How to Tune a Kick Drum - Drum Tuning Basics

Next in our tuning series is the kick drum! Often forgotten when it comes to tuning as it's usually buried under toms & stands. It's well worth spending the time to dig out that kick drum and give it some love to unlock any potential 'thump' that may have gotten lost.
In this video we'll be checking out a popular method to get a nice punchy and defined sound that works well in most contemporary music.
Snare Tuning Video: • How to Tune a Snare Dr...
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For more in-depth lessons on all things drumming, check out our site where you can explore full-length lesson packs! - drum.dog
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Gear Featured:
Yamaha Stage Custom 22x16" Kick
Custom Maple 14x6.5" Snare
Zildjian Avedis 14" Hats
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[@a.j.wilkes6352]

I enjoyed your "Make sure you know batter from reso sides" and that sounded like experience talking. I've been there too with the snare reso side and forgetting about lining up the snare-side hoop openings with the strainer.

[@RtaniDean]

Sweet. Loved that small pillow sound personally. Great vid and sweet chops / grooves.

[@Cornfieldcommander]

Man just subscribe and this video helped alot as I'm new to drumming. Great job man my bass drum sounds great now

[@jcdrums2798]

very good lesson as always

[@kevon217]

you had my attension. great vid

[@dannieomario2331]

Great job bro

[@AgentCharles522002]

appreciate dis ❤

[@thablicxbhaii2274]

Great vedio ❤❤

[@curtishinkle7885]

Right o, nice vids

[@christopherl4645]

Yamaha have the best looking hoops. I know it's a weird thing to focus on , but I've always loved the look of their hoops. Maybe they're wider than most...I don't even know.

[@drumdog]

Not weird at all! Aesthetics play a huge part in choosing a drum set, and Yamaha hoops do have a distinctive look. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@sandwichtunesmusic9494]

thanks!

[@TYRONE_SHOELACES]

It's nice to see video's like this where the guy uses an "everyday set" of drums and not a 5 thousand dollar setup. I own that exact drum, Stage Custom 22" and now, after watching a few videos, I realize that I have mine tuned waaaaay too low, it's like I used a garbage bag for a batter head. I do not have a tuning port, so I assume I can just lay a pillow against the outside of the resonant head? I have to laugh at myself because I cannot play and I do not know how to tune and basically just learned how to PLACE the drums properly, but I keep adding to the setup or upgrading the setup so when I do get good, the quality will be there..lol. I bought a double pedal, can't use it .. I bought roto toms, no room for them, I got a cowbell, tamborine on the high hat stem, about 6 cheap cymbals with stands, but I heard a band playing and asked the guy how come his hi hats sound so good, he told me to go out and buy a set of A Custom 15" hi hats .. and I did. I have Evans EC2's all around and I bought an 18" floor tom for fun, but I can't reach over to hit it fast enough to look good. lol My snare sounded terrible, so I just bought a new Yamaha Stage Custom 6.5 by 14 snare and I have to say ...after the drum guy in the store tuned that for me I sounds awesome. Because I don't know how to tune, my old one had a terrible buzz sustain after every hit, but not my new snare just goes SNAP ! and that's it...I love it.

[@marcs.9658]

Thank you

[@drumdog]

Always happy to share knowledge! There’s plenty more where that came from on our site, tailored to help drummers enhance their skills: welcome.drum.dog 💼

[@ondrabroska4313]

I´ve bought my new drum set after 20yrs, i needed this lesson :) Thx

[@texxhexxmm]

gret sound.I stay away from 2ply and pre dampened kick heads..maybe give it a try again soon. EQ4,PS3 coated and frosted or clear is my go to with minimal Dampening.

[@pfunnk14]

I loved the eq4 but I've switched recently to ps3 clear and the attack is so good. Get comments about my bass drum from the audience all the time.

[@rol0511]

What kind of music do you guys play?

[@texxhexxmm]

@@rol0511 i do tune for Rock,Metal but also Blues works with my playing/Change of beaters. Actually i have an Uv1 an really like it.Without dampening (move in middle of kick only) i have a great Open Sound.With some muffling great Attack and Definition. Before i had UV EQ 4 also great and of course pretty similiar with extra muffling. But because of the volume and attack i will try PS3 after ca. 20 years..The P3 coated is also very good.G1 clear is a tad tooheavy in attack and Volume😂

[@ronfrancois]

Mine always falls batter side down 😔

[@foreverunsaved6661]

While your had both heads off - it wouldn't of hurt anything by sticking a bright light inside the kick while the drum was laying on a flat surface. That way you can see if the bearing edges run true with both the batter, and reso heads.

[@OFLHLGZ28]

A little too dead sounding for me

[@mikeshell6955]

You always put the mic on the batter head on the toms put bass drum on batter head for better sound I've been doing this for years

[@CoryBurchettSkates]

That’s NOT a virgin shell… Lol

[@mikeshell6955]

Your miking bass drum wrong

[@drumdog]

Hi there just to let you know that your comment we'll be answered in our comments video dropping later today.