How To Pick The Right Snare For Your Recording

In this episode I discuss How To Pick The Right Snare For Your Recording. I will show you the difference between snare size, type (14x5 vs. Piccolo), wood vs. metal and tuning. I discuss how to tune your piccolo to sound like a bigger snare by not choking it with a high tuning. You never want to choke a snare drum because it loses all its low end and you can't EQ that back in if it's not there to begin with.
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[@AimeeNolte]

Nobody is doing videos like this! So insightful and helpful.

[@erikbarrett85]

Aimee Nolte Music he's just SO great. You too, but obv these types of videos are a different direction. I use your videos more as like, where the star reader will tell me to steer my musical journey boat, and others are the engine. I'm not quite learned enough to utilize your videos the way I assume they're intended, but I still find great value in them also.

[@noisyneil]

every single video you upload contains something that runs around my head for days. thanks so much for sharing your experience and knowledge with us!

[@RickBeato]

noisyneil Thanks for enjoying the videos. Tell your musician friends:) Best, Rick

[@noisyneil]

way ahead of ya!

[@joecap2919]

He is correct, I always bring 3 snares to a studio. When recording Santas Misfits I found myself using my 13x3 DW piccolo for 2 tracks and it recorded beautifully

[@gopolarisstudio]

Oh man, that lower tuned piccolo sound is so frickin good sounding.

[@stuartholden6163]

As a drummer playing for 20 years, this was incredibly useful. There were bits and pieces I knew already, but the bit about the difference between snare hoops was not something I knew.

[@maskcollector6949]

Dude. Thanks. Nobody ever wants to give a clear answer on snare drums, idk why everybody is making it sound so ambiguous and/or complicated. It's clearly simple when you have the side by side. Size/depth has way more impact on sound than I thought.

[@ProfessorSwing]

Thanks, Rick! Your drum videos are the most interesting & relevant to me. You widen my ears much!

[@RickBeato]

+George Edwards Thanks so much George!

[@KlockoFett]

You want to hear a piccolo snare? 311. I can't really think of any of their songs without one.

[@krasiomilchev160]

I wish I had seen this video before going into a recording session for an EP. I used a 13 inch Mapex piccolo, metal snare. The dude who later mixed the EP said he replaced the snare sound on every song with a snare sample. His reason was that my snare sounded too thin and lacked body. I heard the songs with my original sound, well... he was right. He also mentioned Andy Wallace uses this technique, how can I argue with that!?

[@slopsicle]

Maybe could have just EQ'd and saturated it tho?

[@krasiomilchev160]

@@slopsicle Maybe, but it definitely lacked body as there were no lows to enhance with EQ. I cannot be certain, but saturation might have made it sound even thinner. It was a rock EP, so a saturated, trashy snare wouldn't have sounded good with the rest of the music. I realize that now, but then I just wanted "my" sound.

[@djabthrash]

@@krasiomilchev160 Saturation here would not make it trashy but fuller.

[@benyjomusic]

A FRIEND SHARED A LINK TO YOUR FACEBOOK POST IN A WHATSAPP GROUP TODAY AND FOR THE PAST 6HRS I HAVE BEEN ON YOUR PAGE. AM A BEGINNER PIANIST AND A PRODUCER AND I MUST CONFESS THAT YOUR A TEACHING ME SO MUCH ALREADY. THANK YOU RICK.

[@RickBeato]

Benjamin Ashford thanks so much!!

[@johnrofsocalgroover2645]

Ringo used on snare whole career. One is enough, the drummer just has to know how to get the most out of it. I reckon a Black beauty and a top quality wood shell and you're done

[@jdogdaddy]

This is reeeaaaly good stuff R.B.! I remember the piccolo rage in the early 90's well, and still have the same black aluminum Pearl piccolo that you are using in this vid. Great explanation and demonstration on the tuning - Thanks for the breakdown!

[@theopinson3851]

Here’s how I pick my snare: “oh, hey! There’s a snare here. Guess I’m using this!” 😂 Honestly though I’ve got a brass Pearl Piccolo and the thing freaking rocks. Like you said you can tune them down to get a regular snare sound (I usually do this TBH) or crank them for that classic piccolo sound. I’ve always planned on buying a deeper snare to supplement but just never felt a dying need.

[@superhostingtucson3302]

Great video, I’ve been recording in all types of bands with all types of snares for over 30 years. I was convinced by one producer to replace my single ply Slingerland Krupa with his generic guitar center pearl maple snare for a session when I was hired to record with a wanna be Gin Blossoms band in the 90’s. He was right, it sounded like every other wannabe band in the 90’s. My advice, learn your craft, find your sound and stick with it. My best recordings are with that snare by producers who knew how to capture it. Look at some old 70’s reggae and funk clips, those snares are old and beat and the heads are black with patina, yet it fits perfectly with the groove.

[@mexicanmaggot666]

I can attest to this. I own a Premier Artist Brass 13"x5" snare drum, it sounds phenomenal tuned up, but it KILLS when I use a lower tuning. I have yet to use it on a recording, but can't wait to do it!

[@alenfekonja4175]

There are not many YT channels as this. In one video you "vivisect" Toll production, in other you explain movie music theory. And you when you explain it, it does not seem so complicated any more. Thank you for sharing knowledge. :)

[@bergerdrum]

Really like these videos. I've learned a bunch of useful new tricks even after having played professionally for decades. Thanks Rick! One suggestion: the term "snare length" is a little confusing when referring to snare tension. I see that "length" in this context refers to how long the snares are allowed to resonate and rattle, but someone out there is going to watch this and wonder whether their snare wires cover enough length across the bottom of their drum. Terms like "loose tension" (better for slower tempos/ballads) and "tight tension" (better for faster tempos and articulation) would be better. Thanks for all the insights, Rick!

[@niteshades_promise]

i have but 1, a remo piccolo. to match my roto toms. 🤘🏻🍻

[@austing.8870]

The middle snare is an OCDP piccolo snare drum. The one on the right is a Pearl piccolo snare in a 14x3.5

[@stephenbaldassarre2289]

Austin Grasty I have that same Pearl. Great, cheap drum for that sound!

[@danieladamczyk08]

I picked up that snare from a friend for 50 bucks. It sounds like st anger snare (not kidding) but It needs new heads.

[@markdrum2392]

Thats a Pearl 13x3.5 steel piccolo. The 14s have 10 lugs. The brass version of the Pearl is great as well.

[@SwordCymbal79]

I have that same OCDP 13x4 and it sound amazing with an Evans hazy 500 snare side/Evans Onyx batter/puresound wires. My favorite low maintenance gigging snare. Tuning doesn’t change regardless of the Texas weather, and the die-Cast hoops give a fantastic cross stick

[@HollywoodRecordingStudio]

Thank you for posting this. Great explanation of snare tuning.

[@bgk71]

I watched all three of these tuning videos and can say this for sure, they're over.

[@buuckley6803]

this was amazing, full of highly useful info

[@frankremus4125]

This informed me more than ever on drums.

[@Pentoute45]

Great contents once again Rick. Keep them coming !

[@sigvardbjorkman]

You need to pick the right snare for your Rickording

[@tripppayne8777]

Probably not one of your better videos, Rick.

[@lelcecc4793]

rick, what cool and knowledgeable dude 👍👍👍

[@trevorjalla]

Thanks for all your videos Rick, more information than I can begin to digest, but I'll get there eventually. Constructive feedback - when demoing snares could you perhaps play spaced out half or whole notes so we can hear the attack/decay/sustain characteristics before the next hit? The "whack whack whack whack" kinda reminds me of when I first gave drumsticks to my kids ;) But other than that super useful tips and insight, which is appreciated muchly!

[@TheGurner1]

Very cool - I have 4 snares here, 2 14x6.5 deeper drums, one wood one ally, 14x6 wood and 12X7 wood. I'm probably going to get one more, either a Supraphonic or something similar - snare drums are really nice instruments

[@eduardomelo4420]

Great work Rick, thanks!!

[@danjf1]

Good tip with the hoops Rick!

[@davidmcaninch4714]

You got yourself a subscriber!!!!!!!!

[@claudeabraham2347]

Very good. Thanks.

[@zeptimp]

Have you ever recorded an acrylic snare? If you did were you happy with them?

[@xbeufordx]

The middle snare is a OCDP snare.

[@rushequalslove]

yep yep. those lugs!

[@gregaaron89]

I can’t get enough piccolo snare!

[@mkreple]

great great video man...

[@woodybear8298]

Good stuff.

[@mica2003]

I have a question Rick. Should I buy a copper 14 x 6.5 snare drum? Or should I buy Mike bordin snare drum? I love how Shannon Larkin's snare drum sounds. Thanks in advance.

[@matturner6890]

Just pick one and learn everything it can do, doesn't matter which. Focus on creating as much as possible.

[@curtishill109]

👍 Useful!

[@Twotontessie]

I would disagree with the statement “Piccolos are higher in pitch.” Pitch is affected by diameter. The deeper snares just move more air. Gives the illusion of a deeper pitch. It’s not - it’s just “more” sound.

[@aliengenetix2642]

Typical piccolo. 3 times fast. Go...

[@MikePattonFan24]

Alien Genetix I said ticcolo

[@chipsnegativeharmonyrips7187]

Took me 5 tries

[@m.vonhollen6673]

Pypical ticollo?

[@m.vonhollen6673]

Typpolo piccical?

[@jefbenley4409]

SNARE standard tune 2:17

[@DrGray_Drummer]

Picking the right drummer is far more important.

[@mattdamico1526]

I really like most of your instructions but your comparisons are all over the map. If you were to use the same snare drum with different heads or different hoops or different snares that would be a better comparison to show the difference in sound.

[@MikePattonFan24]

Piccolo is king

[@cpu554]

I don't think the black snare is a Tama. Looks like a OCDP.

[@zoohuman]

The snare in the middle is not a piccolo. 🤨

[@hiptoalieu]

WHERE'S Your 80's Field DRUM SNARE???

[@drumsforlife2551]

Brenden? His name is Matt Cameron

[@TuplexGaming]

He's talking about the record producer Brendan O'Brien.

[@chriswebb383]

And Matt is there latter drummer ..

[@matturner6890]

@@chriswebb383 *their later

[@Joesfosterdogs]

Tama is a piccolo? really?

[@starrdogchamp1]

I like a fat sound

[@recordingriot3450]

I thought you just pick the one you like? No?

[@WDShorty]

Talks about snare length, cuts off snare and video 😂

[@ragrapios]

WHY YOU DONT SIT

[@russwilson2305]

A stiff piccolo.

[@LittaDNB]

A piff sticcolo

[@jazzmartyrs]

I couldn't disagree more.

[@soopermich]

your camera is having some issues with light temperature, your face is out of focus and horizon is not leveled ;) just messin' really dont matter. :D thanks 4 all movies about drumming!!!