot, (That’s reassuring because I don’t own one), and learn how to tune by ear and feel!
I remember the day I finally turned my damn tom over and realized the bottom head was out of tune not the top. I spent so much time messing with the top when all along it was the bottom. I too spent so much time trying heads tuning re tuning I’d spend hours upon hours trying things out. Once I got a tunebot it was a game changer save the settings or write them down and you can tune your kit the same every single time. Thanks for the video. Any specific way you tune your kick??🥁🔥
Great video Mike! I'm sure you've done this a thousand times but could you give a rundown of your cymbal setup, especially in this demo? Cheers and keep up the awesome work!
Happy to! From left to right... All Meinl Byzance, 15" Foundry Reserve Hi Hats, 22" Foundry Reserve Light Ride, 21" Mike Johnston Transition Ride, 20" Extra Thin Hammered Crash.
Hi Mike,you play great and your lessons are very useful und your Gretsch sounds great! Please tell me what kind of drumheads on the toms and the Kick? thank you very much!
Hey Mike, thanks for this as I know how to tune drums but ironically I'm playing electronic drums now I miss my gretsch drums as I love your blue drums, cheers !!!
I always put tape on the hoop and a nut box so that it goes back in the same place every time I change the head. Over time the hoop “marries” to the drum.
i likw the color of your drums i have the same color on my drums midnight blue is such a good choice color and with the right lighting it looks like the sky at night when it goes from a dark blue to a night sky and with the metal flake it pops better than any other color.
Fantastic video Mike! I noticed your rack tom had an internal damper but you didn't mention whether you used it at all, and you seemed to have so little snare buzz I'm wondering if you did use it?
I was looking around for the snare drum in my room to turn off the wires. Realized, I don't keep any drums in my house and felt dumb when I remembered there's 20 snare drums behind you.
First of all, thanks so much for sharing, twas an incredibly informative and helpful video and I'll surely be implementing quite a bit of the info you've shared into my own tuning process. Anyway, kind of a bonehead question I suppose, but for the sake of redundant certainty on my part, I was just curious about how you were explaining tuning the bottom head for pitch and the top for feel, but then after you put the drums on the kit and decided to retune the rack tom, you tuned the top head this time instead of the bottom. Is it that because, it being only a very minor tweak it wouldn't be enough to affect the feel? Again, I just wanna make sure I understand it completely. Anyway, thanks again and BTW, the drums sound fantastic and your playing of course, equally stellar! Take care.. Dave..
So informative. I’ve been drumming for a long time but always just got by with tuning… never really knew what I was doing or what was actually happening… just tried to make it sound decent. But, this video actually lets me know what I’m doing and allows me to know how to get what I want from the drum. Are you using the same head on top and bottom? If there’s a difference/or same, what is the reasoning? This is also something I’ve never had a clear answer on to know how to make my decision. Thanks!
Great Question! I feel that it cuts down on the overtones a bit and gives the drums a slightly warmer tone. Not better or worse, just my preference. Hope that helps 🍵🙏🍵
Exactly! That’s why it’s so important to train your ear to respond to different environments instead of relying on a tuner or an app. Tech definitely has it’s place but when it comes to organic instruments and environments ya gotta trust your ear :)
Good !...i'm gonna try those heads on my kit...and surely i'm gonna try your method to...i love the way when you explain the things you do...it's very clear and simple...big thanks again...
Thank’s for all amazing lessons. Spend one hour everyday to make my Brooklyn sound like yours. Impossible. They never stop singing. More sound lessons please. 😕
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
I love tuning but if I’m honest about it, my favorite part of tuning is smelling the inside of the shells. Best scent ever!!!
When your drums are new or fairly new I agree 100%, but when your drums are over 50 years old like mine… buttered ASS!!! lol 😂🍵🍵😂
@@mikeslessons on the note of tuning though, would love to see a snare demonstration, mostly for the purpose of how you treat your snare wires and how that affects the sound. I feel like I only see people show the “put a stick under the wires” to tune trick.
@@mikeslessons I agree with you on the smell of natural wood shells, but the buttered ass smell, is still good to me but not because of the smell, more so imagining what smoky clubs and and that kit has played through. As long as I can imagine a great story then I’m ok with it.
I love the smell of 30+ year old Yamaha Recording Customs... my '65 Ludwigs... ew! ;)
@@weschilton I’ve got a while before I get there. My Yamaha Stage Custom is only about 10 years right now.
Best tuning video i've seen. Answered questions i didn't even know i had. I love the idea of taking feel into account. That's rarely addressed in any tuning videos i've seen. Your teaching is top notch!
My dad doesn't understand why I'm always taking off the heads and putting them back on.... but now I feel that I KNOW what sound I want so it only takes me 10-15 min to tune my drums. but i personally just find it fun to take my drums apart and put them back together.
Did you guys/gals hear the tone of the new head? How freaking cool is that???
Love the tone and feel of new heads!
When you slapped the worn out and the new head in the air, the difference was astonishing, I never realized that.
Same here never hit a old head and new head off the kit. All these years never knew. Great info.
Yes sir!
Someone told me to do that with all your new heads your buying in the store example open them up tap em and grab the ones that go together the best. I tried it and I actually found some of the same heads had a slight tonal difference and once in awhile you can get one that’s a bit dead. Great video
Mike, your drums always sound amazing! Can't believe that's only one mic!
I ain’t going to lie, you making the sounds with your mouth acutely helped me a ton because I understood everything you were talking about from that. I’ve only been drumming for a year & some change but I’m glad I found your channel. Too many people do to much or say to much. Thank you
I must say mike, the camera quality is absoloutely amazing! I know how much effort, time and focus you put into the visuals, and trust me, it really doesn't go unnoticed!
Congrats for 200k subs, u deserve so many more! Thanks for teaching with that passion! 🙏
WOW!!!! I just saw that... thanks brother
"I've in RUclips since 2005/2006" that's how long I've been watching your videos Mike. Bought my first drumset in 2006 and went to RUclips and typed "drum lessons". Changed my life!
I need a "Sounds like Buttered Ass" t-shirt in my life!
I’m starting small first, just wristbands and water bottles. But eventually FULL BUTTERED ASS MERCH!!! LOL 😂🍵🍵😂
@@mikeslessons i cant wait to see the logo lol 😎
Im in
That cracked me up bahahaha !!!🤣
@@patcarrano158 gets me everytime, he has these brilliant wee gem of nuggets that just casually get thrown into a sentence
This is excellent. I was fortunate enough to get an in-depth lesson on tensioning from the Mighty Max Weinberg before a show back in 1980. Never forgot it. Same principles. Can't stress enough how important the feel is.
Very helpful and informative video!
The more care and intention you put into your drums and their maintenance the closer you get to those drums.
I have watched a LOT of tuning videos in my quest to hone the art of drum tuning and I must say, this is definitely one of the best vids out there. Thanks.
Another awesome class!!!. I'm getting more knowledge and increased confidence on my drum skills. Thanks Mike!!!!!
explaining about starting with a "pure tone" and going from there is an awesome way to think about it. Too many people miss that and tune too high and choke the head or its too loose and they try to tune from flappy. That used to be my problem when I started to try to get my tuning together and the issue most of my students have
I just love how excited you get. And how much you love and enjoy teach us all what you know. Thank you for your awesome videos.
Thank you Mike !
Yes the FEEL of the drums is just as important as the tuning .
(Something I've battled with forever ) ...but it does also depend upon the genre of music you're playing . When the kit sounds & feels good it just makes you WANT to play them because it's pure joy !
God bless
Totally agree. There are some gigs where the heads feel like concrete, and other where they feel like butter -- not sure why that happens (and what combination of muscle, temperature and mindset are happening) but when they are butter it's like nothing else in the world.
Pat, I watch this and Many others (Rob Brown, Jared at DRUMEO, Cory at Sounds Like a Drum), I just can't GET THERE. That nice Sweet Spot that I hear in this Video. I have a PDP Concept maple kit, with 5 Toms (3 rack 8, 10, & 12) and 2 Floor Toms (14 & 16). I had Evans G2 coated on the Batters - finally settling on those after trying others ..... Remo Emperors, Evans GC2s Clear. I am using the Standard Remo ( I think they are Ambassadors ) Reso heads that came with the Drums. Mike seems to attain a nice sound with just a little overtone. I prefer the Doooo, Doooo sound Jared talks about. What I did learn at this video was to put the drum on a stool to Muffle the reso head and Vice Versa. Need to learn to use the TuneBot too. I hate that Growl that Mike mentions. Drives me a little Nuts - I am a Newbie at drum tuning, and at 70 YO I resurrected playing Drums after 50 Years ago (1969). I only play along to My Music about 1 hour a day. I will keep trying to tune and not let my OCD carry me a way :):)
For the past week and 1/2 I've been removing all the cobwebs off my TAMA Swingstar 7 piece set and I've already tuned up my snare but I've never been familiar with tuning up my tom toms and floor tom. Your video was super informative and I have a great knowledge of what I'm doing and looking for. Much appreciated 😊
Really helpful video. I was struggling with getting the sound I wanted. I was already using a Tune-bot for consistency. The problem was that for years I had always tuned my reso heads slightly higher than the batters to try and emulate Bonham’s tom sound . Your advice to tune both heads to the same frequency and mute the head you’re not tuning worked beautifully. I found the general pitch I wanted for each drum and tuned both heads to that frequency with the tune-bot and like magic, the perfect sound and resonance. I saved my settings and now I can retune or even change heads and dial the same sound in quickly every time. Thanks for posting this method!
“Now it sounds like buttered ass.” made me laugh harder than I have in a while. 😂 you have some of the best content on RUclips. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Imma sit n my room and practice tuning my drums.
AWESOME.
thanks MJ
This video brought tears to my eyes! Thank you for this video. I was just saying I wish there was an actual helpful video on tuning. You kit sounds incredible!! Excellent video, such a great teacher!!
Really enjoyed this, I've been playing 33 years and learned alot watching this, thank you 😊Ps your kit sounds fantastic 👍
Yes!!! I asked for this on a video a while back. So stoked to see/hear it. Thank you Mike!
I like putting the head logo where there's a tone control. Easier to locate on the fly. Beautiful drums!
Thank you so much! This is the first tuning video that actually helped me!
“Now it sounds like buttered ass!” Had to replay that line and that look on Mike’s face a few times to really let it sink in
LOL 😂🍵🍵😂
So glad I discovered your videos. They have really helped me get to the next level even though I thought I had reached a level that dead ended
For years and thousends videos outhere... this is first video that i can say thats is informative.
Always great content delivered like a good friend. Thanks Mike!
Awe man... that means the world brother 🍵🙏🍵
Where was this video 25 years ago? This is great.
Also, something you did but didn’t comment on is something one of my teachers taught me way back. For those wondering, when loosening the head while tuning, note that Mike went PAST where he wanted then slightly tuned back up. This helps the head stay in tune.
Thanks for the video Mike.
James, THANK you so much for the kind words. Way to pay attention, that is definitely something my hand does without even knowing it, but it's extremely important!
Where was the internet? lol. But I know what you're saying. The younger generation is at more advantage from the start to get things right because of access to great vids and info like this.
I just want to thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience! I appreciate you taking the time to explain the process and understanding the difference between the batter and resonating heads.
This helped so much. I didn't know what I was doing wrong. Thank you so much!
Cheers. Good stuff. I never had resources like this in the 80s & early 90s when I was starting out.
Sir,great vid! I see that A&F snare behind u on the shelf. Some real money back there
Wow phenomenal sound thanks man.
Excellent reference on how to tune toms
I really liked this video, Mike Johnston team! Content over all is really informative and easy to digest and fun. The Audio quality really communicates the tuning very well, so good job to the audio engineer that set the mics and all that. Very good to listen to, and I might even watch it a second time through while a warm up on a practice pad, lol. Does anyone else do this?
Glad you bought up how one feels playing the drums after tuning the drums. Thanks great video
Great tuning video ! Thanks very much !
Amazing Video ! Thanks a lot for the Tune bot readings too! Always was so interested in what Tention your toms are :)
Love your content thanks .
Btw: your Solo in pasic is the Best Drum Solo i Ever heard!!
Beautiful sound!!!!
Great video Mike! I really appreciate you saying that we don’t absolutely need a Tune bot, (That’s reassuring because I don’t own one), and learn how to tune by ear and feel!
Subscribed. Absolutely brilliant mate
This video is so useful ! Thank you SO much for the demonstration and sharing your tips! ❤😊
I remember the day I finally turned my damn tom over and realized the bottom head was out of tune not the top. I spent so much time messing with the top when all along it was the bottom. I too spent so much time trying heads tuning re tuning I’d spend hours upon hours trying things out. Once I got a tunebot it was a game changer save the settings or write them down and you can tune your kit the same every single time. Thanks for the video. Any specific way you tune your kick??🥁🔥
Thanks for the video Mike. You covered all the bases. A 5 minute video just wouldn’t have been as comprehensive. Liiike thaaaat! lol
YES! I went looking for a how to tune video in your history, Mike. Could you do one for snare too?
I absolutely can and shall :)
Would love to see your methods for kick and snare too :)
Mike ... awesome tone I think that would be great tuning for funk rnb motown also.. what I play.
Great video Mike! I'm sure you've done this a thousand times but could you give a rundown of your cymbal setup, especially in this demo? Cheers and keep up the awesome work!
Happy to! From left to right... All Meinl Byzance, 15" Foundry Reserve Hi Hats, 22" Foundry Reserve Light Ride, 21" Mike Johnston Transition Ride, 20" Extra Thin Hammered Crash.
@@mikeslessons Thank you so much Mike. I really love your playing and your overall sound is absolutely delicious!
Hi Mike,you play great and your lessons are very useful und your Gretsch sounds great! Please tell me what kind of drumheads on the toms and the Kick? thank you very much!
Hey Mike, thanks for this as I know how to tune drums but ironically I'm playing electronic drums now I miss my gretsch drums as I love your blue drums, cheers !!!
Man said " Now it sounds like buttered ass" I f#cking lost it 🤣
Great little vid! Thanks!👍
So glad you enjoyed it Sandy!
Fantastic advice. Those toms sound beautiful. Thanks Mike. 😊👍
Thank you mike the goat. First person I understood this from
Great video. What is the exact model of those Aquarian heads?
Well thought out and helpful. Thanks, Mike!
I played to records. I’m 6K years young. Team tune by ear with two keys both heads same pitch!
I can’t find a snare tuning vid… is there one and I’m missing it?
The most important thing about playing drums is drum tuning, and thank you sir for giving us that lesson.
Great video Mike!
Thank you sir
Also do you have videos for tuning the snare and kick??
I always put tape on the hoop and a nut box so that it goes back in the same place every time I change the head. Over time the hoop “marries” to the drum.
How do I find these heads with this logo style Mike uses? I like how minimalist they are compared to the huge logo everyone is doing now.
Great lesson- thanks!
This video is very helpful.
i likw the color of your drums i have the same color on my drums midnight blue is such a good choice color and with the right lighting it looks like the sky at night when it goes from a dark blue to a night sky and with the metal flake it pops better than any other color.
Drum Whisperer lol Your Awesome Man!!!
Now we need a video about how do you record this video, it's sounds amazing
Wondering what overhead mic you use 13:39. Thanks.
Great video!!!!!
Mike, It is great - No Snare Buzz that I can detect!! They sound soo good.
I've learned so much here. Thank you!
Love the tuning lesson and where did you get the Buddy Rich wall Hanging?
Please please PLEASE do a video on tuning the snare drum!
The tone values like 150, 160, 200, etc, are what unit? Hertz?
Love you Mike.....
Plz do a video on which kit to buy e drums or acoustic?
The answer is simple play what works best for you.
You've gone and made a great video again, thanks Mike!
Killer vid as always dude 👊
now i can tune my toms the right way...thank u sir keep on groovin
Fantastic video Mike! I noticed your rack tom had an internal damper but you didn't mention whether you used it at all, and you seemed to have so little snare buzz I'm wondering if you did use it?
I was looking around for the snare drum in my room to turn off the wires. Realized, I don't keep any drums in my house and felt dumb when I remembered there's 20 snare drums behind you.
First of all, thanks so much for sharing, twas an incredibly informative and helpful video and I'll surely be implementing quite a bit of the info you've shared into my own tuning process. Anyway, kind of a bonehead question I suppose, but for the sake of redundant certainty on my part, I was just curious about how you were explaining tuning the bottom head for pitch and the top for feel, but then after you put the drums on the kit and decided to retune the rack tom, you tuned the top head this time instead of the bottom. Is it that because, it being only a very minor tweak it wouldn't be enough to affect the feel? Again, I just wanna make sure I understand it completely. Anyway, thanks again and BTW, the drums sound fantastic and your playing of course, equally stellar! Take care.. Dave..
That killer Gretsch sound!!
So informative. I’ve been drumming for a long time but always just got by with tuning… never really knew what I was doing or what was actually happening… just tried to make it sound decent. But, this video actually lets me know what I’m doing and allows me to know how to get what I want from the drum.
Are you using the same head on top and bottom? If there’s a difference/or same, what is the reasoning? This is also something I’ve never had a clear answer on to know how to make my decision.
Thanks!
HEY 🥰 U TUNE TO WHAT U WANT!!
“now it sounds like buttered ass” is now my favourite phrase
Hello, is that a vintage Gretch kit?
It is indeed. She's a 1965 Gretsch round badge in Progressive Jazz sizes. Hope that helps :)
Great video. THANKS!
thank you for the video! what references do you use for kick and snare?
Can you do a "how to tune your snare" lesson? Love your snare sound 🔥💥👍🏻
Any particular reason why you use coated head as reso head? Nice video btw!
Great Question! I feel that it cuts down on the overtones a bit and gives the drums a slightly warmer tone. Not better or worse, just my preference. Hope that helps 🍵🙏🍵
interesting how the floor tom sounds so much higher-pitched when it was played in the snare room
Exactly! That’s why it’s so important to train your ear to respond to different environments instead of relying on a tuner or an app. Tech definitely has it’s place but when it comes to organic instruments and environments ya gotta trust your ear :)
The drum is alive... 🤣 after cpr 👍🏻
"......sounds like buttered ASS ........" LOL 😆😆
( Never heard that expression B4)
Hy Mike...thank you for all of those tips...but what kind of Aquarian you pick for your tom and the floor tom ...!
I use Aquarian Single Ply Coated on both top and bottom of my toms :)
Good !...i'm gonna try those heads on my kit...and surely i'm gonna try your method to...i love the way when you explain the things you do...it's very clear and simple...big thanks again...
Hi could you tell me the tuning device you used please the make and where you purchased it ? Thank you
Thank’s for all amazing lessons. Spend one hour everyday to make my Brooklyn sound like yours. Impossible.
They never stop singing.
More sound lessons please. 😕