You know what’s way faster is using a drum dial. I know I like my batter tuned to 72 on the dial and the front 75 and it’s absolutely perfect every time! Takes me 10 minutes to tune my bass drum from scratch. I really like Smelly from NOFX’s bass drum sound.

Wipes the front head clean proceeds to finger smudge it wipe again, and again and again 😆

Billy Ward! Great video, Kirk! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHqmh3mBodR2a6Msi=J6rXXkjgv6drzUB2

Great video! I got mine a few years ago. It helped with my rudoments flow. Playing on the moongel pad is like running on sand, then change to the drum set and my hands felt way more relaxed and faster and controlled at the same time, I don't know how to explain it. Now, the pad can help but you also have to study the correct way. The pad itself is not going to automatically change your grip technique, finger technique, etcetera. Put the work of this pad and you're gonna see the results. Important: I wouldn't recommend this pad for beginners.

Im glad you did a notation video 👍. It is trippy! But the lingo is what it is. Lol. Waaaay back in the day I tutored up to College Algebra and Trig. So I get the language is such a learned thing- no I don’t remember any of it btw. Lol But I have a questions if anyone can chime in: I printed a variety of lessons and also basic beats. One that I’m using is LEICESTER Drum School Basic Drum Patterns & Concepts. I’ve have other resources I printed as well. This one is British English- they’re talking about quavers semi quavers etc. but there is an early notation key before the lessons. So I’m flipping back and forth that of course as I learn visually regardless of the English English or U.S. But, for example, some of the exercises have 1(R)+(L) 2(R)+ or with a 1(R)+(L) 2(R) 3(rest) 4(R)+(L) Some of the bars BEGIN with 1(L)+(R). I guess leaving me to understand that you do not always start on (RIGHT) I hope this is coherent lol. But the thing is the consecutive RIGHTs are throwing me off as is other stuff. But so as I count the 1/4 or 1/8 - I’m guessing do silent counts of LEFT on the next note or rests? If this is confusing then great because I’m trying to understand it! Lol Thanks for any tips or advice etc.

This is one way! Just this!

What about us lefty's!? Lol

Of course I have tough about all of this, for years. I'm very aware of how our body works, especially after a drummer studying drums at college music with us didn't have a choice but to leave and stop playing, because of his wrist injury related to bad technique and/or bad position. It was in 1999, 25 years ago lol. I think the best advice anyone can tell to drummers is to sit high and not too low, but to not too high. To play relax without tension. Don't forget to put your shoes on because it is going to change the level drastically without them. The strangest situation for me about ergonomic position and natural movement was to spend time to learn the traditional grip with DVD of Weckl and Natural Evolution. It's like an adventure where I just want to explore but after some times, weeks, months, years, I came out differently. The omnipresent discussion about that grip is always around the relation with the past reality of standing up while playing with a snare with an angle, and most drummers are going to say that's not really for an entire drumset, compare to the matched grip. I disagree... Also, they are going to point out the bad posture of the left shoulder going down from drummer playing traditional grip. In fact, changing grips goes as far as having new ideas on drums, new desire and changing every angle of the drums... In reality, when I was recording myself in 2020 with the traditonal grip *after 2 or 3 years of practicing it*, I was pleased to see myself with my straight back, a straight shoulder position, and gone is that feeling of lacking space between the snare and hi-hats. While many drummers are pretending it's unatural, I did reach another level of comfort and best ergonomic movemet by playing with 2 different grips in each hand, which is the traditional grip of course. Since I can put any angles on my snare and toms, it's easy to create a setup where everything feel easy and ergonomic. It's easier then ever to look at ourself, it's like 97% of the population with a camera in their hands. We do not have any excuse to be playing in a bad position, especially with free video like your video.

Both

Great video, the one thing I still struggle with and I don't believe it was mentioned was hi hat height in relation to the snare. Otherwise, awesome video, I did go back and checked some things on my kit as a result.

I’m in an older stage of age. lol. I just got a 7pc Tama SuperStar classic. I’m about 6-7 weeks in. Thanks for your great tips and knowledge. I missed drumming in the 80’s (I tried but didn’t last more than month or two). So I’m catching up for major lost time. Not rushing but absorbing as much as I can learning basic basics. Thanks for sharing your knowledge 👍

Kirk, thank you once again for sharing what you know with us. You can be sure that later today, I will be down adjusting and readjusting my set using the information you provided in this lesson. Thank you again and have a wonderful day.❤️🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻❤️

Great video, Kirk! Definitely your most valuable video (among many valuable videos on your channel). About ten years ago, I got to take part in a Dave Weckl masterclass. (I have no business studying with Mr. Weckl in any capacity, but I knew the organizer.) Long story short, he helped me revamp my setup - not by much, just an inch or two of adjustment here and there, but it was like adding power steering to my playing. Basically, I had been setting up my snare drum about an inch too low - which not only affected my hands, but affected my overall balance, as I was leaning forward to reach down to the snare. After making adjustments to most of the kit, not just the snare, my balance at the kit improved immensely, which improved my footwork and my ability to move around the set. When I started out, the guideline for setting up your drums was, "set them up so you're comfortable." Just remember, it's possible that your current setup might feel quite comfortable, but that doesn't mean that improvements can't be made.

It's amazing how much "Goldilocks" applies to this. "Not too high, not too low, just right. Not too far, not too near, just right."

2:31

I had one in the early ‘90s, but the gel material wasn’t held in place as well as you have demonstrated.

Kirk....How does no rebound at all help your technique?....Good sales pitch, but not for me.....

I have the sponge rubber MoonGel pad....Not made anymore....Bouncy,quiet....I wish they were still around..My best pad........Ralph Onofrio

My wife got me one for Xmas. It has been a game changer. It's my go too practice pad. I'm gonna double dip and get the Moongel DBS pad eventually.

As a drumset player only (never marching line), I find that practicing on a gum rubber pad is worse than no practice at all. My hands feel totally clumsy on a real kit/snare afterwards. The blue prologic on the other hand has been an amazing pad. It feels exactly betteen the two types of Reflexx pad surfaces, andjust a little bit less lively than a medium snare, and I feel all my practice on it translates immediately to a real kit.

I'd love one but unfortunately In the UK they sell for nearly $90 nearly everything here is over priced and your a bit handy on that pad !!

I dont have any drums😂. I play guitar and Ive always wanted to learn drums.. thanks for this vid!

Excellent Presentation ✝️👍🤙✌️

Thanks for this honest assessment of wood and sound characteristics. A small effect noticeable to the player but not audience. Drum hoops, heads,tuning, depth, diameter play more significance.

I have had SKB cases for years and after about 12 years, the padding on the bass drum case and floor tom started peeling off. Other than that, the stacking is a real boon for a drum set if you are wheeling a set with a hand truck. They never slide or fall.

I have a 5 piece Yamaha Cranberry Red Stage Custom Birch set. The set has some resonance but attack is very precise in which I like. I have Evans Hydraulics on the toms, Evans EMAD 2 on the kick, Evans UV 1 on the snare. I am currently repairing a Pearl Masters 14x5.5 Maple Snare, I got it from a former church I used to play at and never got around to putting it back together. I’m interested in what the differences will be! Heads are Evans Hazy 300 snare side, Puresound 30 stand wires, Evans EC Reverse Dot

Correct 😂 buy what u like. The cosmetics also +100 to sound

learned lot of tuning methods

Worst comparison video of anything ever. Basically it doesn't matter, soi formative

I have both Sakae birch and a late 70s Gretsch. It is true that no one cares what wood the drums are made of as long as it sounds good.

Kirk Rustman. Subscribed.

An invaluable video thank you, I have a real problem with my weak left hand through injuries so I dedicate 10 mins every day on exercises and it's definitely helping I know it'll never be 100% correct because of the injuries and my age but it's better !!

I use s k b. Its the real deal.

Best video about this ❤

Very good tuning Video.

Great information as always.

Great (!!) Lesson, for music and for life. Mistakes truly are not that big of a deal, just a signal to slow down and learn properly - that's the fun of it!

All I know is, making "the fundamentals" a regular part of my practice routine has saved me on more than one occasion. A while back, I got my part assignments for an orchestra concert with the first rehearsal a few days away; I was assigned the snare drum part in "Capriccio Espagnol." Fourth movement starts out with a snare drum roll, first behind a brass fanfare, and then quietly behind a violin cadenza. Only lasts about a minute and change, which doesn't sound like much until you try to play a roll that long with a consistent sound and no "bumps" - particularly at the quietest dynamic markings Fortunately, I had been practicing that sort of thing for ages. If I hadn't been on the task already - if I had to get that aspect of my playing together in two days? - there's no way I could have gotten my roll in shape on such short notice.

Don't make a special order to H&B. I've been waiting 3 years for a combo case to arrive. I've used H&B since 1974, but now I'm thinking there are too many other newer offerings around for me to screw with them anymore. BTW SKB staps suck. I rotate between 3-5 kits -- I used a lot of hard cases. I'll check out this interesting looking video after I'm done writing ANOTHER letter to H&B -- W-T-F is my case!?!

Ordered on on 4/6/24...received today 4/30/24...so 17 business days. Just wanted to add for others thinking about risking it ;-). Live in Arizona.

I’ve been waiting 4 years for my order 😭

I like the third one.

Excellent advice. Your rides all sound beautiful. I love all of them. I’ve 20” K Con. medium thin low 1918 gr. used. Ordered online. Rolled the dice. It’s my favorite crash. Riding is great light jazz.

Maybe it's Me... I think the sound is very washy - not tight enough , too much Over ringing for my taste. You are right about the strainer on the snare wires. Please define what yu mean by 'Tight" on the snare side head. I often hear to make them Table Top Tight? You ask what is the hardest Thing about Tuning Snare drums....In my perspective - Everything LOL> As a 72 YO, Player of Drums, who resurrected playing in 2019 after 50 Years [1969], I have become much more engaged into the instrument - learning more about different Drum heads , and Drum Tuning. Tuning is an art that takes lots of practice to Master.

I wish it was a little taller and wider for brushes , mallets, etc. Maybe a backside pocket. I'd spend $300.00

Facts

Too much talking...

Like your videos I’ve been a drummer for many years and I totally recamend the tune bot once you know the pitch you like just save it on the tune bot and it will tune it to your liking every time also played on many kits but mapex has the best sound to me

Anyone out there doing business with Humes & Berg Mfg Co Inc? Every time I communicate with them it goes no where. Are they still in business? Am I blacklisted? Any drummers out there having issues getting ahold of someone? I’ve tried every method of contact. Just…nothing. This is a prime example of how long loyal customers get turned off and move to other companies. Any assistance from anyone would be helpful. All I’m seeking is just a simple response. That’s all. I can forget about getting my order on time at this point or even at all. 😞

Which remo head is on the top?