Drum tuning help please.

Hi. I just recently got http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3163840 that drum set. I know its pretty damn crappy, but I live in Nowhere, and there is nowhere around here to buy drum sets, unless you drive 9 hours (each way T_T), so I had no choice. I got it, tried pathetically to tune it properly, and failed miserabley. My small tom seems too high, and my floor tom is too low, and slightly rattles ( I can't explain it), my base drum sorta rattles, like instead of a warm sounding thud, its more of a boom, and my snare constantly....well...snares when I hit other drums.

I would appereciate a Durm Tuning 101 course (I read you had to seat the heads, by sitting on them O_O, and I wasn't so sure, so I just tuned according the following the guide.) Also, if anyone could sorta give me a rough estimate how many times I would have to turn each lug (based on my drum dimensions), to get it to sound anything like a drumset should. Also, I know I am asking a lot, but how can I get rid of the rattling in my drums, especially the snare, its driving me crazy.

Sorry for all the questions, but I am just learning, and have a crappy set. My mom says that if I learn on this one, I can get a better set. Thanks for anyone who has any help at all.

Drum tuning is the hardest part of drumming. I still havent mastered it...
It takes ALOT of time, patience and experimentation, but like all instruments it has to be done.
The more you tune you're kit the better you'll get at tuning (but you don't have to tune drums that often, just when you change the heads and if you think the sounds not great)
There is no "right" way to tune drums, it really depneds on yourself and what sort of sound you wish to produce.


Its very hard to explain, but i'll try and write a rough guide to tuning out for you... i'll get back to you with it...

http://www.pearldrum.com/education/howto/0101.jpg

try that... its the wrong kit but its basically the same thing

Ok. Im gonna work on tuning later, but right now: Drumroll please *runs over to snare drum, starts drumroll* I have just learned my first song: Holiday! *cymbal* I think I have a natural knack for this. It took me 30 minutes to learn the song.

well done, you worked it out fater than i did ... it took me an hour ... it was one of those days

it took me about 10 mins, you guys r slow, its an easy song!

just work on one drum till you have it to perfection, then tune they other drums in tune with it as if it was a guitar. but the snare should be tuned seperately...its special.

The bass rattle could be fixed by putting a blanket or pillow inside your bass,

the snare rattle could be fixed with a drum muffler(tape works just as well, as long as you put it somewhere you wont hit it, and you dont mind that taking it off will peel the paint off your head)

~whats wrong with you?~:

just work on one drum till you have it to perfection, then tune they other drums in tune with it as if it was a guitar. but the snare should be tuned seperately...its special.

The bass rattle could be fixed by putting a blanket or pillow inside your bass,

the snare rattle could be fixed with a drum muffler(tape works just as well, as long as you put it somewhere you wont hit it, and you dont mind that taking it off will peel the paint off your head)

So, for the base drum, just take any old pillow and stuff it in there? Or does it go a certain way? And as for the snare, just duct tape on the head? It seems too simple, so simple it just might work. I will try it when I get home on Friday, I am on vacation now.

basketcase3:

~whats wrong with you?~:

just work on one drum till you have it to perfection, then tune they other drums in tune with it as if it was a guitar. but the snare should be tuned seperately...its special.

The bass rattle could be fixed by putting a blanket or pillow inside your bass,

the snare rattle could be fixed with a drum muffler(tape works just as well, as long as you put it somewhere you wont hit it, and you dont mind that taking it off will peel the paint off your head)

So, for the base drum, just take any old pillow and stuff it in there? Or does it go a certain way? And as for the snare, just duct tape on the head? It seems too simple, so simple it just might work. I will try it when I get home on Friday, I am on vacation now.

... if you really want to stop the snare rattle you can tape the "snares" (the wires underneath) to the bottom head, that stops the rattle but bare in mind you wont be able to turn the snares off if you want to, and the snare sound wont be as good.

also you can buy o-rings or sound ovals, they eliminate the excess ringing/rattle. You can only buy them at music stores though.

I will put tape on the snares and throw a pillow in the base tommorow. I just got home, and 9 hour drives are a pain in the ass. Good night.....

Drum tuning, I've never done it, or even changed a head on a drum, cause I dunno how to. Because nobody ever taught me in my school band, and because it's obvious I need to learn myself through experience. I tried to read how to tune drums on the internet, but I've never actually understood. T_T I'll get a hang of it, or if someone here'll help me...

I just stuff blankets and stuff into the bass drum, but that's obvious ain't it.

Good job for learning Holiday. One of the first songs I learned to (took me at least about 2 months because I don't like listening to the same songs over and over again and I basically just pick it up), I can do the beats but I can't remember where in the song to switch from the ride cymbal bell to the hi-hat and stuff. I guess I'm a slow learner but that's ok, I try ^_^...

I like playing Holiday because there aren't too many complicated drum fills, and the beats are simple in general