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Step 3The Snare Drum
If there is a drum in every drummer's kit that defines their signature sound, its the snare drum. It is the cornerstone of the kit, and along with the bass drum it is by far the most used drum in your arsenal. There are hundreds of different snare drums that you might have, and even more ways to tune that particular snare. So, lets get to it.
The first step, as always, is to tune the resonant head first. So grab that snare side head you bought earlier and get out your snare. First, make sure to remove the snare wires as well as the hoop and tension rods. Set the snare wires aside, these will go on last.
When you place the metal hoop on top of the drum head, make sure you configure it so that the slots for the snare wires are lined up with the snare switch on the side of the shell. You wouldn't want to tune the head only to find out that you have to take it off to reposition the hoop for the snare wires.
Finger tighten the rods until they are snug, and then follow the diagram, tightening in quarter turn incriments along the 1-8 pattern. You may have to tighten the snare side head more than you would a normal 1 or 2 ply head. This is fine, because you want a good tight head to resonate the snare wires properly. You don't need to concentrate on achieving specific pitches at each tension rod, because your snare drum wont sound like that pitch in the end. Just try to get them close.
Once you are all set with your snare side head, move on to the batter head. If you are playing rock or other heavy music, it is a good idea to invest in a more heavy duty (thicker) head than what you might use for your toms. Heads like the Remo Emperor X or even the Aquarian Hi-Energy (what I use) can give you a heavier sound and a much longer life-span. Tune up the batter head, making sure that is nice and balanced, and then give your drum a good whack. The snares shouldn't be installed yet, so you should get a solid ring out of it. Once again, it isn't necessary to have a specific pitch, just make sure its close.
Now, grab those snare wires and set them on the top of the resonant head, weaving the straps or string on the ends through the slots in the hoop and out to the bracket and snare mechanism on the sides. Screw the straps/string into the bracket first, and then move on to the switch. Make sure the switch is down (in the off position) and attach the snare wires so that there is a little bit of slack, enough to allow the switch to re-tighten. If you don't loosen the switch first, you'll never be able to tighten the wires enough to get a good sound.
You can play around with how taught you want your stare wires but changing the length of the snare straps/string or by turning the knob on top of the snare mechanism. You will hear the vast difference in sound and attack while adjusting the tension of the snare wires, so just mess around and pick your sound. Thats all for the snare drum, now lets move on to the much-easier-to-tune-toms.
The first step, as always, is to tune the resonant head first. So grab that snare side head you bought earlier and get out your snare. First, make sure to remove the snare wires as well as the hoop and tension rods. Set the snare wires aside, these will go on last.
When you place the metal hoop on top of the drum head, make sure you configure it so that the slots for the snare wires are lined up with the snare switch on the side of the shell. You wouldn't want to tune the head only to find out that you have to take it off to reposition the hoop for the snare wires.
Finger tighten the rods until they are snug, and then follow the diagram, tightening in quarter turn incriments along the 1-8 pattern. You may have to tighten the snare side head more than you would a normal 1 or 2 ply head. This is fine, because you want a good tight head to resonate the snare wires properly. You don't need to concentrate on achieving specific pitches at each tension rod, because your snare drum wont sound like that pitch in the end. Just try to get them close.
Once you are all set with your snare side head, move on to the batter head. If you are playing rock or other heavy music, it is a good idea to invest in a more heavy duty (thicker) head than what you might use for your toms. Heads like the Remo Emperor X or even the Aquarian Hi-Energy (what I use) can give you a heavier sound and a much longer life-span. Tune up the batter head, making sure that is nice and balanced, and then give your drum a good whack. The snares shouldn't be installed yet, so you should get a solid ring out of it. Once again, it isn't necessary to have a specific pitch, just make sure its close.
Now, grab those snare wires and set them on the top of the resonant head, weaving the straps or string on the ends through the slots in the hoop and out to the bracket and snare mechanism on the sides. Screw the straps/string into the bracket first, and then move on to the switch. Make sure the switch is down (in the off position) and attach the snare wires so that there is a little bit of slack, enough to allow the switch to re-tighten. If you don't loosen the switch first, you'll never be able to tighten the wires enough to get a good sound.
You can play around with how taught you want your stare wires but changing the length of the snare straps/string or by turning the knob on top of the snare mechanism. You will hear the vast difference in sound and attack while adjusting the tension of the snare wires, so just mess around and pick your sound. Thats all for the snare drum, now lets move on to the much-easier-to-tune-toms.
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