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Step 4The Toms
Tuning your toms may seem like a daunting challenge since there are so many of them, but never fear, the technique is the same for each of them and you will figure it out with practice.
Once again, make sure your are looking at the bottom of your drum shell, and start with the resonant head. If this is your first time replacing drum heads, try using a 2-ply clear or coated head on top and a clear 1-ply head for the bottom. Follow the 1-8 pattern again and make sure you try to get uniform pitches at each rod across the bottom head. Since these drums will be ringing out, you don't want some muddy, god-awful tone shouting out each time you strike a tom.
When you have reached the desired pitch, move on to the batter head and begin tightening. Toms are over-tightened more than any other drum, especially with novice tuners. Try your hardest to tighten only when you need to, and maintain the true tone of the tom by letting it ring. If you really hate the sustain of your toms but have a tone you like, check out the last page for tips on muffling.
It is not only important to achieve a good balance for each individual drum, but you must look at the set of toms as a whole. Is there equal balance between the tones of each drum? Do they have about the same amount of sustain? These are questions you want to consider when tuning your set of toms. There is no stead-fast rule when figuring this out, as it depends all on your personal preference and the style of music you play.
If you are feeling particularly ambitious, you can try tuning the toms in your drumset to specific notes. Try tuning your kit to a major triad. Going from your smallest tom to the biggest, tune the drums to the notes C, E, G, and another C if you have a fourth tom. Play around with different triads and note combos.
Once again, make sure your are looking at the bottom of your drum shell, and start with the resonant head. If this is your first time replacing drum heads, try using a 2-ply clear or coated head on top and a clear 1-ply head for the bottom. Follow the 1-8 pattern again and make sure you try to get uniform pitches at each rod across the bottom head. Since these drums will be ringing out, you don't want some muddy, god-awful tone shouting out each time you strike a tom.
When you have reached the desired pitch, move on to the batter head and begin tightening. Toms are over-tightened more than any other drum, especially with novice tuners. Try your hardest to tighten only when you need to, and maintain the true tone of the tom by letting it ring. If you really hate the sustain of your toms but have a tone you like, check out the last page for tips on muffling.
It is not only important to achieve a good balance for each individual drum, but you must look at the set of toms as a whole. Is there equal balance between the tones of each drum? Do they have about the same amount of sustain? These are questions you want to consider when tuning your set of toms. There is no stead-fast rule when figuring this out, as it depends all on your personal preference and the style of music you play.
If you are feeling particularly ambitious, you can try tuning the toms in your drumset to specific notes. Try tuning your kit to a major triad. Going from your smallest tom to the biggest, tune the drums to the notes C, E, G, and another C if you have a fourth tom. Play around with different triads and note combos.
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