The Ultimate Bass Drum Sound Guide | Finding Your Own Drum Sound

[@ArtOfDrumming]

What’s your favorite Bass Drum Sound?

[@kylowdrums5050]

Pdp is insane

[@ArtOfDrumming]

💯

[@PixelFastFood]

Bonzo

[@ArtOfDrumming]

💯

[@Metal_encyclopedia]

Mapex

[@jsmctch]

Installing a My Pillow will give your bass drum a more conservative sound.

[@jasperjenkins7729]

🤣Good 1😂

[@brianwoodbridge88]

😂nice!

[@markusthedrummer8143]

Why do you Minimals and GenYhiners think you're funny? You're not.

[@michaelmohaske7506]

Just put a rolled up towel inside the beater side

[@mitzo4526]

@@markusthedrummer8143 inb4 someone doesn’t get the joke

[@petercoyle9922]

I’ve been a drummer for over 30 years and have seen many videos on tuning . Your video is to the point, accurate and informative. Nice job and thank you

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Thanks so much for sharing your feedback

[@anishnallani5918]

As a beginner who is clueless and playing on a borrowed drum set, this channel is everything that I could ask for. Thank you so much for your easy to use and dedicated website and lessons that don't shame beginners and instead elevate the entire community.

[@eizharmful]

This channel is awesome. I watch it regularly even though i'm not a drummer. Keep it coming

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Thanks so much Ahmad! Which instrument do you play?

[@eizharmful]

@@ArtOfDrumming During high school i played tuba and during university i played guitar :)

[@a.j.wilkes6352]

Great video, especially the use of the "Color Palate" analogy. There is no "best" sound, just different choice applications to serve the music you're trying to make.

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Thanks so much A.J. For your feedback

[@BlommaBaumbart]

This is the best explanation of any instrument I have ever seen.

[@mister_Dima_]

6:36 one of my favourite sound. Thanks for your job.

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Thanks! Glad you like it 👍🏻

[@ag_4in]

Art of Drumming is the Legend of Drumming at KZbin... when i look this content and videos all other Creators are nothing! That Job what they made is more than professional! Such a good Work at all ways!! 🙌🏻

[@beatmasterbossy]

I love the initial set up, 3 kicks the intervals of the pitches were more pronounced than they usually are And all three kicks sound great.

[@jonashellborg8320]

Excellent video! As I started playing gigs on drums about 1 year ago, I’ve been in all sorts of mixed environments, from large hall, no microphones, to stage with close microphones on all drums and cymbals. Sometimes just a microphone on the bass drum. I’ve used both wide open bass drums tuned medium low, to super low and very muffled. It all depends on the situation I find, and there is no 1 tuning/muffling to rule them all. This video does an awesome job of explaining the difference degrees of heads/tunings/muffling/beaters there are. If you gig a lot, you’re bound to use most of them eventually!

[@florian8020]

Love your channel ❤ ... Just wanna share a funny discovery I have made some months ago with my kick drum. I use a vintage 60s 20" Bassdrum with round bearing edges and long tension rods, that cause the tension on both batter and reso side being identical. I was playing around a bit with the sound. What I was looking for was a fuller, bassy sound with a medium amount of attack. The sound had a little too less tone with my solution before (Powerstroke 3 on batter + original sonor 60s reso head with hole in it) ... so I decided to go for a reso head without a hole. I choose the one I had at home, which was an original 60s wmp clear, I think single ply, head. The tone was sooo long without muffling, also with a pillow inside touching both side just very slightly on the edges I was not too happy with the sound (long sustain). so I put a tea towel instead of a filt stripe between the bassdrum und reso head. the sound was really good already. but it got even more bassy, when I put a thick round-cut 20" paper, which has a logo on it and taped it on the reso side. I used the tape method, where I made a circle with the tape to make it stick on both sides.. front and back, like you put a poster on the wall and don't want to see the tape) THE SOUND BLEW ME AWAY! I tune it super low and it somehow produces so much bass but shortens the sustain, so I created a massive sounding 20" 1960s bassdrum. Never thought, It will come out like this.

[@ghostroc]

Shell: 20 inch, deep-ish, round bearing edge. Head: no muffler, coated, reso head open.

[@PhilHenDrums]

One thing you didn't mention is the use of an impact patch or dot. These can be thicker or thinner, large or small. An impact patch will bring a little more focus and punch to a bass drum sound without reducing the tone and feel as much as a pillow or blanket. My favorite sound for rock or funk is to use a felt strip on both heads across the bottom 1/4 of the drum, and an impact patch on the batter head. But if I'm playing bebop or straight-ahead jazz, I like a more open, warm sound from a more traditional head such as Fiberskyn with just a felt strip on the reso head.

[@Tateisadrummachine]

Back when I was strictly a hard hitting drummer (playing for Djent and pop-punk bands) I preferred the good ol 22x18 with a bed sheet. These days I still play metal (but like jazz-metal fusion stuff) but way more R&B, jazz and funk. My new favorite kick is my Tama 20x10, and I just have one rolled up towel pressed on the batter head for muffling. Extra low end resonance is my favorite so the batter is loose and the reso is on the tighter side with a port. Great vid guys

[@boomerguy9935]

Wow! You cover it all. It seems that nobody wants to consider the effect of bearing edges. Many years ago when I switched from rock and big band to smaller jazz gigs, I switched to Gretsch drums primarily because of the 33-degree bearing edges which are warmer than the previous 45-degree bearing edges which attacked. Thank you for including this.

[@liboy9844]

Best bass drum tutorial on the internet. Learned a lot, thanks.

[@Tydrummer]

18x24 maple/mahogany DW low tuning on a powerstroke 3 batter low but slightly tighter on the stock reso w/ a port pre-installed pillows that touch the bottom of both heads felt side of DW beater

[@HenkJanDrums]

Great video! Most common topics are demonstrated very well with top quality sound. Not mentioned: the effect of reso rings under the bass drum spurs (i use was machine vibration damper rings ...has the same effect as tom isolation and tom spur reso devices) , the effect of burrying the beater or rebound, the effect of tom mount on bass drum or no tom mount, the effect of toms around the bass drum, the effect of acoustics(inside, outside, dry room, reverbing room, ...) , the effect of bass drum mics and placement, the effect of EQ, compression and reverb. The effect of samples/triggers. On 18" bass drum without porthole i use external mufling with blanket on 0, 1 or both sides. Have classic type external bass drum mufflers on an old 18" practice bass drum. Use the Remo MF1122-00 Muff'l Ring Control 22-Inch Drum Muffler on an old 22" bass drum. On Maple 22" bass drum i have the evans emad front and batter and internal muffling. At accordion club i installed felt strip and also a pillow. I also change tunings based on music style, ensemble, acoustics (inside, outside, resonant room, muffled room).

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Hello Hank, thanks so much for sharing your detailed feedback!

[@richardbrandt9332]

Greatest guide for drummers here on KZbin! Now I would like to see also great guides for the snare and toms maybe? :)

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Hey Richard 👋 thanks so much for your feedback and yes - we do have more sound guides in the pipeline

[@jerrytanenbaum2374]

Good and unexpected insight that a higher tuned reso gives more low end Did not expect that would be the case

[@ArtOfDrumming]

🙏

[@alfredneumann4332]

i am a metal drummer and i will definetely try tuning my reso head higher. i usually have had it almost loose but the sound you got there was really cool. thanks for the tip, will try it out!

[@Dario-jq7sy]

what kind of metal do you play ? i listen metal music, daniel erlandsson is my best drummer, bye !

[@Darrylizer1]

I have two drum sets I currently use, one kept in the practice space and the other for gigs. Both bass drums have an Evans Emad on the batter side and a single ply reso head. The only dampening is on the reso head in the form of a small pillow. The live set has a 22x14 bass drum and the practice kit has a 22x18. I think I'll try the felt technique on the live kit as it's a vintage 5 ply Rogers with reinforcement hoops. I love that vintage Bonham sound.

[@dinospumoni5611]

I really like the PS3 batter over PS3 reso with a port, batter tuned low reso tuned high, no additional muffling. Amazing low end tone with great attack. I also love the Ambassador over Ambassador wide open.

[@CarmineStrollo]

OMG I've been playing and gigging for over 50 years and I just learned something about higher tuning resos...amazing. I subscribed...thanks for the info.

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Great to read that! You're very welcom :)

[@burakkara9556]

That content was awesome! I had to a break to learning drum because of my school but I'm following your contents in this channel. They're so useful for me thank you so much!

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Thanks so much!

[@ganesang5537]

One doesn't simply have to be a drummer or even a wannabe drummer to subscribe to this channel. You just need to have a flair for appreciation of the art of beats.

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Thanks a lot for your feedback!

[@brianmacaluso8539]

In my opinion, this channel deserves a lot more audience, these videos have an excellent quality, hopefully they will continue for a long time. Greetings from Argentina!

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Thanks you so much! Appreciate your feedback 👍🏻

[@roarchristoffersen]

What an awesome video. Amazed by how the bass got deeper when you tune the reso head higher!!!! The A/B comparison here, is really useful.

[@Twotontessie]

Great video. One thing I would quibble with is that a longer shell gives “more tone.” I don’t know. Shorter shells will create more sustain usually. The power size toms anyway should have “more sound” on impact when played loud but less tone and pleasing sustain. They’re louder but the quality of the sound is kind of meh. The other thing for me personally on the bass drums … 18 inch deep harder to play and slower than a 17, 16 or 14. 14 x 24 and 16 x 22 the sizes I liked best for all purpose. I like the tomahawk chop of my 16 X 22 Yamaha Recording Custom 😂

[@drummermomcjs]

Great information, and very useful as well. I like a punchier sound yet retaining the low end. I generally like a tight crisp snare sound, and thus I like the punchy, yet low bass to meld with it.

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Glad you got some useful info out of the video! Cool sound you are going for!

[@butchcassidy3373]

I'm with you. Love that tight snappy sound on my snare and bass.

[@davidperaza9526]

Fav vid BY FAR!!! Soooo cool and educational to see what effects different styles of tuning and muffling have on the sound of the drum when it’s closed mic. My fav moment was with the low batter w the high tuned reso head, to say my mind was blown is an understatement. Could you do one of these for the rest of the kit if you haven’t already?!?

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Great to hear that David! Thanks! We already did one video about different snare drumheads but more videos about the other instruments like the snare or cymbals will follow for sure 👍🏻

[@thedutchdjentleman]

My favourite kick sound is a 22” with a pillow inside touching both heads and it being slightly more attacky and punchy. I have a 20” kick currently with the same principle. I looked for a sound that had a lot of projection, which I landed on with tuning.

[@ArtOfDrumming]

🙏

[@butchcassidy3373]

That's the set up I use on my DW design 22x18 with the pillows barely touching both heads. I use a Evans 360 EQ4 and my bass sounds awesome.

[@Celicalover]

Me too

[@julian.borisov]

Perhaps the most educative video on the topic! Kudos!

[@Noteven0]

Generally speaking the number of lugs is an indicator the quality. You would be hard pressed to find a flagship kit that doesn’t have a ten lug bass drum.

[@theavenger3363]

Best tutorial on KZbin 👍

[@elehnez5732]

Very sensible you mentioned the need of volume. When playing with a band, especially in Pop, Rock, Metal etc. the best sound of your kick gets useless If not heard in the room. You can spend hundreds or thousands for better and louder or fatter Drums. I ended buying a 18" Subwoofer and a standard kick mike, together less than the shell of my Kick 🤭. That'll work with every standard kick.

[@ryanoneill772]

Great video! Your channel is slowly becoming my favorite for drums.

[@nicolashauss4075]

This channel is ridiculously good! Best video on kicks I’ve ever seen

[@butchcassidy3373]

For the music I play I run a DW 22x18 with a Evans 360 eq4. Sounds like thunder with some sustain. I run just a little muffling. Love the sound I get and everyone remarks how great the bass sounds. I mostly play hard rock and this set up sounds great.

[@ArtOfDrumming]

That sounds like the perfect setup for your purpose - thanks for sharing

[@mohddalibinzali1165]

Is your bassdrum sound like 1:52? Overtone a bit?

[@musclecarfan74]

Good video, I have been playing for 32 yrs. and am always learning something new.

[@ArtOfDrumming]

That's what it's all about. Never stop to search for new input 👍

[@scs6822]

Good info, Love that your using Sonor! One other point is the hole position of Reso. head makes a Big difference as I find at 4:30 position is the best .

[@SeverinoSE]

Really good video covering everything in a concise and well-explained way. Regarding bearing edges, I personally prefer fully-rounded because they are said to be easier to tune and have less ringing due to less overtones. On the other hand, sharper bearing edges are perceived as brighter or more ringing, depending on how one perceives it and have a faster attack and longer sustain, too.

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Thanks so much for sharing your feedback 🙏

[@Twotontessie]

Love that you tell ‘em to tune that resonant head up some ! Another thing I never understood. “I tune the bass drums as low as they’ll go man.” Why?? It’s a bass drum already.

[@bpooboi]

Thank you for showing all options !!!

[@Celicalover]

Cheers you are experts you do a great job you are helping me you are my favourite channel for drums! I I might go for a black suede reso head by Remo or power stroke 3 I am working on it ☺️ 🥁

[@KingCrimson82]

1:26 "ARE VERY DIRECT"

[@7044977068]

This is the perfect video I never knew I wanted.

[@JustLilGecko]

I really like your near scientific approach to drum tone, it really helps take out the hand waving

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Thanks 👍🏻 We simply try to give you all the knowledge you need to go on and start experimenting yourself. Great to hear that you got something out of it 🙂

[@Poeme340]

Very clear, concise and helpful!👍

[@alejocristancho]

that powerstroke 3 sounds amazing

[@juanchersdrums5101]

Wow really helpful guide

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Thanks so much for sharing your feedback!

[@andrewarbogast1]

I love my 24” pdp kick. I’d recommend changing the head though.

[@johnmcdonough666]

Outstanding video.

[@luissebastianmichhurtado6446]

What a great video..... very easy to understand

[@alexinthemix00]

Wow! The best bass drum video on youtube! Thank you!

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Thanks so much for your feedback!

[@joelmarquez4629]

Just made a huge fan of this channel 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Thanks so much!

[@M4RCM0NT31R0]

You guys never fail to make a great video!

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Thank you 😊

[@indorr]

Power stroke 3 -short and controlled for quick tight double bass work

[@philwright2480]

I have a Pearl DLX kit, 24" Bass Drum, I use an Evans Emad, loud, nice thump, not too warm, not too bright.

[@ArtOfDrumming]

👍🏻

[@julsrique9148]

I like Remo but since Evans create E-mad. I'm not use anymore Remo for kick. Evans E-mad is the best head all around for kick.

[@joebrooks3638]

I use Evans EMAD2 bass heads and i use the muffler ring that comes with it but no other muffling needed imo and i have Evans UV2 on the toms and STD Dry snare and i might use drum gels but i really dont need anything else, just good quality drums!

[@ArtOfDrumming]

🙏

[@dxzxax8772]

Super clear information. I learned a lot.

[@boempakhuis1919]

Nice video guys, question what kind of hole cutter do you have , seems very handy ;-)

[@sixboogieman]

Хорошая работа! Все детально и по существу!

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Thanks so much for your Feedback SixBoogieMan!

[@elbowache]

Question: will having a mic port change the tone even if you don't place the mic through it? If you placed the mic on the unbroken surface, will it sound similar to if the resonant head wasn't cut?

[@wilhemheider]

I love the sound of a plastic beater 😍

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Cool - thanks for sharing your feedback

[@Rusli1659LPSoldier]

The one pillow muffling on a bass drum sounds great for me to make a rock sound. But the clearer batter head sounds better than the coated, But the only difference is with or without Bass drum patch with a better attack.

[@EliasVodka]

perfect video thank you so much, i learned that i like both low tune with one pillow on the reso head

[@OkThisllbeMyName]

Wow this video alone saves tens of ear training hours

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Thanks so much Matt!

[@thewhiterabbit4268]

very good information!

[@vinceparke5740]

I have a dampened beater head, Power Stroke or duct taped silver/black dot equivalent ;), and full reso tuned higher.

[@Titanopsis]

he visto muchos videos de afinacion de bombo y bateria y general, pero nada tan certero y preciso como esto. esta gente si que sabe hacer bien loas cosas

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Thanks nikolas 🙏

[@Titanopsis]

Thanks to you 🙌🏼 really good platform and exelent info, with the best drummers, i just can't be happier. Again, thanks to all of you🖤

[@antneemusic]

wow this video is has THE ANSWERS I've been searching for. Thank you sir

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Thanks so much for your feedback!

[@cameronhallett4268]

I like kick drums that fall somewhere in the middle of boomy and clicky. I bet a remo powerstroke with an open porthole reso sounds amazing

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Thanks for sharing! Sounds like a very versatile configuration 👍🏻

[@disf5178]

Pretty cool vid.. kick drum tuning is definitely an art.. This vid definitely covers the most important aspects, and is spot on.

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Thanks so much for sharing your feedback

[@pjb4653]

That Sonor kick sounded delicious without that reso , I remember the first time I really noticed resos being a thing they were black on that white Tama Lars kit after that how could you not have reso heads lol the look was incredible but in my opinion now that's all they are pain in the ass for tuning hahaha

[@normanlouis3902]

Aquarian super kick 3 coated is the best bass drum head I've ever used.

[@ArtOfDrumming]

👍🏻

[@JuankOsorio]

Best video ever!!!!

[@kotogray8335]

Great video!

[@TIRABATERA]

Wow, great great video! Thank you very much!

[@hap.g.7640]

Do they make a disk that That can go into deeper base drums to shorten the attack almost like a 3rd skin. Making the 18" depth into Maybe a 16 wherever you want?.. Without actually cutting it. ?

[@SHREDHEAD97]

Man, I love the sound of the PDP. What are the specs on that? 14x24, stock heads, no muffling?

[@kylemccombmusic]

Very useful, informative content!

[@craicattic]

Great Info!!!!!!!!!

[@isaintlikei4076]

When I had my old Pearl Export, I had a 22" kick with 45 degree edges. I pretty much settled on a Fiberskyn Ambassador for the front and a EMAD 1 or 2 (really whatever one i could get, both were great) and ran the batter head and reso at the same tension, fairly low, but upwards of what a normal rock sound is because my style of metal playing needed more rebound. Before I sold the kit, I had a coated P4 on the back and man, do really enjoy a coated head, gave me some low end back which I liked. Excited for my next kit having a 20" kick, the hope being I won't have to run it with so much tension to get the same feel. Any head suggestions for a birch bass drum, nylon beater, often playing metal?

[@MrStefanuzumaki]

Based on this video i think i would really like a long 24 inch, a highly tuned clear beater head, a low tuned resonant head with a hole, a blanket against the reso head, and a velt beater. Can i somehow get a simulator where i can do all these options for my electric kit, and will it break the bank 😂? Edit: high tune on the reso head* I want those lows. So probably medium tuned on the beater head.

[@ArtOfDrumming]

🤔 great choice for sure 😉

[@snouuuflake]

You could for sure find samples of that drum

[@AndrewDInSydney]

Hi I’m a soundie, not a drummer - can you tell me what you mean by sounding “direct”? Thanks

[@mathpunk]

great channel! love it.

[@mathpunk]

but what about add some subtitles? :)

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Thanks so much!

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Sure if you deliver them ;-)

[@glennedwardgo]

Love the demos, but i wish u also included burying the beater.

[@robbieparrish9608]

Amazing run down, thank you!

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Thanks 🙏

[@cristianmaradiagaseren7507]

Hi guys! Very good stuff! Would you recommend have a sponge inside the bass drum? I have a 24" PDP 805 and just ordered a Emad2 batter head. Please your recommendations.

[@hamilstarr4292]

Excellent video!

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Thanks 🙏

[@salthedrummer1]

great job!

[@kissaguitar]

Great video

[@el_nestorvgc]

thanks you all guys this was really useful. GRacias

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Thanks 🙏

[@FelipeAguiarFA]

Really great video! What about making one showing overhead mic positions? Thank you!

[@ArtOfDrumming]

👍🏻

[@Y0_ltr]

Excellent and instructive ! 👍👍

[@ArtOfDrumming]

🙏

[@Y0_ltr]

Happy you gave the mic references and audio processing :)

[@ArtOfDrumming]

Sure thing - thanks yohann for sharing your feedback

[@drummersinger5324]

24" less than 16" thick always. Padded (thin) bottom inside lightly touching both heads and 6" inch portal on front. Front head tuned to almost floppy

[@nikitaptashko3430]

Thank you 🙏