How to Tune Your Snare Drum - Drum Lesson

This video not only covers how to tune your snare drum, but it also shows you how to change drum heads, and how to tune your snare drum to fit specific genres of music. I also talk about muffling your snare drum as well. I hope you enjoy it - Mike J
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[@WoodysMusic]

Hey @mikeslessons ! I sold my drum set about 3 years ago after a really bad set I played at the church I grew up at. Because of your videos I’ve started to save up to buy another set (a Gretsch Catalina, specifically) and get back into drumming. Thank you for all you do and the passion you put into your videos. God is using you in ways you don’t understand and I love it. Never stop!!

[@rampajarillaga1979]

Wow, I never thought of using a cymbal felt to create a mallet out of the drumstick. I will definitely be doing that from now on haha.

[@mikhailmikhaylyuk2577]

Super! Thanks! For me a comment about not being afraid of experimenting was very valuable!

[@dgarreis]

Great video and demonstration of tuning. Its not always about the crack even tho I love them its about tuning vs what we are playing and how.

[@MrDrumfreak92]

Mallet innovation, genius. My God! Thank you for always giving us valuable tips, techniques, adivises, motivation. WOW! you are one of the best instructors and musicians. From Nicaragua, thank you so much.

[@elefectobbt]

Amazing bro, your teaching approach, your ability to explain everything without leaving behind the important points, the sound of your kit to mention some of the highlights. Overall, one of the top learning experience by far in 30 plus years of drumming. Thanks for sharing with us your knowledge.

[@RamiroEscamilla]

Mike, thank you for releasing that snare drum! I picked it up from Sweetwater (I live 15 minutes away from the actual store) and I swear by it! By far the most versatile snare I’ve ever owned.

[@aako-dd1ly]

Been playing guitar a few months and my dad gave me his old drumset and as much as I love guitar i think drumming is so much more fun. Going to continue to learn both and see where it takes me.

[@arkoganguly9255]

Thanks Mike! Very useful tips! ❤️

[@00_JK_00]

Mike hits snare. Sounds "good". Mike starts grooving. Sounds GODLIKE. Killer lesson and great content overall! Thanks Mike!

[@JimPauls]

Great video. Thanks for this

[@andrewbryant6495]

Great innovation.

[@MrCaveman8]

I'm ALOT like you in terms of what you said at the beginning of this video bro. Been drumming since 1989. I have noticed learning to hear the little nuances - knowing what to listen for, not just pitch is key !!!!! I hit less hard around the lugs helps to listen to the nuances...... Each to his own! NICE video!

[@mikeevangelista1177]

I absolutely love tuning drums. I too find it so therapeutic🔥🥁

[@lukel121]

You are welcome to come tune mine! To me it is an incredibly frustrating experience and time spent not PLAYING my drums.

[@chielsin]

Mike you are awesome! Love learning from you!

[@pjbuma13]

Snare sounded absolutely amazing with the higher tuning and a little muffling. I personally love higher tuned snare drums but I do play a lot of 👻 notes.

[@jonashellborg8320]

Yes! For tuning, it is just about making even tension. For me it has helped to first use small turns (1/8) and two keys to slowly add tension, it’s easier to end up with an even drum then, as every tension rod impacts every other tension rod. To the second portion of the video, this is definitely where I’m at: pick the tension/tuning for the band, the room, and also adjust my playing. I sometimes play just hi hats as cymbals, then I want to make my snare drum more busy, and then what would work great for a big sounding back beat isn’t right for me, and I’ll tune high instead so the quiet notes travel in the room. I’ve kept the same snare drum through phases of tuning, and it’s been immense fun to see how my tuning skills improve and the drum just sounds better and better.

[@EvanBDrums]

It's incredible to see your side shot looking at the snare, the view of your left hand is crazy. The weight of the stick is completely in your two back fingers. I am working hard on my double stroke, and the weight of the stick is slowly shifting backwards. It's been in my two middle fingers for the past 8 months or so and recently I can feel my little finger coming into play but it's taking a lot of effort. At the end of it all, that side shot was great to see!

[@tmaddrummer]

My wife always says "You just love tuning drums." I think I do, and it's hard for me to be satisfied with sound...... especially cymbal sounds! Thanks and Blessings Mike!

[@theguamy]

This is gold! A drummer shouldn't even think of mic'ing until this skill is learned. Thanks, Mr. J!

[@mikeslessons]

Awe wow, I'm so happy you enjoyed it!

[@theguamy]

@@mikeslessons Always do, Mr. J. The differences between the 3 major head makers is insightful. I didn't think about it until I heard a side x side comparison.

[@jasonflores5423]

I started a drawing of that picture of buddy rich you have in the background over ten years ago and man it’s cool to see that image again, glad someone else thinks it is that baddass and cool

[@dabbingpigs894]

thank you!

[@progression_decibel]

Great tips Mike! I love my Tunebot but I grew up tuning by ear until that thing was invented/came around. My baseline for *most* of my snares starts with a G or G# on the resonant head and then batter is all vibe and sound from there. I forever have used a timpani mallet to tune all my drums with but I was today years old when I saw you wrap a cymbal felt around the stick LOL. Genius.

[@billykohler9153]

Thanks Mike.😎

[@sergiopezza-batteriadrums3493]

Thank you 👍🥁🥁🥁

[@matttaylor4738]

Loving your work MrJ! Thank you!🙏

[@mikeslessons]

Much appreciated brother Matt! How are those 5’s coming along?

[@RichieRich980215]

Have you ever heard of the Jeff Procaro trick from Toto, tuning your snare just like you did and then loosen the one lug on your left side closest to where to where you play the drum with? What this achieves is the Rim shot is so Distinct! 😀

[@Juniscrazy]

I do basically the same thing and adjust snares once I’m on the kit. If I’m getting way too much snares buzz I may need to make sure the Tom closest to the snare is not out of tune. But I love having that nice snare buzz not super loose but nice amount. The internal muffling is a great on this snare. I was able to get the blue version when it came out. I’m glad I waited and that color came out when I was ready to buy it. Just beautiful. Thank you for another great video.

[@mikeslessons]

That's awesome. I fully agree about the "sympathetic snare buzz". I couldn't play without it. It makes the kit feel alive. As for you getting my signature snare in the limited color run... WOW! That's awesome :)

[@joelibretti]

I have been tuning drums professionally for almost 30 years, as a Drum-Tech in the industry. This is EXACTLY my process, right down to using a mallet and with a habit of always wiping the bearing-edge clean. It is this simple, and it drives me crazy when people over-complicate it with the use of stupid devices, such as a Drum-Dial, etc. (Sorry DD Fans!) BTW... Mike, Your drums ALWAYS Sound Awesome! Keep It Up! ✌

[@mikeslessons]

You just made my day brother! 🍵🙏🙏🍵

[@johngrobson4899]

Your ear is great Mike 🥁🔥🥁👍

[@davidbaird2805]

Hey hey, Mike! Great content & delivery as always; very interesting! I hear your reluctance to mess w/ the bearing edges but as you say to try certain things, settings, etc. I recommend (my approach) w/ any & all wood drums new out of the box as well as older wood drum shells (including my Gretsch Brooklyn Standard snare which is great on many, many levels): I feel the entire bearing edge surface all the way around the circumference then I very gently use Grade #0000 Steel Wool & w/ the same technique between my thumb & index finger rub very gently w/ the Steel Wool around the bearing edge several times w/ consistent light pressure back & forth around about 1/3 of the circumference of the shell. It's quick, super easy & you'll be amazed at how much smoother the bearing edges are just w/ this simple process. Do this & continually check w/ your fingers throughout the process. Really each edge takes only about 1-2 minutes max... Slow & steady wins the race...! It's really amazing how rough even the new decent drums are from the factory. This includes my Gretsch Brooklyn kits (2) & Renown kit I bought in the past 3 years. Some may argue the manufacturer's specs are solid & shouldn't be changed but I'm super happy w/ my process & knowing the edges are buttery smooth vs the factory specs; all w/ this very simple & effective process that's super cheap w/ the Grade #0000 Steel Wool www.amazon.com/dp/B074MDTWQR?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_S7NNN830JKY0M8PZKFCQ

[@dalekay9ine]

Glad I'm not the only one who HAS TO line up the logo with the badge! 😂

[@ignacioperezdelcastillo3182]

Gracias

[@AMx39]

Forget the tuning, I’ve known this for a while but that make your stick a mallet trick though🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@handler803]

Hey Mike im trying to look for an old video of yours something about how practicing with parameters forces creativity. I remember the examples you showed were a) coming up with grooves without moving your limbs anywhere else on the drum (right on hi hat, left on snare, foot on kick) b) quarter note challenge c) thinking of a kick ajd snare pattern and playing whatever on top of it. I really loved that lesson. Not sure why i couldnt find it

[@stipettabotica5820]

What was that shuffle? Love it

[@rogerk8328]

Great video!! I wish you could have addressed the bottom head and snare tension. Thanks.

[@mr_whyy]

TIL snares are tuneable, i came here to learn about stuff i could re-apply to electronic music production :)

[@CraigShawCraigShaw]

Ha ha, so true, Mike.... "Now don't f*** it up and make it suck!" is my mantra! 😂

[@LaurentOliveri]

What about the bottom head? I find always being dazed when it comes to tune this head for a snare. Cheers

[@martinmees878]

Even though I am very well practiced in fitting and tuning snare heads I still watch tuning videos for the same zen reasons as the act itself!😂

[@JoshPainterDrums]

Mike! Would be cool if you share some of your favorite TuneBot settings!

[@mikeslessons]

Absolutely Josh! Throw it into the questions section of the Live Stream page on the site and I'll share a few with the Family on Sunday. Bu the way, my car hasn't given the same since you and Billy took if for that joy ride. LOL! Totally kidding of course

[@carlupthegrove262]

I always always line up the logo with the throw off. I've always done that and then when I look down I know exactly where the throw off is. With the toms I do line up the logo with the badge. :-).

[@tuknchuk]

Nice tip… thanks for sharing. I’ll seriously consider it… tho, it will be hard to go against a lifetime habit. And then I’ll have to go and eventually switch all my drums to that. 😂 I really love the idea,though… 👍🙏

[@danielpires5728]

Olá @mikeslessons você poderia colocar legendas em português seria ótimo!.... Gosto muito dos seus vídeos, te acompanho a muito tempo!

[@punacunningham9151]

Hi Mike,that China cymbal sounds amazing,what brand & size please.

[@JunkerOnDrums]

Thanks a lot - have you a video on tuning the snareside (bottom) head? :D

[@0rchidius]

Well I hope Miks's not killing me, but I can’t recommend enough "Sounds Like A Drum" youtube.com/@SoundsLikeADrum?si=apAhesz1id1oI25M There you get the most comprehensive and in depth guides for tuning and finding or working towards distinct sounds. It's really a great channel and Cody and Ben are just awesome 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@JunkerOnDrums]

@@0rchidius Thanks :D Does it also apply to jazz drum sound, which is what I'm interested in?

[@andrewlau2939]

Oddly, tuning a snare drum is calming. haha. The hard part is always actually starting the process, but once you're in it, there's no going back. haha

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

I looooove cranked metal snares with some spicy open overtones 🤤🔥🔥🔥 and I do use overlays and a bfsd for quick tuning drops on the fly. You mentioned 311 and No Doubt 😂 Don't forget that early Helmut snare crack

[@mikeslessons]

John S’ snare tone was legendary!

[@musicj2877]

Thanks, could you make a content about how bottom head’s pitch affects the overall sound? I think most drummers have no idea on how to tune the bottom head

[@bian8274]

Yes, that would be amazing!!

[@salvadrummer66]

Very compliments !!! anche for Tudor Chrono

[@mikeslessons]

Great eye! It is a lovely piece :)

[@salvadrummer66]

Ciao Mike, sono un batterista con anche la passione per gli orologi

[@antoniobateria5311]

Hey Mike What drum set is that you’re using …it reminds me of a Gretsch energy set I own with a virgin kick …similar blue sparkle ..either way ..with all the eq and stuff u did ..it sounds great 👍🏼 😊

[@grant5293]

Can you go over your drum mic setup?

[@mothabod]

Hey Mike...sorry i know you told in the past what the Name of your Metronome App is but i can t find where. Could you please me Tell again. Greetings and thnx for your awesome content ❤

[@brianfoster7486]

When you’re putting a new head on, do you try to have the head “seam” sit between two of your lugs on the drum? Or do you think that matters at all? I noticed you didn’t really mention it, so I assume it’s probably not a big deal. And I’m referring to the metal collar that is part of the drumhead. TIA. Good information as always.👍

[@dieheiler8104]

Thanks Mike, great information. Any recommendations how to tune the bottom side in relation to the upper side? Seems you didn't change the bottom tension when you changed the upper side tension?

[@mikeslessons]

That's a great question. I almost always keep the bottom the same... TIGHT. The only time I adjust it is when I feel like I'm not getting enough contact from the snare witres. I hope that helps :)

[@dieheiler8104]

Great thanks🙏

[@Osully91]

Hi Mike! Great vid man. Just curious as to what you do to the bottom skin? You showed the top but not the bottom. What’s your method for bottom skin? Cheers man 🤟🏼

[@mikeslessons]

That's a great question. In all honesty I don't ever change the bottom head. I crank it down until the feeling of it has very little give when pressed with my thumb. Obviously the same principles apply as far as getting all of the tension rods to the same pitch/tension. After that I only adjust the top head - Mike J

[@Osully91]

@@mikeslessonsThanks for the reply Mike. Appreciate it! 😊

[@scottiejohnson9801]

Yo Mike- Scottie J here- is it possible to do a video of setting up or replacing snare side plus snare wires... I sometimes have trouble getting the new wires equally spaced to rim once I engage the throw off- thanks buddy

[@jc3drums916]

YMMV, but I find that engaging the wires doesn't actually shift their position all that much (if it does, the tension is too high). I position the wires a tiny bit closer to the butt plate when reattaching them, that seems to work. (Really tiny, like 1-2mm.) If I'm just changing the snare side head and not replacing the wires themselves, I only detach the wires from the butt plate, to minimize the effort needed to reattach them, lol.

[@scottiejohnson9801]

@@jc3drums916thanks bro I appreciate that- makes perfect sense

[@rongriguts3660]

Mike - what about the bottom head?

[@logan979]

How about the reso head and snares ?

[@mikeslessons]

That's a great question. I almost always keep the bottom the same... TIGHT. The only time I adjust it is when I feel like I'm not getting enough contact from the snare witres. I hope that helps :)

[@logan979]

Thank you for your reply Mike. I think a lot of us over think to much as in making things more complicated than need be.Un-related , Have you ever read the book Drummin Men by Burt Korall ?

[@jungleb]

Is three times half turn equals to one and a half? Non native speaker here

[@joshuamartin4317]

Ok Mike, here is a question: how do you make a snare sound good if you think it might be a lemon?! I have a 5.5x14 broadkaster from 2019. I can’t get it to sound good at all… help?!?!

[@jamieloewenthal5343]

Wondering if Mike or anyone else can answer this for me: I just bought the Brooklyn Standard snare used. It came and looks just like Mike’s, but there’s no internal muffler! Was a sold a different snare, or did they just stop putting in the internal muffler?

[@mikeslessons]

@@jamieloewenthal5343 The internal muffle should ALWAYS come with the snare. Does it have a sticker on the inside with my signature?

[@jamieloewenthal5343]

@@mikeslessons No it doesn’t. It was sold by Chicago Music Exchange on Reverb, advertised as the GAS5514-ST. Hope I wasn’t sold anything faulty!

[@mikeslessons]

@@jamieloewenthal5343 Well, if it was Sold as the Mike Johnston Brooklyn Standard and it doesn’t have my signature inside or the muffler then it is 100% not my signature drum. That being said Chicago Drum Exchange is an awesome shop and I’m sure they will take care of you.

[@RimShot_Studio]

Uh...lol I always put the head logo at the top of the drum so I can read it while I'm playing. My throw has to be on my left side. OCD at it's frustrating finest :)

[@jc3drums916]

I'm a weirdo about it. I have my throw-off facing me, to minimize the width of the drum. It also means I can reach it with either hand, which is nice in theory, but I don't know how much it really matters. But I position the head logo with the badge, so it ends up being somewhere between 7:30 and 9:00, depending on the number of lugs. It's a weird place to have it, but I use it as a visual reference for where the stick contacts the head when doing cross sticks. A tech once put the snare side head logo directly in between the throw-off and butt plate on one of my snares, so it was in line with a lug, just slightly off from the badge. Drove me nuts, lol.

[@markg6914]

Chads snare definitely cuts through the mix, most hits he does are rimshot plus snare, just how he hits the snare

[@forrestthomas5381]

Everything alright brotha? It's been a hot second. If you're on the road then break a leg. See you soon?

[@cewfigures1128]

All I do is tune it as high as possible until the key can’t turn anymore

[@Zynpar09]

I think the real question I have is, are you wearing a Timex?

[@mikeslessons]

Well it does tell the time, but it wasn't given to me by my ex, so no. lol :)

[@Zynpar09]

@@mikeslessons LOOOOL well said. Aight spill the beans, what watch is that

[@mikeslessons]

@@Zynpar09 In this video I’m wearing a Tudor Black Bay Chrono.

[@Zynpar09]

@@mikeslessons Oh jeez how dare I insult by asking if that was a Timex. Nice watch sir

[@mikeslessons]

@@Zynpar09No insult at all. I’m a huge fan of all watches, no matter what their cost.

[@tuknchuk]

Well… “THEY SAY” (or some of them do, anyway) when taking off a head, that you shouldn’t loosen it more than a couple 1/2 turns or so at a time bc it can warp the rim (especially a triple flanged rim). If the head is tight and you loosen one lug all the way, then two, etc with a drill while the others are still tight… that pretty drastic similar to tightening that lug all the way to its final tension while the other lugs are still only finger tight. We would probably never do that… so, is it bad to do it in reverse ?? I have no idea. I don’t know if anyone has ever legitimately tested this out and confirmed or busted the myth. Just thought I’d share. The idea does makes sense to me, at least in theory. So, I’m not sure that I’d say that it’s “completely safe” to use a drill to loosen your lugs/head. Just thought I’d be the resident “Karen” & bump an old wives tail that I have no idea is true. 🤪🪓 Thanks for another great video, Mike… All the best from Taiwan 🇹🇼

[@mikeslessons]

I love a bit of "Karen" in the comments, ESPECIALLY when the comment is respectful and well thought out, which yours absolutely was. I can happily tell you that I have tested it out, and it truly is safe. Safer than doing 2 or 3 turns at a time, though? That would be debatable. I have been taking off single flange, double flange, triple flange, and dia cast hoops this way (power drill) since I was touring in the early 2000s. After removing the head, I always lay the hoop down on a flat countertop to see if it has any amount of bend to it. So far, nothing. Now, I have had single flange hoops get a bit out of round just from playing, but not from removing the head. I hope that helps - Mike J.

[@tuknchuk]

@@mikeslessons, that’s really GREAT, Mike. I would consider that to be about as scientific as will ever probably get. Thanks so much for the response and feedback. I wish you would have included that tidbit in the video bc it’s good to get opinions out there from real personal experience to combat all of the stuff we’ve heard that’s not true or that we really don’t know about… like “popping your knuckles makes them bigger”🤪 Hah Thanks so much for all that you do for the drumming community and for sharing your light. You’re a beautiful soul, Mike !!! ❤️👊 Much Love

[@terrydrums]

This candle smells like my…snare drum?? 🥴

[@mikeslessons]

If my snare smelled like bamboo and happiness :) lol

[@terrydrums]

I have no doubt it does.

[@DavidOsborne_sprdave]

Like truing a wheel, eh?

[@AMx39]

The process of tuning a snare drum makes me loose my mind lol

[@mavatj]

Just buy an Acrolite and it’s impossible for it not to sound good

[@gesamtkuntswreck]

Worse, mine always sound worse

[@saulmighty]

4:17 "That dropped quite a bit", um no, actually the opposite happened, the pitch went higher!

[@paulrevelli]

I heard it the same way. Maybe the way the video was edited?

[@amitioJ]

Definitely went down in pitch, not sure how you're hearing it go higher!

[@mikeslessons]

And that's what makes us all human. We are all different, and we experience sounds, tastes, and smells differently. I can tell you that it factually went down in terms of hertz because I measured it in between shots with the TuneBot, but if you heard it go up, then for you... it went up :)

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

Wooof....you're hearing overtones of the lower tuning versus the fundamental note of the higher tuning. Easy to get them confused, but if the drum had muffling on the whole time, you'd definitely hear the difference.

[@LickShareSubscribe]

Nah you gotta line up the logo with the muffler so you know where to reach for it lol

[@mikeslessons]

If I can't remember where the muffle knob is then I have way more issues to worry about than my OCD. 😂😂😂