How to Get the PERFECT Marching Snare Sound - Snare Tuning Tutorial (ft. TJ Choquette)

Snare drum head change and tuning tutorial - how to tune a marching snare drum with the help of our friend TJ Choquette!
Huge thanks to TJ for sharing his expertise for the channel! 🙏
Purchase our custom sticks to support an awesome charity! Every pair sold supports the Atlanta Music Project in their mission to bring tuition free music education to young people!
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Products Used:
-Pearl Championship Maple FFX Marching Snare
-Remo Suede Max Top Head
-Remo Flams Max Bottom Head
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[@timothychoquette456]

Thanks for listening to my simple, 21.5 step process! Can't wait to see you playing the Nick Cannon solo and BD drum break on the real thing!

[@iiatyy]

Did you hand write a lot of semi original exercises and post them on snarescience years ago?

[@timothychoquette456]

@@iiatyy I don't think so? I used to use SS alot for finding transcriptions in high school & college, but not much of my own stuff. I don't remember exactly, but it's possible. I write the battery exercises for WGI group, Atlanta Quest, if some of those have made it on SS.

[@iiatyy]

@@timothychoquette456 that’s where I recognize your name, AQ exercises are pretty innovative! Lots of time sig changes, unique groupings and timing stuff!

[@timothychoquette456]

@@iiatyy glad you dig em! I'm a simple 4/4 guy generally, but we throw in a few others in there.b

[@evilmonkey2184]

i used to tune the drums for my high school marching band, i was the only one with the patience to do it, this video would have made my life so much easier.

[@ApexPercussion]

Tryin to help the poeple out for sure 🙏

[@localjay5013]

Agreeable

[@jonvincent786]

I went from bass to snare to quints so I picked it up through the years from the older kids and nothing worse than when I first changed the heads since I was captain without help since one of the years we didn't have a drum instructor at the beginning of the season

[@Wolfadorian]

0:57 Why Does it Matter? 3:26 Step 1: Stuff You Need 4:53 Step 2: Take Off Top Factory Head 6:17 Step 3: Place New Top Head 7:43 Step 4: Rethread the Lugs 9:02 Step 5: Seat the Head 9:54 Step 6: Tighten Lugs 10:53 Step 7: Seat it Again 11:05 Step 8: Crank Another Quarter Turn 13:15 Step 9: Remove Snare Mechanism 14:19 Step 10: Remove Bottom Head 14:47 Step 11: Place Bottom Head 15:10 Step 12: Rethread Lugs 15:25 Step 13: Tighten Lugs 15:59 Step 14: Seat the Head 16:13 Step 15: Another Quarter Turn 17:17 Step 16: Fine Tune Pitches from Each Bottom Lug 19:43 Step 17: Put the Snare Mechanism Back On 21:49 Step 18: Tune the Snare Strands 25:00 Step 19: Tape Snares Down for Drier Sound 26:16 Step 20: Spot Check the Top Lugs to Match Pitch 27:06 Step 21: Take the Top Up Evenly

[@ZackWatson]

"Those are feet" "I like feet" Thanks TJ for a 🐐ed tutorial

[@ryansmallwood3601]

"I like to do this, its fun... *screams into the snare head*" typical W TJ

[@ejtappan1802]

I majored in music ed and I just learned more about a snare drum that I was ever taught in school. Thank you!

[@ApexPercussion]

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼❤️

[@AnToTheTrax505]

Who would of thought that I would be so interested in a drum

[@devonstewart3841]

😂 ikr

[@ApexPercussion]

Honestly same tho

[@asylumental]

Can't wait for full Drumline movie playthrough on a real marching snare! The ending bit had me smiling 😃

[@solrecon8050]

The projection on the sound of that thing when you're testing it outside is insane. I've loved watching your vids even though I'm not a percussionist. Can't wait to hear this new drum on the upcoming vids! congrats on getting it finished.

[@ApexPercussion]

Yeah it's LOUUUUD. We felt a little bad about doing that to the neighborhood 😅

[@DE-nm9jx]

@@ApexPercussion Can't be worse than the guy with the lawnmower. At least it's music, not noise lol

[@jeromieb038]

@@DE-nm9jx true

[@alexzummo5342]

So glad you shot a video of putting the heads on and tuning! The drum looks and sounds great. Keep up all the great work on these videos. This is my new favorite percussion channel!

[@ApexPercussion]

That's so kind Alex, thank you!!!

[@DE-nm9jx]

Only had this channel recommended to me last night... And I already can't wait to hear the new vids. Don't get me wrong, everything I've seen so far has been amazing... But the new snare will make a difference for sure. Congrats on getting Pearl's attention! I definately got a good laugh out of it when I saw they complied to your request so quickly lol. Just goes to show, it never hurts to ask!

[@thomasandorfer6917]

Last 20 seconds of the video was amazing. Can’t wait for the next video!!

[@MileHighMountainAdventures]

It feels like TJ wanted to say "one band, one sound" when he was going over the sound profiles for the heads.

[@JacobMillerDrums]

I always knew it was meticulous but it was super cool to see how the process is different for a marching snare!

[@allisonmccord3492]

Oh my gooosh! I cannot WAIT to hear cadences on that beauty! Thanks for the pro tips, Tim!

[@GaryWare]

OMFG!!! Sounds so beautiful. TJ is the man

[@ZoneFocused]

Can't wait to see this thing in action!

[@tia-mariasmith8538]

Oh my! That sound is amazing. I can’t wait for you to re-do all the Drumline videos. They will be epic!

[@ApexPercussion]

Oh they will! So excited to share!!

[@SRod54321]

The bearing edges at the snare bed actually dip slightly - that's why the bottom heads sound lower at those lugs; not because the rim doesn't continue.

[@gunshotb.i.g8788]

The ending was had me like 😲😲😲😲😲, can't wait for the next videos 🔥🔥

[@2awarrior]

When I was marching it took me a good 3 days to get it’s proper sound out of it so I’m already with ya

[@Drrobverjones]

Yusss. I've been through tuning a few times. This was a great video about it

[@imxjoon]

Sickkkk can’t wait. Watching this at 3 in the morning hope I wake everybody up 😂

[@ApexPercussion]

Yo whatup 3am crew 🤙🏼

[@TylerDunphy]

I literally never knew about taping! I'm a wet sound guy myself. My favorite head combo is suede max top (LOVE IT) and I go remo ambassador clear head with a good amount of snare response. I like it to sound really good as a solo instrument as well as with the ensemble and I like how it comes out!

[@ApexPercussion]

Yeah that makes for a super warm combo! We prefer a little tighter sound but the Ambassador is one of our favorites too

[@TylerDunphy]

@@ApexPercussion Yeah but for sure those fallams heads are built to last. They seem so well built that you could almost use them for a top head lol

[@ApexPercussion]

@@TylerDunphy Lol you right!

[@TylerDunphy]

@@ApexPercussion well my ambassador broke! I can’t get them to go longer than a month or 2, so I’m actually switching to falams haha.

[@ApexPercussion]

@@TylerDunphy Haha can always happen, even with the best of heads

[@satisfiedcustomer]

Dope video fellas, that little snippet at the end tho! Can't wait til the new vids come out!

[@ApexPercussion]

Yeah haha couldn't spend all that time and NOT try it out

[@MyLIfeAsIknowIt1990]

Now that's spicy 🔥

[@thomasmcdonald2219]

I bought a premier floating snare back in 1990 for $600. I remember the salesman giving me a funny look when he ordered it for me. I loved that drum. The neighbors didn’t. I loved Star of Indiana though. Got a lot of playing out of it. This video brings back so many memories. Can’t tell you how many bottom heads I ruined going too fast and changing out top heads to experiment with sound. Good times.

[@ApexPercussion]

Haha that’s rad! Definitely more than one right answer when it comes to how the heads are supposed to sound!

[@Jelly88875]

Just bought a snare, perfect vid for me thank you!

[@ApexPercussion]

Yo keep us posted! Hope this flow works for you!

[@taflhols278]

Mylar sounds much better than the tabletop-like kevlar. The greatest lines played on mylar as cleanly as any line on kevlar.

[@ApexPercussion]

Do you have any specific lines in mind?

[@lonlonjpreupload6945]

percussion is so cool

[@zhalynmiles9290]

I miss this so much

[@chismahu23]

Bitchin teaser there at the end dude! Cant wait for the next vid with that SICK snare!

[@FoliFlipper]

NICE!!!!

[@huntleyseptimus4627]

Every good 👍

[@aceyriot]

hahaha "you gotta clap us off"...😳.... 🤣

[@michaelgonzales1978]

Hey can u do a video how u tapped ur drumsticks in the last cadece in Drumline when u took ur taped drumsticks from ur back please.

[@TGears314]

As an engineer, the inner mechanic in me is crying out when he keeps saying “another quarter turn” then proceeds to do 1 or 2 half turns😂 or when doing the bottom he said he was going till it stopped then proceeded to screw it an extra few times and ended up unscrewing it when the time lapse started😂 I was chuckling lol. Love the vids!!

[@timothychoquette456]

Was hoping no one noticed I gave the first two bottom head lugs a little too much crank to start . :(

[@bishopm4401]

Am I ever gonna use this information? No Am I gonna watch the entire thing and like it anyway? You betcha

[@ApexPercussion]

Bishop the GOAT 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@bishopm4401]

@@ApexPercussion 😃

[@xaza5625]

How do you find the snare gut/wire assembly? I cant seem to find one for my Yamaha sfz snare drum, any help is appreciated thanks

[@Mark_Butler7]

Does anyone else get super disgusted watching others tune drums outside of the "norm" we may have been taught, only to be blown away at the end results EVERY single time.. I've spent hours tuning a drum set or snares "by the books" only for it to sound like pure garbage, and find my best sounds when I quit worrying about individual lug tightness/same tones to the thousandth degree of similarity. Super excited for future videos!

[@AaronSmithExperience]

PEARL DRUMS!!!

[@Biguce1999]

Black max would look dope

[@andrewsines8845]

Have you looked at EMCProductions version of the finale from drumline. He has made sheet music for it

[@ApexPercussion]

We did! Eric is the man. After watching his video tho, we definitely disagree on some stickings haha

[@josephmenditto9590]

I'm always scared to tune new heads up that fast. It takes about two weeks to get the bottom head where I really like it (D5). Top head usually takes me a good week to dial in.

[@Salemaze]

What type/ brand of "Snares" or "Guts" do you reccomend ? Im currently using a 13 x 9 ' Pearl Competitor Series CMS Snare Drum with the stock nylon snares . I was doing a parade and the Snares became disconnected from the "plastic " strap. I have since replaced the plastic strap with Velcro straps. Looking for reccomendations suggestions of Heads /Snares etc I appreciate and comments or suggestions . Thanks Sal

[@ApexPercussion]

Hey Sal, the factory guts that the new Pearl marching snares have are fantastic! Usually when old ones break, you can buy a whole set of new snares with the plastic ribbons from Pearl, not too pricey and the nylon vibrates really well.

[@cartoonpower0]

love how the thumbnail is a floor tom.

[@ApexPercussion]

Was waiting on someone to point that out 😂

[@deamon506]

I had no idea you could tune individual snare strands lol

[@benholmes6335]

How do you not have a million subscribers?

[@ApexPercussion]

Not enough people like and comment 🤷🏼‍♀️ maybe one day

[@YouCrossedMyPath]

I wonder if tuning the snare strands in deliberately different notes would be a good decision? Like every other strand a perfect 5th away from the ones next to it? How would that affect the sound?

[@timothychoquette456]

I've heard of some people that tune a specific chord down there. I've never done it. Too difficult for me.

[@safteytorch]

AQ Baby

[@ApexPercussion]

There it is

[@Philawsofee]

the last part sounded like my city when midnight hits 😅 #activewarzone #elsicario

[@_elitES]

As a mechanic looking at this. Wouldn't tightening with a torque wrench be VERY efficient?

[@ApexPercussion]

Very yes! And the head would rip instantly 😆 or maybe not but they’re too expensive for us to want to try lol

[@the.alexkim]

I wonder how much lower the pitch is @16:54

[@xnyrd692]

Clutch

[@codywhittaker987]

25:57 is that crazy train?

[@cruzgarcia6173]

Is the bottom head a regular top end head?

[@ryderalley4853]

No, the head will say “snare side”

[@ConstableGrey]

I've never even played a snare drum in my life, and yet I just watched a 30 minute long video on how to tune one...

[@ApexPercussion]

And how do you feel?

[@ConstableGrey]

@@ApexPercussion I feel well-equipped to tune a snare in an emergency situation.

[@drbcrb]

Compare this to a Challenger or TDR with a silver dot

[@markponekovic3415]

what i like to do is tune the snare in a star pattern then tune them in circles so that i don't break my drum head because i have a pearl competitor and It came with that same stock head then i wanted a remo white max but i over tightened it and broke it so the best thing for me to do is tune the snare in a star pattern to get it started then the rest the circle method

[@deluna2011]

I wanted to like the video but it had 69 likes and i couldnt bring myself to change that. LOL

[@ApexPercussion]

I support this decision

[@CrowT]

How to tune a snare drum....points to a floor tom on the thumbnail😂

[@jed11201987]

What kind of bottom head is that?

[@timothychoquette456]

It is a Remo Falams XT. I personally recommend the Falams II, but the XT was all they had in stock.

[@ZackWatson]

@@timothychoquette456 Only if you are careful enough to work out that sweet D note on the Falams II. They rip a bit faster than the XT's!

[@timothychoquette456]

@@ZackWatson 100% Correct. They edited out my commentary between the 2

[@gjrestrepom]

came here to see the difference betwen a marching snare drum and the snare drum of a drum kit.

[@ThePiattat88]

looks a lot like tensioning spokes on a new bike wheel

[@ilovehomies]

only takes 24 hours to tune!

[@ApexPercussion]

Easy peasy.

[@anerhood9056]

Timpani heads are a pain to put on and tune too.

[@egunz2254]

you snare sound depends on whether you ar a chrous or showstyle band.

[@jorjwosheengtin9612]

The snare beds are NOT the same as the guts. The snare beds are the 2 inward dips on opposite sides on the bottom edge of the shell that the guts line up and press in to.

[@ApexPercussion]

For sure! And the snares and snare strands themselves mean slightly different things too, but all three terms are often used interchangeably in drumline culture. We were mostly just illustrating the different things people call that part of the drum, but you’re totally right! We also said things like, a dryer sound = shorter sound, which in the simplest way is technically correct, but not exactly true either obviously. Just trying to put things in context 🙂

[@brothaNblue]

Your shirt's really loud.

[@inverted311]

Dude. . ANY reputable snare player is disgusted by the movie Drumline.... 🤢🤢

[@ApexPercussion]

Maybe? I think it has its charm.

[@SecretSauce_24]

That Morris Brown X Factor solo was beautiful at the end 💯💯💯💯

[@satisfiedcustomer]

It was so smooth! As well as the audition piece!