HOW TO TUNE A 20 INCH BASS DRUM TO 4 GREAT SOUNDS

[@politicallyerect6086]

“Ernest Tunes the Drums” Love it.

[@KennySharretts]

🤣🤣🤣IKR??? I can’t help it sometimes he just channels rt through me. Thank you for watching, and commenting

[@Relentless4972]

I've learned so much from your videos throughout the years. I just went to a 20" bass drum myself and your videos saved the day again! Keep on rocking!!

[@KennySharretts]

This is so awesome to hear. I’m loving my 20” bass drum for gigging. It’s been awesome. Thank you for watching, and commenting. As I’m letting all my viewers know Super Thanks is now available to help support my channel 🙏

[@pawelmorrison]

I have a 24", but still decided to watch, because I know I'd still learn a ton. Not disappointed, you're the best Kenny! Thanks!

[@KennySharretts]

Thank you so much for the kind words. While the notes from the drum may be different the intervals, and step by step lesson will work for any size bass drum. Thank you for watching, and commenting. Btw for all, I now have Super Thanks available on my channel. 🤘🏻

[@1thess523]

This is why I stick around 👌👌👌

[@KennySharretts]

Doing what I can to please the drumming community. I hope the 200 some odd videos help too. 🤣🤣🤣Thank you for watching.

[@camerondean6804]

Thanks!

[@KennySharretts]

My pleasure. As always thank you for watching.

[@leatherdrums_]

Great video as always, love all your tuning vids, you taught me a lot about tuning drums and intervals! At the moment I'm tuning my bass drum (22"x18") just as Thomas Lang does: every lug finger tight (both reso and batter), then you push with your hand around every lug so they'll tight a little more. Easy to do, low and thunderous, I just love it! I'll sure give a look to all the tunings you showed today, Ciao from Italy!

[@KennySharretts]

Thank you as always for the kind words. Yeah I like the just at rumble setting, but I also find just a smidge above that adds focus, and heft to the tone without sacrificing bottom end. As i’m letting all my viewers know Super Thanks is now available on my channel. 🙏🙏🙏 Thank you for watching, and for commenting 🤘🏻

[@jrfrondelli2023]

Yeah, for many years now, my front kick head has gotten WAY tighter, and I'll crank the batter a bit too. I think mine may be more like a FOURTH apart, but hey, it works! I first head about this, ironically, back when I was a teen, from those old Rogers Fact Sheets. It was Louie Bellson's preferred tuning as well. Great video as always Kenny!

[@KennySharretts]

Man thank you so much for the kind words, and for ALWAYS having thoughtful, and/or mega info filled comments. You are the best my brother.

[@KennySharretts]

Btw that’s awesome to hear as it IS a great sound from a tighter kick head.

[@drmadlab]

Great information. Thanks dude.

[@KennySharretts]

You're welcome, thank you for watching!

[@Tateisadrummachine]

Infectious personality and some great sounds man, love it

[@KennySharretts]

Hey thank you so much for the kind words, and for watching. As i’m telling all my viewers Super Thanks is now available on my videos to help support my channel. 🙏🙏🙏

[@Tyl-Fiedler]

Dude i love your Energy so much ❤ love From Germany

[@KennySharretts]

Thank you for the kind words, and for watching.

[@Drumming-Life]

Not sure how I have never seen this channel but, am super happy to have found it now. Subscribed and will be taking lessons as well here shortly. Thank you for sharing this info, Kenny! Priceless. You rock man!!

[@KennySharretts]

Yooooo thank you so much for the kind words.I look forward to a session of drum tuning power!

[@williamfotiou7577]

I always learn so much from you. Realized I wasn't a subscriber, I am now. Thanks Kenny! 🥁🥁🥁

[@KennySharretts]

My pleasure. Thank you for watching, and commenting, and subscribing. 🙏🙏 Stoked to know the vids help you. As I’m telling all my viewers Super Thanks is now available on my vids to help support my channel. 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@jeremy20100712]

Love your videos! The last tuning for me. I usually use a 24x14 inch with Emperor heads front and back, with felt strips. Reso head a fifth lower than the batter.

[@KennySharretts]

IKR??!!! It’s an awesome way to tune a 24” kick. A 5th? Bet that front head brings the thunder!! 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻 Thank you so much for the kind words, and for watching. As I’m letting all my viewers know Super Thanks is now available to help support my channel 🙏

[@jerrymckenzie1858]

Thanks for all the great content. Subscribed!

[@KennySharretts]

Thank you so much for the kind words, and for watching. Please feel free to share the channel. If you want more in depth drum tuning lessons, please visit www.kennysharretts.com/video-courses as streaming lessons helps to support my channel. 🙏

[@camerondean6804]

Man, that fourth tuning.... thank you for the info and comparison.

[@KennySharretts]

Yeah it’s a punchy one w/ lots of body to the tone. My pleasure. Thank you for watching, and commenting. As I’m letting all my viewers know Super Thanks is now available to help support my channel 🙏

[@camerondean6804]

@@KennySharretts Thank you for letting me know. ✌️

[@KennySharretts]

@@camerondean6804 thank you for watching 🤘🏻

[@theghostofsw6276]

You're the man, Kenny!

[@KennySharretts]

Thank you so much for the kind words, and for watching 🙏

[@tokiboi6777]

thank you Kenny! Solo'd kick mic would have been the cherry on the cake. Maybe next time.

[@KennySharretts]

Yeah I thought about that afterwards, but I had such limited time to shoot at this studio. Great idea for the 22” Bass Drum tuning video I will be shooting soon. Thank you so much for watching, and commenting.

[@tokiboi6777]

@@KennySharretts Yeah don't worry, there is always something that could have been better. But you enjoyed smashing those open hats that I thought: Broooother I see you enjoy it, but slow down, I try to understand your tunings here :D Great use of your studio time though, keep on doing what you do.

[@isihernandez9752]

I always like to use the last tunning (batter higher than reso), and the power and low end are amazing, you can even feel it in your guts. A former band mate said it helped with his constipation issues 😂😂 I use a 22x18 maple bass drum with Remo PS3 on batter (w/ Falam Slam), PS3 ported (4" or 5") reso and an Evans Eq-pad as only muffle, slightly touching the batter, not the reso, for more info.

[@KennySharretts]

That sounds like a smacking setup for a deep bass drum w/ the perfect amount of attack. Indeed in the guts. Thank you so much for watching, and for the kind words.

[@isihernandez9752]

@@KennySharretts thank YOU for all the knowledge and savoir faire you're sharing with us...

[@francescoformoso]

Thank you for this video found because about buying a 20" or 22" stage custom birch. I'm still thinking about 20" because I would like to get two bass drums in a less space. :)

[@KennySharretts]

My pleasure. I’ve been using my 20” Bass Drum on a lot of vids, and all my gigs. I’ve grown to love it. Especially when it comes to height/reach/placement. When the time comes the step by step lesson for this vid on my website will work great for any 20” kick. Thank you so much for watching, and commenting.

[@Progrockdrumming]

Great Vid!

[@KennySharretts]

🙏🙏🙏 hopefully we’ll see you in ATX 🙌

[@shannonedens7854]

I always tune mine with a tight batter head and loose reso head. It just sounds so huge.

[@KennySharretts]

Yes indeed. It’s an absolutely awesome way to tune a 20” bass drum. Punch, and bottom end. “Coincidentally” it’s the 4th tuning interval I teach drummers how to achieve in the full lesson that is now streaming at A HOW TO TUNE A 20 INCH BASS DRUM TO SOUND GREAT AT 4 TUNINGS www.kennysharretts.com/video-courses?wix-vod-video-id=ac15384f68a54d6e94d348916d1db745&wix-vod-comp-id=comp-lcl5ds5j As long as the batter isn’t too tight it’s usually a win. That’s why I take the viewer step by step through all 4 tunings. Too make sure you get a responsive batter that promotes great bottom end , but avoids the “basketball” effect that is common to a 20” bass drum. Thank you for watching, and as I’m telling all my viewers Super Thanks is now available on my vids to help support my channel.

[@Nig0]

First beats at 02:30 souds like RHCP - Give it Away

[@KennySharretts]

IKR!!??? That was the “kind” of best I was modeling for the vid. Thank you for watching, and commenting. 🤘

[@Drunken_Hamster]

Based on this video, I like the 3rd interval and the tighter batter. IDK how I'd like the feel, but I'm not a drummer, so... I assume that I'd hate a saggy or soggy feeling batter, though. I don't think hitting into a sack would be satisfying. Another point towards tighter batter/looser reso in my book is that I assume the power kinda comes from the resistance and how much you drive the beater. Something soft will absorb the force while something hard will transmit the force. That's why it's easier to knock people out with thin gloves or no gloves compared to big boxing gloves, and why your hands are more protected with thick vs thin or no gloves. If the same is true with drums, then a tighter batter will let you drive more power into the reso, out the port, and into the room, which might explain why I heard more thickness and punch from the reverse 3rd than the standard 3rd. Plus, isn't every OTHER drum in the set tuned either equally or with a tighter batter than reso?

[@KennySharretts]

Well as strange as it may seem to you, A LOT OF drummers do like a soft feel which is why I showed several options. As a tech it’s my job to serve the drummer not my ego. 🙏🙏🙏

[@Drunken_Hamster]

@@KennySharretts Hey, fair enough. That's what I try to do with the things I've learned about several varying subjects. You can't force people to do what you think should be done or what you would do, but you can certainly educate them about alternatives and/or at least how to do what they WANT to do the "rightest" way possible if it's objectively measurable.

[@tendingtropic7778]

thanks for this! is the bass drum pedal also a factor, since the bass drum is 20 inch, standard bass drum pedals might not hit the batter head in the middle? is this an issue? is the ludwig speed flyer good for 20 inch kicks? thanks!

[@KennySharretts]

Thank you for watching. You can use any bass drum pedal. It’s about beater height adjustment. In this vid I used my Rogers Dyna-matic pedal with the stock beater. I lowered the height of my beater just a touch so I was just off center, but felt like I wanted to feel. Check out the SuperTen Brass Snare vid I just did using this bass drum. In that vid I used the Dragonfly Leather Beater. Epic bass drum tone out of this 12” x 20” bass drum. Again thanks for watching, and commenting. As i’m telling all of my viewers Super Thanks is now available on my vids to help support my channel. 🙏

[@alexmcb0311]

When tuning a drum to a certain note, do you start at one tension rod and tune it to that note, and then match the rest of the rods to it, obviously keeping that first rod in tune with that wanted note the whole time?

[@KennySharretts]

Ok so this is a great question, and a great example for why I go to the mat in my streamable step by step lessons. There is a much more efficient way to do what you are wanting to do. ANY of my step by step lessons will show you how to tune all the lugs to a pitch at the same time via my method. Streaming helps to support my channel, and gives you skills. Here’s a link to the one for this video. For less than a GC drum lesson your question will be more than answered 🙌🙌🙌🙏🙏🙏 www.kennysharretts.com/ppv-only-page?wix-vod-video-id=ac15384f68a54d6e94d348916d1db745&wix-vod-comp-id=comp-kn2dgsdc

[@chasekparker]

Hello there, I'm looking into whether I need a 22" bass drum or a 20" bass drum. I will be playing 70s/80s hard and soft rock. I'm looking into the Pearl Session Studio kit. I've had a 22" before and I know the tuning and heads can make a huge difference on the bass drums. Could you provide me with some options regarding bass drum size and drum heads for the sound I'm looking for? Thank you.

[@KennySharretts]

Man i’m always debating which kick to use my 20” or my 22”. Lately I’ve been rocking a 20” in my PowerTone videos and it rocks. Punchy, fat and tight. I can get a good boom out of it, but when I do the muffled 70’s style setup for a warm punchy kick it’s perfect. A 22” kick will give you more volume, power, and boom. I think it’s a bit more versatile than a 20”, BUT with my shoulder injuries lately having a lower 20” kick has been helpful. As far as heads I’d try an Evans coated emad or a Remo coated PS3 on the batter. On the Reso for the last few years I’ve been rocking a Calftone EQ4 on my Reso for a darker richer sound or an Emad Reso. Remo has PS3 style Reso heads as well. As long as it has the extra internal dampening ring you’ll be great. Thank you for watching, and as i’m telling everyone, Super Thanks for tipping is now available on my videos to help support my channel.

[@antcall6779]

Great as always kenny! My frequent flyer is a 20x14 and love it. I was surprised how close it can Sound to my 22x18 collectors. What's the front end you using? The recording sounds great 🤘

[@KennySharretts]

Thank you so much. All I have up on this recording are my 2 Earthworks Audio SR25 OH’s, an EW DM 20 on the snare, and a Heil PR40/Shure Beta 91 combo on the bass. I love the EW SR20LS bass drum mic mic, but I just had to try the PR40 in this role. Thank you for watching, and as i’m telling all my viewers Super Thanks is now available on all my vids. 🙏🙏🙏

[@prd004.2]

They all sounded good but if I had to choose one I’d go 4th tuning which I would not have expected

[@KennySharretts]

IKR?? It’s a great sound with lots of body, and projection. Thank you for watching, and commenting. As I’m letting all my viewers know Super Thanks is now available to help support my channel 🙏

[@archisalcedo7045]

Wonderful!...... is that a 14" x 20" bass drum or a 16"x20"?

[@Drumma75]

I'm sure Kenny will verify, but that looks 14" deep to me.

[@KennySharretts]

Thank you so much for the kind words. 14” but these tunings will work for both depths. Thank you for watching, and commenting 🤣

[@ThiRodovalho]

Nice class!!! What do you put inside the bass drum?

[@KennySharretts]

Thank you so much for the kind words. In this drum it was just my EQ pad.

[@jamesearlstewart]

Any advice for beater height on a 20? Can’t seem to get them low enough to hit center.

[@KennySharretts]

I always go with just above center like I did here, and it sounds amazing. That way I don’t sacrifice my practiced technique. It’s just a little shorter than a 22” placement like by a 1/2” or less . Thank you so much for watching.

[@hansvanhees5689]

Hi Kenny thanks for sharing. Sounds great but what kind of damping did you use ?? I am 64 so sometimes you can miss important things...haha. I hope I don't have to ask my wife to sit in it. Greetings from a Dutch guy living in Austria 😁👍

[@KennySharretts]

Lol. I did a no sit tuning this time. I did not mention it in the vid, but I’ll go add it to the description. I used an Evan’s EQ pad. Nothing else. Thank you as always for watching, and as i’m mentioning to all my viewers Super Thanks is now available on my channel. 🙏

[@everynameistaken567]

I have a 20"x20" kick that I can't get to sound right, it's way too boomy. Any tips for a drum that deep?

[@KennySharretts]

Thank you so much for watching. Sorry for the delayed reply. Comments often get buried. 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ The 2nd or 4th tuning interval in this vid or in the full lesson now streaming at HOW TO TUNE A 20 INCH BASS DRUM TO SOUND GREAT AT 4 TUNINGS www.kennysharretts.com/video-courses?wix-vod-video-id=ac15384f68a54d6e94d348916d1db745&wix-vod-comp-id=comp-lcl5ds5j may be your solution. I’d try either depending on how tight you want your batter head. Loose #2, tight #4. If you need more help I do teach online private lessons that are quite effective. Thank you again for watching , and as I’m telling all my viewers Super Thanks is now available on my videos to help support my channel.

[@nathanielnicholson559]

Y'know, I thought I'd be the odd man out as I've been playing my batter slack for about 30 years, but I do love that 4th tuning! I'm curious to hear how the 20"x17" Sonor birch reacts.

[@KennySharretts]

You are not the odd man out by any means lol. Sooooo many drummers I’ve helped with setting up their kit like the slack. 🤘🏻 The 20” x 17” will LOVE the 4th. Thank you for watching, and commenting. As I’m letting all my viewers know Super Thanks is now available to help support my channel 🙏

[@MrBluoct]

That K

[@KennySharretts]

IKR? 🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@raykingstonmusic]

All this for free. You could say you just “give it away”… 😅

[@KennySharretts]

🤣🤣🤣I see what you did there. Nice!!! And yes lots of tips for free. If you want to help support my channel , and get a wicked tuning lesson to boot please stream the full lesson at HOW TO TUNE A 20 INCH BASS DRUM TO SOUND GREAT AT 4 TUNINGS www.kennysharretts.com/ppv-only-page And as I’m telling all my viewers Super Thanks is now available on my videos. Thank you so much for watching, and commenting. 🙌

[@badhabits25]

Looks like it hurts.yall

[@KennySharretts]

Yeah alas my rotator cuff was very badly torn when I shot this. Pretty much every crash was painful, but hey, . . . Bass drum tuning video.

[@Jazzfestn]

Too much cymbals and snare covering bd sounds

[@KennySharretts]

Yeah on big speakers in the studio you could hear every nuance. Phone speakers not as much.

[@DSK12345y]

Your Kick playing is great ! I noticed that you BURY your beater as do I, but I have been reading a lot about "NOT TO DO THIS" but after watching this I think I will give it a miss trying to change my playing ! TA !

[@KennySharretts]

It’s all in what the song calls for, but on this one? Buried it! Lol! I try to keep it fluid. The producers seem to love the “bury it” sound in the ATX! Always do what makes you play your best my brother. Thank you for the kind words, and for watching.

[@jkf9167]

​@@KennySharrettsglad you're burying the beater in the demo, because I'm always trying to keep small kicks from sounding like a tabla when I do that. It's more of a habit that I'm trying to unlearn than something I do on purpose.

[@waynecoxdrums]

Great video. 👍

[@KennySharretts]

Thank you, and thank you for watching 🙏