How To Make Your Cheap Drum-Set Sound Amazing

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The motivation behind this lesson is that Jared and I wanted to give really good advice on improving your drum sound that very clearly applies to ALL levels of drums, even the extremely entry-level kits that most people start out with. It's also important to us that this advice requires NO money to apply, because we know that not everybody is able to invest in new heads or new gear.
My first kit was an absolute clunker, and hearing and seeing what this lesson is about would have made a huge difference back then! We really hope this helps you to get a better sound out of your kit!
We filmed for a long time and discussed MANY tips and tricks and details around each of the points we talked about, but we also wanted this video to be really condensed and punchy, which is why it isn't that long. If you want to watch the full and extended cut, just click here: • How To Make Your Cheap... Please consider supporting me on Patreon! - / cobus

[@cobuspotgieter]

Thumbs up if you're watching this in 2021 😎 UPDATE: I just released a new DRUM LESSON PACK! -> bit.ly/CobusLessons. 5 lessons, 90 minutes, for 27 bucks. It will make you better at tuning drums, mixing drums, I'll show you my practice routine, my worst habits as a self-taught drummer, and teach you one of my favourite linear licks. Thanks for being here!

[@dvirisarat-roach5601]

Not taking your lessons would instantly make you a better drummer.

[@cobuspotgieter]

@@dvirisarat-roach5601 Can you help me out, please? I've only been able to make a living out of drumming, mixing & content creation for the past 15 years and I'd really like to learn from somebody with more experience.

[@dvirisarat-roach5601]

@@cobuspotgieter apply for a position at Walmart or a gas station.

[@srivishalmore9]

@@dvirisarat-roach5601 yikes bro

[@eapaquette19]

@@dvirisarat-roach5601 you are just a jealous hater

[@zach875]

this is why my goal in life is to bring a company with affordable, good quality drums to less fortunate people. Drums are my life and my expression. I went too long without them because of expenses. I think the market is in need of this desperately. Even if it means very little profit I'd be happy to know some kid can get a good quality set for as much or less than am Xbox. Musical expression is the best way to strive for more

[@richieborman4342]

I like you.

[@ledzep246]

i feel you man

[@csaviation9013]

+Zachery Pardue Ebay exists...

[@zach875]

+C&S Aviation not everybody wants used drums. Some might not have internet, I didn't.

[@csaviation9013]

Zachery Pardue There is nothing wrong with used drums. My first set was used. I got it for £120 (US$171.08 ) and they're still sounding and looking good today, 7 years later.

[@davidlara9913]

Little do they know... Toilet paper is gold in 2020

[@michaelbeck4653]

LMAO

[@roberttaylor2251]

David Lara I was just about to write that my friend!!!! haha

[@Patience143]

That's Right sir

[@brodysherrock1971]

Hi from 2022

[@nickzorob44]

little do you know its about to get a whole lot worse🤣🤣🤣

[@peterkalfas5704]

As an older drummer and someone who remembers my first 'clunker' I very much respect and appreciate the time and effort you fellas have put into helping out younger and, not necessarily by association, budget conscious drummers. Kudos fellas! What a generous use of your time, talent and expertise to help other musicians enjoy their instruments to the fullest - drummers 'sticking' together. Hats off to you both.

[@rosalliacristobal2709]

Peter Kalfas very nice comment from the Philippines.

[@pandiorbenget8392]

0:16 = before tuning 9:55 = after tuning

[@slammingbrutalblackenedtec4468]

so my drum kit went from st.anger to Dave Lombardo in 5 mins thanks!

[@bioactivevirus]

Hahahahaha!!!

[@MathewxThexHuman]

ExoTic mine didn't

[@slammingbrutalblackenedtec4468]

Lake SuttonButtons wut

[@ainsleylaura602]

ExoTic, same here

[@JMDERUMS]

Slamming Brutal Blackened Technical Death metal WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[@ChrisBrideauMedia]

I've been playing drums for years and know all of this stuff. I wish I had this kind of info back in the day. No internet in the 90's It's awesome that you guys do videos like these to get people started. All great tips. New drum heads will make a HUGE difference though. Save for those first. Sabian XS cymbals are inexpensive and are a HUGE jump in quality. Not the best but they sound great for a more than fair price. XS is the best value for anyone looking to upgrade. They don't sound cheap. Cheers from Canada.

[@bmarks100]

Well said! These videos are for those who are starting out and need quick, inexpensive ideas to improve. I too have been playing for many years and would have loved this kind of help when I was just beginning. Major kudos to Jared and Cobus for your contribution to drummers everywhere (and your patients with all the morons who leave negative comments)!

[@thecoolestdad]

I have a 16" XS crash in my kit and I love it. I also have two Metal X cymbals, a 16" and 18" crash. I like the XS better than the Metal X.I run Sabian AAX hi hats and AAX stage ride,and a AA med thin 18" crash and a AAX splash. I have another kit with some mixed cymbals, and one is a B8 Pro which I don't care for. Even though B8's and B8 Pros are the cheapest, even for a beginner I would at least start out with the XS 20 series. Then progressively work your way up to AAX and HH series. I stay with Sabians pretty much, but I do have some older Paistes from the 3000 Rude series that they don't even produce anymore. Plus a set of 1000Rude hi hats. I won't part with those.

[@thecoolestdad]

Acoustic drums are the best. I would not have an entire kit of electronic drums only. I would have a couple of the Roland mesh head kind for effects, but not a whole kit of them.

[@djay3562]

What drum heads do you recommend

[@ChrisBrideauMedia]

D Jay I personally use Evans EC2's on toms, Evans's Heavyweight Emad on kick. And Remo Coated Embassador on snare.

[@AustinPetDetective]

$125.00 for that kit with all the hardware and a complete set of cymbals, I find that very hard to believe ?.

[@stevealbro7862]

It's definitely possible- last year I bought (on Craigslist) a PDP set in brand new condition, barely even touched, along with an extra piccolo snare, a Zildjian A 16" medium/thin crash, a Sabian XS20 20" ride, and the rest B-8's: hi-hats, 8" splash, and an 18" crash/ride. All for $100- deal of the century. ;)

[@stevealbro7862]

daren1234valdez I got mine on Craigslist- this guy was renovating a house he bought, and he just wanted them out of there.

[@daren1234valdez]

thanks man

[@kickit301]

that's what i was thinking

[@Helo1able]

My first kit brand new from the music shop with cymbals was $135.00. I wanted to try them out before I took the leap. Well, I've since purchased a DW Pro-Kit, spent almost $2,500.00 on it, and the nice thing is I'm adding to it all the time. Bottom line is playing an instrument of any kind doesn't have to be expensive... Your budget and imagination is the only limit.

[@jean-michelmorin7720]

Damn you guys 🤣🤣🤣 My drum kit has been collecting dust for 10 years with me banging on it from time to time. That video made me want to tear it apart completely, cleaning, tuning and trying new placements. I've been at it for over a week and it made me want to play a lot more now. I am having fun again, even laid flooring, ceiling and wall decorations so it looks like a little studio haha So, thank you...I guess? ;)

[@16jojo7]

I actually got a really cheap drum set from an auction and they are so beautiful! - They are pure mahogany and are hand painted with a japanese sound. Bass, three toms and a snare drum for only £35 pounds!

[@andreww9726]

Jeeze that's a small amount of money, nice, What kind of kit is it? (What brand? Or is it something someone made at home?)

[@16jojo7]

I think it was hand made from a drummer in a band who makes instruments for a living

[@andreww9726]

Nice, Gretsch is my favorite brand but they're usually about 600-1000$, it's nice to find cheap nice drum kits

[@16jojo7]

The Slayer 2806 why...?

[@16jojo7]

The Slayer 2806 nice logic... i actually have 3 male friends who play drums so im sorry mate

[@fjeinca]

The fact that you recorded the video in a proper studio with pro mics made a big difference in being able to hear the subtle changes from tuning. Well done.

[@neburnynhs9394]

How to make a cheap drumset sound good Step 1: Be Cobus Step 2: You're done

[@elliotprsn2288]

Why are you not at the top?

[@berkkp]

Cobus is overrated

[@sixfiguredrumer]

hahahahahahahabahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha actually lol

[@Evolutionist199]

I agree

[@TheGamingDandy]

That's a ridiculously good buy for 125 bucks lol

[@idkman74]

TheTrueHappy I got mine for free and even after tuning it sounds like a dead dog

[@timobatana6705]

TheTrueHappy I was thinking the same thing

[@pepipavlov2375]

Idk Man HAHAHAHAHAHAHA LOL

[@kianaens6124]

Mine had 2 cymbals with it and it was 300

[@BlueHopi144]

lol

[@CorrosiveJapsEye]

he got that complete kit including pretty well conditioned sabian cymbals and stand for $125? Yeah dead on... I need to move country.

[@RichardClemson]

Looks like he got i second hand. Not from a retailer.

[@CorrosiveJapsEye]

Even still second hand Sabian cymbals in okay condition still sell for about £50 in the UK.

[@RichardClemson]

Yeah, he got a really good deal on them. But the B8 series are the cheapest of the Sabian cymbals.

[@ZachHarless]

Richard Clemson complete set of B8 is still going to be at least $200 so they did pretty well even if those drums are used

[@CorrosiveJapsEye]

My point exactly Zach... thats some fucking bargain.

[@TheDefeatest]

Always nice to see when you keep things on the cheap and show folks how to do it with what you've got when you have to! Thanks!

[@kardRatzinger]

Next episode: how to make your cheap guitar sound amazing? Tune it. Next next episode: how to make your voice sound amazing? Sing in tune.

[@ROGUESPIRIT_]

savage

[@leyleonardbernas3273]

jhaha

[@jonnywells6006]

Fucking funny as hell! No shit, they literally just tuned them. Haahaaahaaa

[@farshimelt]

The what is easy if you know the how.

[@divejumpshooter6947]

So cool man - You say the things people who aren't assholes won't say and it really makes the internet a better place. As we all know as drummers/musicians it is always best to ensure we make people feel stupid when first learning. And it is just icing on the cake if we can take those folks who are trying to help others down a peg or two. I mean what kind of loser puts together a video designed to help noobs. AmIright? You keep being a dick and you'll go far.

[@BN-xj8wr]

FUCK THESE DUDE HAVE SOME DRY HUMOR.. HOLY HELL.

[@ralph9446]

Thank you so much Cobus, I'll apply this on our church drumset, I hope someday I have my own drumset too. God bless you.

[@briansinstallations]

Excellent video I've been playing for almost 50 years and found this educational. Good job

[@thehunter7422]

thank you. this helped me a lot. I wasnt sure I'd buy an expensive drum set or not. now I finally know what to do to make it sound better. especially the tom drums I really wanted to know.

[@mikeiwinski5976]

Great video, thanks guys. I'm a longtime guitar player but new to the intracacies of drum kits. We recently bought my son an entry level kit, and its very similar to yours. I can't wait to share your video and apply the lessons to his kit!

[@TheNanoWax]

I'm not a drummer but I like drumming and the instrument. In my opinion, this is really helpfull for "new" drummers. (:

[@jellyboy123]

my first drum set i found in a skip no joke it was a old premier royal kit from about 1960's with zyn cymbals took it home with me and started to learn to play them i have made so many friends because of drums opened up a new world for me learn to play drums because every band always looking for a drummer theres plenty of guitarists and basses singers but drummers are always hard to find. And if your a good drummer you can make a good living out of playing.

[@Alexandr_Silver]

I like the first sounding drums :D

[@technology5674]

wtf kid?

[@brendanray3186]

Vintagey sounding

[@maziu27]

1: buy new heads 2: tune it

[@farshimelt]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[@ajieash9573]

3. Branded cymbal

[@brycetalsky8227]

Evan's level 360 drum heads for it

[@joe_tipakuah4880]

I bought a cheap drumset 2 years ago during the pandemic era and I decided to tune it up until I got the perfect sound for myself.I prefer wet sounding drums than dry sound, because it's not really noisy when you played around your neighbourhood area.The kit that I bought and played on cost MYR1650 (Malaysisn currncy Ringgits).This tips that I watched for years has helped me a lot.Thanks to Cobus and Jared Falk of Drumeo for the tips.Greetings from Malaysia to both of you..

[@gavinglover-composer993]

I'd really like to see you guys do a video on tuning drums for different styles, especially jazz. Also I don't know how much you all would agree but I don't think adding cymbals to a kit will help a kit sound better. Personally, after my nearly 15 years of playing, I've strayed away from adding cymbals. I'm down to a very versatile ride that crashes and rides really well and a pair of washy hats that bark and splash really well. Between that and playing on a 4 piece my set up time mics included went from nearly an hour to 40 minutes to now 20 minutes since I've found that less is truly more. I think young drummers really need to learn the concept that if you can't make a few drums and cymbals sound good, you definitely will make a lot of drums and cymbals sound worse.

[@heyitsbacon599]

I'm down to a 4 piece as well, sometimes a 3 piece. I have a ride, crash, and hi-hats. Much simpler to set-up, and challenges you to be creative with your playing.

[@Hellwyck]

Heyitsbacon I've got a twin bass 6 piece kit and can play a smaller kit just as well as my bigger kit.

[@KabouterRPG]

***** "OK drums with great cymbals is way better than the reverse" is 100% true. Good skins chosen with wisdom, good tuning, and judicious muffling will make pretty much any kit sound good. Hell, as this vid shows, just good tuning makes a massive difference. I ought to know - I've been playing a CB kit. ;) But you can't tune cymbals! That CB kit with B8-level cymbals would sound like ... well, if I said what it'd sound like me ma would fetch me a ding on the ear. But that CB kit with the mix of pro-level cymbals (Sabian AA and AAX) I'm using, that actually sounds good to me and listeners.

[@gavinglover-composer993]

Definitely, having good cymbals can make the kit sound so much better. However, I just meant at the end of the day, quality over quantity is key

[@flugplatz21]

Tape and TP? NOOOOO! Crappy but round shells, decent heads (REMO), a good tuning job, a towel (no pillows!) in the bass drum, and some old Zildjian A's. Nice live and natural drum sound. If you add crap cymbals, it's not a good thing. I just got some ZBT's from a drummer who passed, couldn't even keep them to honor his memory. Traded in, traded up. My Zildjian's are the pride of my musical life.

[@alexteagle9782]

$125 bucks for that?? I would've bought the set just for the cymbals and hi hat!

[@wouterplat9294]

+Alex Teagle ikr ._.

[@markem9415]

+Alex Teagle Yeah if you look hard enough, you`ll find a meth head musician desperate enough to sell their kit for dirt cheap.

[@PlanetRockJesus]

+Alex Teagle Maybe it was just a fluke. They may have stumbled upon someone that got a set as a gift and didn't know the value. It's happened. But you're right: it's unlikely. Maybe the drums, but the cymbals are worth much more than that.

[@Peet790]

+Alex Teagle Guys seriously? Did you see the condition of cymbals and of drums? Obviously the drums cost 125 and the cymbals were just added to the kit by Cobus...

[@brian28lee]

+Mark EM yeah, I was able to buy this Pearl vba with Meinl 5pc Classic customs and an iron cobra double beater 900P for $400. Amazing things you can find on Craigslist lol.

[@vivalasagne3726]

Yeah. Oh, yeah. Totally. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Yeah.

[@trollponch]

I loled so hard ololololool dont know why jajaja

[@filipcovic8731]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa o my goodddddddddddddddddddddd......the fuckin ejaculation video

[@MATTlovesDRUMS]

When I first started playing drums, I didn't know anything about how to take care of a drum kit or tune it. I would just tune them super loose and then put O Rings on them and it would get rid of the overtones. Even then, I still hated the sound I got out of my kit. Finally, I went to a Music Camp and learnt how to pitch match and how to make drums sound heavenly. I now use a DrumDial (drummers should invest) and MoonGel. Works amazing!

[@djay3562]

What drum heads do you recommend. I need hardware as well. I have a 13 year old drummer that has a great talent. He just started reading music and loves to riff! I beg him to stay in the pocket but he loves the flare! Any advice I would love

[@MATTlovesDRUMS]

I recommend Evans G2s for all drums and then an EMAD 2 bass drum head. Use stock heads for bottoms and the bass drum front As for hardware, I'd say go for either Drum Workshop 2000 series hardware or Pearl 900 hardware. It's durable and works really good

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

***** ewwww...I LOATHE Evans drum heads! Yuck!! So do all the great drummers I know... On a jazz kit, or cocktail kit, you use Remo coated Ambassadors. Use Remo, for the love of Buddy Rich. Such sacrilege! Unless it's a Vistalite, then use black dots...

[@manurobertsdrummer]

I remember that i did exactly these tips right in 1996/1997, with no internet, no teachers, no drum "friends", just myself and my ears! im so glad!!!! mine was a chinese Thunder drum set, i hated it so badly!!!!! hahaha

[@ThomasNeal]

When I got my first real drumset I wore out the batter heads on my toms so I just flipped them over and played on the reso head lol

[@inferiordior]

Thomas Neal Lmao

[@ernie9776]

You could have just got new heads

[@mdindestin]

Don't try that on the snare.

[@cyborgagent6]

If you are pro drummers, you apparently forgot the first rule of being any type of drummer: ALWAYS TUNE IN A STAR PATTERN. Circle tuning can make certain spots of the head weaker at a faster pace of use, and just also isn't a good habit. Fix that asap lol

[@murlinevans3722]

so, uh, tune it?

[@cyborgagent6]

***** I don't understand what you're asking lol. Reread my comment then ask again or explain what you're asking. If you're asking to tune it (which is how you worded it) then yes obviously

[@murlinevans3722]

That seems to be the entire point of the video: TUNE THE DAMN DRUMS. Which is obvious for a $200 kit or a $2,000 kit. Don't get me wrong I like these guys and Drumeo. Well done. I play a cheap kit (proudly) and I didn't really get that tip that gets to that "amazing" sound?? Did I blink and miss it. Tune your drums...tune your drums....got it.

[@cyborgagent6]

***** no no no, we all got that part. You must've misread my comment, because I was pointing out they forgot to mention the #1 rule about tuning, which is to always tune in a star pattern, as I further explain in my original comment

[@MrMinicarl]

cyborgagent6 Yep star patern is 1 rule of every damn screwing 2 things together not only to tune drums.

[@GrandNebSmada]

I did this with my set and it really did help A LOT! Thank you so much, I was so clueless as to how to make my crappy Yamaha set sound better.

[@Whiskers_and_paws]

I took my drum set out and dusted it off and have been watching these videos. They really helped. Thanks! I tried to sell my drum set just because I didn't play anymore and couldn't even sell them for $150! People will sell for cheap just to move them. I wouldn't go lower than that so I decided to keep them and I'm glad. I did. Rock on!

[@Freerydah73]

I tried playing with full, 100% confidence and conviction and I still suck!

[@yeco]

+Bred Saint But hey!, now you have the conviction that you suck!

[@Freerydah73]

+yeco Either way my neighbors disagree, f@ck!

[@RexySmith]

Bred Saint 😂😂😂

[@snakepliskin23]

Bred Saint practice. If you don't have rhythm tho your fucked lol born w talent is the key really. It's like breathing or riding a bike

[@farshimelt]

@@snakepliskin23 More like breathing, you can fall off a bike.

[@gerrybrown7488]

Notice how the second beat he did was more complicated than the first one to make it seem like they did a better job at making it sound good

[@jamessayer913]

The Ger-Man Dynamic players respond to the sound of the instrument. Better tones -> better inspiration -> better playing

[@mdindestin]

My father was a sound engineer and quite a character. He was trying to sell a mic to someone. So, he set up two mics to their sound system. In the first cheap mic he said "six, six, six" then went to the mic with more profit, leaned in and said Eleven! Of course they chose the second one.

[@braedonrogers5534]

​@@jamessayer913maybe so, but I don't think it would be too hard to keep a similar level of playing

[@robertclarkguitar]

I used maxi pads under heads. inside the snare and Tom's if I had no dead ringers. lol. Don't tell the world my trick. Oops. I've had compliments from many on my kits. Fyi

[@robertclarkguitar]

Tapes right to touch heads. lol

[@ura239]

Robert Clark Used maxi pads work even better.

[@robertclarkguitar]

ura239 Haha. Bet that is rank!

[@robertclarkguitar]

DigitalHamSandwich I can imagine that is a tight sound. EXTREMELY DAMP. nice.

[@oil1252]

@@ura239 dude wtf

[@hugolafhugolaf]

Good tips. On my cheap drums, I had a wrapped finish. I ripped that off just because I wanted them to be a different color. Lo and behold, they sounded amazing. The vinyl wrap killed all the resonance. They already sounded a lot better. Newer, better heads did wonders. No muffling whatsoever most of the time, or I'd use an old head, cut the contour and use it as a muffling ring. Freebies are good.

[@drumsNstuff79]

I've loved this video for awhile. It's simply Tuning 101 for any kit, any level. Cheaper cymbals will sound okay, but can't be improved. But any kit can be tuned up and sound great! All it takes good tuning and a little muffling to get out those ringy overtones. As always you would ideally want to start with new heads. Old heads can be dented and sunk in and need to be replaced because they just won't hold a good tune. But if not just getting a drum in tune will do wonders! Any inexpensive kit can sound nice simply by knowing how to tune it guys! And I feel it is essential for drummer to know how. But I would replace the pillow in the kick with a folded towel in the drum or a felt strip against the head to get more low end. Other than that, it's all good.

[@waynep1178]

Most of the time, with lesser talented drummers, like myself ;) its not that we want the drum to sound bad. Its just we're not exactly sure how to tune it properly. Maybe we know it sounds bad. But we aren't quite sure what to do about it, just sayin...

[@drumsNstuff79]

I know! That's the frustration! But this video is the basics of tuning. Give yourself time to master this and it will pay off in spades!

[@flugplatz21]

Don't forget, with the band playing, out in the crowd, people don't hear the overtones or annoying ringing many beginners don't like while behind the kit. I had to learn that back in the day. I thought other guys sets sounded terrible, until I saw that they had the same tuning and tape I had. Went home and tore all the tape off. Get used to that sound, and remember that the crowd hears something a little different. Muffle your drums for your own ear, and they sound like cardboard boxes to a live crowd. Let those suckers ring loud and proud!

[@haventgotoverit]

I too prefer the bottom to be tighter if you know what i mean ;)

[@bjarnijakobsen3028]

haventgotoverit 😂

[@InsomniakDrums]

E-Rings by Evans will change your drum sound SO MUCH! I have them on all my snares and toms, and they lower the tone of the drum and get rid of so many overtones! I personally tune my snare with the top head very tight, enough to get the feel and crack I want, but then tune the snare side head very low to deaden the sound and get rid of most overtones for the pure CRACK sound, and since I don't like the sound of the snare TOO high, but love the feel, the E-Ring helps maintain the crack, gets rid of overtones, and lowers the sound! As for toms, I typically prefer a nice, low punch, with low sustain, so the E-Rings get rid of the overtones, lower the pitch a bit, and keep the punch I love! (as for tuning, I don't really have a set standard for toms, I just mess around until the sound good, and I always get compliments about my tuning). Now for kick, I use EMAD system all the way, with thickest foam rings all around. I have the batter head fairly loose, but somewhat tighter than the reso head. I tune it until I get the tone I want with a decent punch. And I use my EQ Muffle Pad and make sure quite a bit is resting on the batter head. The pad allows the tone to go through (the force of hitting the drum pushes it off the head), and then mutes it after for more punch, less sustain (it falls back onto the head, effectively muting it). Hope my comments are helpful to at least someone out there! Btw, LOVE Cobus and Jared, they're GREAT at what they do, and amazing people!

[@Addrum]

Evans E-Rings and Remo's O-Rings just kills the sound of your drums. Overtones are not something to get rid off. They are part of the sound and enriches it. Try moongels. They allow you to control how much damping you do on the heads.

[@InsomniakDrums]

They don't kill the sound of the drum. First of all, it's 100% preference. If I want little sustain and overtone (as PLENTY of drummer do along with me), then I'll do so and love the sound, just as EVERYONE who has complimented me does (my percussion coaches, band director, band mates, fellow percussionists, etc). So if I say that I want a dead, low sound with little sustain and no overtones, I'll get that sound, and not care what you say. You can't say "don't get rid of overtones," because it's OPINION and PREFERENCE.

[@eggrolldog]

***** You are right, it is a matter of preference. However, a lot of people use the rings as a substitute for proper tuning (I was guilty of that in my younger drumming days). You can just throw them on and it's instantly going to give you a more uniform sound because it has sucked out all the overtone. It can really limit the tonal possibilities and subtleties you can get from your drums though. Once I learned to properly tune, I never went back to a ring.

[@InsomniakDrums]

It can't limit the possibilities and subtleties from the drums, but that's STILL a matter of tuning. If you want to just throw the E-Rings on without proper tuning, more power to you, because that's what YOU like, and no one should care if that's what you like. I personally tune the drums first (slightly higher pitch than where I want them) then throw on the Rings. I prefer a dead, low tom sound, that's just me, and the E-Rings allow me to limit the nasty overtones, but keep the nice ones (which you get from TUNING the bottom head). You can't say they limit the possibilities, because it just removes some overtones, which you can easily compensate for by tuning the reso head.

[@KabouterRPG]

So let me get this straight - you remove the overtones with the rings, then add overtones back by fiddling with the resonant head. [scratches head] I fully agree that you should do what you like. If it sounds good to you, go right ahead and do it. But I really must insist that your justifications make sense. ;-)

[@jemil1112]

I am only a begginer at drumming, I play drums only for like 2 months, and I love it sooo much...

[@randomnessltd]

My hi-hats are Sabian B8's, but the rest of the drums and cymbals are mixed. It was originally a full Pearl drum kit, but the rest of the original kit got lost over time. So the kit had to be restored (lots of cracks and other maintenance issues), and some of the pieces had to be replaced with new ones because a lot of the pieces weren't sold anymore.

[@SolaNobilitatVirtus]

Great video, but the lugs were tightened in the wrong order. Like changing a tire, lugs should be tightened in a star pattern, where the lugs are tightened across from each other, instead of beside each other. This ensures uniform tension throughout the head material.

[@fuzzy8mike]

Love the snare wire trick !

[@allrequiredfields]

This is absolutely hilarious. Before sounded far better; it went from bright and open to canned and generic. Way to go! Fucking hilarious.

[@martijnp5399]

Yeah wtf is all this shit about "getting rid of overtones"? Since when would you want to LOSE overtones on any instrument? Most high end instruments are considered good because of the overtones. From drums mainly the snare is something you really want to have nice rich high overtones. And here they tell you to put tape on your snare...

[@yakuborigins]

***** I get rid of overtones on my drums, gets that dry 70s sound. Some drummers dig that. I actually have a 70s ludiwg kit and I use the little felt mufflers on the toms. I love the way they sound.

[@WhiteTiger252]

I liked the bass drum before it was changed by them.

[@gingerleyham]

It sounded like bin lids before. It sounds tighter for recording after, but may not be as good live maybe

[@Frankiebonez337]

gingerleyham I dont know jack about instruments and the overtones they are talking about, but my biggest though was that the first set sounded like it was live and the 2nd sounded like it was recorded. I really dont have the ear for instruments probably part of the reason I never was able to play anything haha

[@wadenewbury5688]

For snare and tom muffling, I would recommend taping a small patch of felt (like you might get from a sewing store, etc.) on the batter heads. It works really well and isn't otherwise used to wipe your butt, so that's nice. Clearly, tuning is always paramount, but some people prefer a bit of muffling on top of that and this is what I would recommend. All the best drum kits in the past came with built-in muffling, so it's no crime to want some of that for your modern kit as well.

[@x.y.8581]

Back in the day, you also taped about a 4" square of 3-4 layer cloth pad on the bass drum where your beater struck it - cut down on any ringing and transferred the strike impact to the drum better.

[@48162342]

Thank you so much, my drum set sounded like trash and was considering giving up until I looked this up !

[@iPlayDrums4You]

People who say it's all because of the recording equipment, did you think it sounded good with the $800 at the beginning of the video??! No! It sounded like shit! Then they tuned it and showed a lot of useful tips and tricks and it made it sound much much better with the same recording equipment. Is it really THAT hard to believe these tips work on a cheap Craigslist drum set? You should actually try it or hand your kit over to someone who knows what they're doing because there is no BS in this video.

[@lucienaoun]

Ever heard of mixing?

[@bent2]

The drums sounded best without those tape things. I like a natural clang to the drums.

[@Gorillagamer44]

gels?

[@bent2]

+Gorillagamer44 Or gels.

[@animegamingdude]

+Invisible Drummer Same here, though the overtones would sound more pleasant on a higher end drum kit.

[@Joes_Corner]

I picked up a PDP EZ series kit, with hi hat stand, kick pedal, a Zildjian K Medium Crash and a Zildjian ZBT crash for $120. Soon as I get some hats, ride cymbal, some cymbal stands and a throne I'll be playing again after a 10 year absence.

[@xKICKB0XERx]

before i had drum dampning gels, i used to fold up paper towel and then strap it onto the head with cloth tape (from bunnings). i have to admit it worked just as well as the gel pads

[@guskrough9056]

Next lesson: How to improve microphone quality

[@saghkdjbrjyedali2127]

Gus Krough

[@villerolesen9124]

Gus Krough

[@bobparker2675]

STEALER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@straightmalecaucasian1453]

Bob Parker R u an idiot

[@banjostring9610]

That lesson is preceeded by "how not to be a cockwomble in the comments section"

[@markanderson3870]

Dude, I think the first "before" take sounds amazing. Its the sound I'm going for, I hate the "nice/professional/studio" sounds of a lot of expensive kits. I'd rather have lots of ring, crack and vibration.

[@851852093114208513]

You can get drums like that for that little money? Hot fuckin' damn I'm off to Craigslist

[@skankhunt-vw8xr]

Craigslist is for creepers.

[@CSRgamer]

***** You must have had a bad experience. It's always been fine for me.

[@Dan1819]

I got a 6 pc Mapex at a thrift store or $20. It was missing some stuff but it's in surprisingly good shape.

[@skankhunt-vw8xr]

Lot's of wierdo's on Craigslist. I wouldn't bring them to my house. There was even a Craigslist serial killer. Any site that allows an open sex trade is not a site I do business with.

[@851852093114208513]

***** - Any site that doesn't allow an open sex trade is not a site I do business with. No but seriously criminalizing things like prostitution doesn't stop it from happening, it just makes it more dangerous for everyone involved. You know how it is. Either way, that's why you meet in a public place like a parking lot at a grocery store or a gas station or something where there are other people around.

[@justinniessen1983]

I used similar techniques for a second hand pearl export kit over 25 years ago, kit sounded awful to start with and made it my goal to make it sound more like a sonor drumkit l had heard and played on, but was way out my price range. First I replaced all skins with remo pinstripes then ended up using 10mm door seal stuck to the underside of the drum skins the entire circumference of the top head, then put head back on and of course tuned. It reduced volume and completely removed all overtones, the kit sounded a million bucks. Plus as a bonus didn't effect the look of the drum kit, basically made it look like they were supposed to be there. Give it a try you won't regret it.

[@JackstandJohnny]

Adhesive backed dense foam tape works great. Much better than tape and TP. I also ran thisfoam around the i sode edge of the resonant head of my kick drum and it helped a ton.

[@JWCFB]

My girlfriend found this neglected Percussion Plus drum set at a garage sale for 75 dollars. I went and checked them out and offered the guy 50 bucks and he took it. We took them apart and cleaned and polished them. I tuned them and put some muffling rings on them and they sound good now. When I replace the heads they will sound great. The cymbals are really cheap, the pedals and hardware aren't that great but they work ok. For 50 bucks im amazed at how good the drums sound.

[@onebadhombre7158]

My second drum set was a Percussion Plus. :')

[@JWCFB]

Was it a decent drum set for you?

[@Lia-A-Eastwood]

6:45 My OCD kicking in: The logo on the bass drum isn't aligned anymore... arrghghgh. ;) ;) ,)

[@gavinvalladares]

just watched this and the emergency TP joke hit a little different...

[@Patience143]

Haha I'm sure

[@Arjadia]

as a drummer getting back into it as a hobby these were very useful for me getting back into the groovy with little pay out

[@mitchell8697]

This is still the best video on how to tune drums. It's long, but the best! I don't care if you have a really cheap drum set like this one they are using or a high end set, use this method. On high end drums you may find you just don't need the muffling tape as much or at all.

[@hifijohn]

oh snap!!! who says that anymore?

[@ethanwhite8899]

he does

[@ricardodelsilva3891]

Do not doubt The Cobus! :)

[@TheXyarddog]

That offends me .... OH SNAP ! ....

[@djeeves_6487]

IDFK

[@tambocha]

Yeah, it's dated, but it's OK. He's a good drummer and English isn't his first language.

[@JanneFlinck]

My snare wire keeps doing crackle sound, when im hitting all the toms, i dont want tighten up my toms or the snare wire, are there other ways to stop snare crackling when i hit toms and bass?.

[@Rossvanzyl]

If you dont want to change tuning at all, you can try just moving the tom away from your snare. Sympathetic snare buzzing is almost inevitable though, and will generally not be noticeable when playing with a band.

[@alexma321]

Try to move your drum set to another room and play it. Maybe echo make snare buzzing

[@thelethalmoo]

in some ways this is a horrible bit of advice but its worth a try, sometimes if its the high tom causing issues then of you sligghttlyy detune the lug closest to the snare then the high tom shouldn't make as much snare buzz as its giving off a more messed up vibration towards the snare, if it makes a big differance to the sound of the tom then dont do it, give it a try anyway, only takes half a second to see if it works or not

[@miguel-fg]

Pedro Chinga ¿Y asumes que él habla español? No es muy brillante de tu parte...

[@TheTurk412]

if you loosen up the 4 tension rods near the snare wire then it will get rid of the snare wire buzz. i had the same problem.

[@angel77t91]

Damn 125 for that drum set, it looks awesome

[@looppool]

Another cool studio trick I've used for 35 years as a session drummer: Take two squares of toilet paper and then fold in half TWICE. Make sure the fold is facing down on the tom or snare. Then put a very small amount of gaffing tape on the smallest amount of the top of the toilet paper to 'seal' it shut. Let the top edge of the gaffing tape adhere to the inside of the rim (NOT touching the head at all) at the very top of the drum so that the toilet paper lays down over a small portion of the drum at the top. This allows the toilet paper to rest on the drum (instead of being taped on it). The net effect is really cool. When you first hit, the highest overtones are muffled by the mere weight of the toilet paper resting lightly on the head. As you strike, the toilet paper will bounce off the head without making any audible noise, allowing the fundamental pitch of the drum to ring without any muffling and then it drops back on the drum essentially 'gating' the sound in a subtle way. This makes the snare or tom sound really full and musical with a strong note but without the high overtones that can sound a little ugly.

[@austinwhiting2829]

I was just given a cheap set recently and was worried about being stuck with a cheap sound. Thanks a ton for these tips you guys!

[@RaynP]

11:51, *cough* Lars Ulrich *cough*

[@JoshLikeCrazy]

he has poor mixing

[@chuy5138]

RayanFgt loooooool

[@skylordgaming6273]

guys please dont hit your snare with the drum key. for fucks sake it RUINS heads just use a stick, its what theyre for.

[@ToomanyFrancis]

um no it doesn't...

[@ToomanyFrancis]

Falcon Powerful It doesn't have the check mark so it is not the real Chuck Norris (yes I know Chuck Norris does not have a youtube account) HES AN IMPOSTOR!

[@allarkuus7661]

o-oh-okay :D

[@aaronius4444]

Gaus Does Gaming Fuck you you don't know anything

[@philgecko]

lol you trolling??

[@Mayhemzz]

My tiny house requires that I play an Electric kit ): But at least I don't have to tune :D

[@mark52111]

Nice job. Good video. I've heard many pro level drummers make cheap kits sound great. Part of it is knowing how to hit the drum and the other part is tuning and heads. Regardless of price, the kit needs to sound good enough to inspire you to play. My preference on dampening is to dampen as little as possible. I dampen my snare a little bit (same tape trick this vid shows) but no dampening on toms. I try to select appropriate heads and tune to avoid putting tape and goop on my toms. Think about how many years manufacturers have been adding RIMS mounts and what not to get the toms to sustain, and what do most drummers do? Put a bunch of duct tape or moon gel on them and choke them back to the sounds of the 1970's. If you want to reduce overtones, select a head that will do that for you i.e. two ply. And in the context of playing live, no one notices toms ringing too much except the sound guy and my response to him is to "gate it". For kick drums, same drill. I select a head that has built in dampening and tune to get the sound I want. I get compliments on my kick tuning and my secret is to get the kick drum to resonate and punch. I tune the front head (resonant head) a bit higher, enough to resonate. Tune the batter head for feel, not too high but not too low. Having said that, I've found over the years that some kicks just don't have any mojo. And those are the kits I have sold. It takes time to tune drums and years to learn how to tune well. Only way to learn is by doing. Also, check out Bob Gatzen's videos on drum tuning. They are excellent!

[@drenwatts7298]

Great video! Something small to add. Combining two cymbals in unison, for example the hi hat and the crash bell, make the sound of them intermix and sound with higher quality. You only need to accommodate which are the sound differences to apply them at the right time. Cheers!

[@flamner8774]

So basically, tune them?

[@benparsons4979]

and get better heads

[@farshimelt]

yes, now that you know how.

[@ehill1536]

There must be a disconnect. So, I need two pro drummers to tune my set? BTW: Cheap kits don't come with top of the line cymbals and most of them sound like you are clanging tin pans. Hell, the hi-hats they have here cost around the same amount they say (claim) the set is. Did I mishear this? 0:32

[@DareToBeatbox]

Those cymbals are terrible.

[@Gomaaaa]

B8's, like they said, are entry level, you can get a set for about 299, which is VERY cheap for cymbals.

[@Aidiakapi]

If you look at the kit, it's kinda obvious it's a 2nd hand kit.

[@adamtzsch]

That's what I was thinking. 3 Sabian cymbals and a Sabian hi-hat and the kit for $125? Fucking bargain!

[@ehill1536]

Hphh... I've never used them; but they didn't sound that bad.

[@MtnXfreeride]

Evans hydraulic heads work well if you dont want duct tape or TP on your drum heads..

[@gabedroppo5814]

G2 Evans coated are awesome try them out!

[@farshimelt]

This was about not spending money to make the kit sound better.

[@jalthealusdavis8762]

I discovered that if use tape a few small strips of window or door weather stripping to your toms, It will make them sound amazing while eliminating the overtones. Two or three small 1 inch strips placed together should do the trick. Just a cheap trick I tried last week on my set.

[@rdovey]

these 2 guys are great together. i love Cobus' videos and also the Drumeo ones with Jared and putting them together is just brilliant!

[@RohzekVT]

9:05 in 2020 it's cheaper to just buy the moongel.

[@patrickguyum]

Slightly painful when I noticed you don't tighten across the drum head.

[@wildspades1]

I would like to know the type of mic used for this as well.. I know i can make a cheap set sound pretty good with effect and software.. so i guess my thoughts on this would be.. how much did the mic and equipment add to the quality of this sound..

[@farshimelt]

Untuned it was the same mic and equipment.

[@FuzzyNova]

I bought a brand new Premier, 5 Piece set 2 years ago. I had to get Ride , crash and high hat separate. I didn't know what a Premier was at the time. I ended up researching them and they have been around since the like 50s or something. Drummer from The Kinks had one. And Almighty Led Zeppelin used one. This made me like it even more. Even though it's not a $5000 set. it still wasn't cheap. Tuning was something I didn't really think about at first. I would tighten the heads and stop when I liked it. But I really need to go back and try what this video is saying. I got super Sonic snare and Tom heads on the set and it's a real gem. I can't wait to tune it

[@KrisTheSlayer]

I have a cheap PDP set from Best Buy...I can't afford new heads, so I used the TP & duct tape method & now they sound less "mushy"! This really did help. Thanks for giving tips to poor musicians!

[@drummerbraves]

Would sound better with Remo Pinstripes or Evans EC2's. Might not need the duct tape and toilet tissue on the heads.

[@Garrison64]

That's cool but you gotta remember this was about keeping it as cheap as possible for someone on a tight budget. The stuff they used would be basically free for most people as they are things people typically have in their home already.

[@drummerbraves]

Garrison64 Duct or electrical tape doesn't get it for me. It's hard to get off and if you play in humid weather then it'll stick to the toms and snare heads and then you'll get something to take off the duct tape and the stickiness it leaves behind.

[@Garrison64]

Well that's fine. I wouldn't use it either but then you're still missing the point.

[@drummerbraves]

Yes, I know about playing on a budget but you eventually have to change the heads anyways. For a $125 drumset you can buy heads for it easily which would add about $75 for a complete set of heads so $200 is still a bargain. Union Drums cost about 3 times the price new so buying used drums like this are worth it.

[@Garrison64]

Not if you're broke from buying the set. ha ha

[@idaho777]

the tilted logo on the bass drum is really bothering me

[@Bhatt_Hole]

Sounded way better at the beginning, in the "before" section. Had some character, and rang out...unlike the sadly typical over-muffled generic tone. Sounded more towards a Bonham sound, rather than forgettable dull thuds which everyone and their great-grandmother uses.

[@farshimelt]

Depends on what the music needs and your style of playing and whether your recording or playing live. There's no one size fits all.

[@davidpfeifer9489]

With good heads and tuning you can get toms and kick sounding good, snare and cymbals are another story

[@michaelhicks5150]

I’ve been a fan of the Drum Dial ever since a friend and fellow drummer introduced me to it a couple of decades ago. Much more effective than tapping the heads with a drum key. Moon Gels are awesome for taking out overtones without dampening the resonance of the drum.

[@avinashali4838]

Where do you get a set for that price? I even checked craigslist and the cheapest they got was like $300

[@MarioJelev]

Avinash Ali you just gotta be patient my dude. My area has been dry for a few weeks but yesterday I saw a decent 5-piece kit with hardware (no cymbals) for 40 bucks

[@avinashali4838]

No way. Who is dumb enough to give an entire drum kit for $40? I guess in my area, we have smarter people.

[@MarioJelev]

Haha, right? Then again, 40 is like the cheapest I've ever seen and it's not a regular price by any means. I usually see people posting beginner sets with cymbals and hardware for around 150-250, depending on the condition

[@avinashali4838]

I can't even get that! I have been looking for a while, and the cheapest I've seen was $275!

[@MarioJelev]

Damn, tough luck dude. Keep an eye out and negotiate, you're bound to eventually see a kit under 200

[@CoTeCiOtm]

A cheap kit with Sabian cymbals? A cheap kit is a kit that has five tension rods on each tom, six on the snare and bass drum and cymbals made of some hideous material that starts bending after three hits.

[@therealgammafalcon776]

Holy cow 5?! That's...pretty interesting...

[@CoTeCiOtm]

TheRealGammafalcon Yep, I got a drumkit like that a couple of years ago. The toms are a pain in the ass to tune!

[@therealgammafalcon776]

CoTeCiOtm Yeah They Are!

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

Well, they're the cheap series Sabian, aren't they? :) Besides, the cymbals aren't the problem...I'm a snot, I only like their signature series :) Although they don't much like to be choked and they'll ring for a week solid...:)

[@Dwdrummer1995]

Those are Sabian B8s. They are cheap brass cymbals. The only step below those is absolute garbage and not used by anyone who even tries to learn the instrument and practice regularly.

[@jeremiahrodriguez463]

when you wach a vid like this and you dont even have a drum kit

[@pinnacleexpress420]

One word: awesome. So much better with the medium-rookie and the semi-pro, makes the tutorial vid come off just the right way. Informational and useful.

[@Footy_Fan]

Awesome video guys! I did the pillow thing back when I played some twenty years ago, but for my toms I used dead ringers. I actually think I may have used a pillow in my floor toms as well, but can't recall for certain. What you guys reiterated over and over about the heads being so important is spot-on. My snare sounded like I was playing a hub cap, but I bought a double-layered head with oil in it, and I was absolutely stunned at the difference. Keep up the good work guys, the video was thoroughly enjoyable.

[@DrewKane]

Tune drums, use expensive recording gear, and have a decent audio engineer who can mix and master your kit that's being played by a professional. Sounds too easy...

[@thefiredragon99]

Or like..you know.,. Buy better drums

[@johnboltz3591]

truth!

[@TylerCritti]

+Thefiredragon99 What if people have a budget?

[@lukebogartmix]

When 3 mics, specifically one of them is an SM57 is now expensive recording gear...

[@DrewKane]

LukeBogart Three $100 microphones isn't cheap.

[@pineapplejunior3588]

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo snap

[@hermanpesina6328]

why is a pillow necessary in bass drums ?

[@julianlenferna9092]

It dampens the vibrations makes it sound better less overtones

[@eliasvanloon5649]

Julian Lenferna thank you

[@mcgrath274]

Herman Pesina if the audience is falling asleep you can pull out a pillow.

[@nonamefox9833]

Herman Pesina for dampening.

[@hellobooom]

hehehe I tuned my 22 bass and forgot the pillow and got a LOT of noise complaints oops.... It sounded so fat though....

[@stewscuda]

Way back in the 80's i used self stick Kotex to Quiet my kit because I lived in an Apartment :) worked great

[@addonisryan7472]

I currently play an electronic kit, but years ago i did have an inexpensive acoustic kit.I found that If there were a lot of overtonesI had the resonants tuned too tightly,I loosened the bottom heads and most of the ringing went away and I also got better tone and sustain and warmth along with the fact that i did upgrade the batters.That alone made a huge difference,but as you've shown,tuning is crucial.Thoe only pillow i like is the one which comes with the Evans EQ kick heads. Regular pillows are for sleeping on, I think they damp too much of the tone out of the kick drum and the low end gets lost