How To Tune Your Snare Drum Like A Pro - Drum Lesson

In this video I show you how to tune your snare drum like a professional. I start by making sure the bottom head is in tune. Then I switch to the top head. After the top head is tuned to its preferred range, my focus goes to the snares.
In the comment section below, let me know what problems you usually face when tuning your snare drum. I'll try to help you fix the problem.
Until next time, take care, and happy drumming.
My Endorsements :
Mapex Drums : mapexdrums.com/us/
Remo Drumheads : remo.com/
Vic Firth Drumsticks : vicfirth.zildjian.com/
Majestic Percussion : majesticpercussion.com/us/
#howtotuneyoursnaredrum #snaredrumtuning #drumtuning #kirkrustmandrums #kirkrustman #mapex #remo #vicfirth #majesticpercussion #mapexdrums #remodrumheads #vicfirthdrumsticks #traska #traskasummiteer

[@TheDr1066]

This video helped out a whole bunch. Very thorough, too 🤘🏼

[@KirksDrumRoom]

Glad it helped!

[@TheDerekFrank]

Great insight on tuning snares and LOVE how good you are getting with making these videos! Very impressive

[@KirksDrumRoom]

Many thanks for the compliments! This one took a little doing. LOL The b-roll overhead shot was tricky to film, and edit. Ha!

[@DamianS1893]

Excellent Presentation ✝️👍🤙✌️

[@KirksDrumRoom]

Thanks so much!

[@allisonstewart5849]

Great video! Super helpful!

[@KirksDrumRoom]

Many thanks!

[@ardytherustman5893]

Wow, great instruction!

[@KirksDrumRoom]

Thanks for watching!

[@luiszuluaga6575]

I agree, the strainer could be a common reason for a bad snare drum sound. Anyway, it was loads of fun watching you having fun, tuning your drum. Rock on!

[@KirksDrumRoom]

Thanks so much for the compliment! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@lionelrathnasekara9313]

learned lot of tuning methods

[@KirksDrumRoom]

Excellent! 👍🏻 🥁

[@davidfaria6194]

Completely agree with you on the bottom. Resident head exactly where you start.

[@KirksDrumRoom]

Far too many drummers skip the resonant head altogether when tuning, unfortunately.

[@mickeyf3730]

Great video! I’ll have to try your techniques out. I need to definitely try to get the cracks out better and adjust snares accordingly. I’ll then play along to Crackling Rosie to see how it worked lol 😂. Also, pinching the rim with your index finger and thumb helps with the finger tight tension when you have a stubborn lug like I have.

[@KirksDrumRoom]

Crackling Rosie. Ahahaa! 😆

[@luiszuluaga6575]

Definitely picked up the overtones. Very full and round sound from the snare w/ throw off.

[@KirksDrumRoom]

Truth!

[@taniascott104]

Love the intro!! I’ve never been to Vegas!!!

[@KirksDrumRoom]

It's definitely a bright city! Ha! 😆

[@davidfaria6194]

I think it’s a bad idea to press on the rim prior to installing the head. I agree with your message. I think damage can be done the other way.

[@KirksDrumRoom]

I see your point. Even though I've never heard of something bad happening by pressing the heads edge, the idea seems off to me. As you saw in the video, I'm all about applying pressure throughout the tuning process.

[@AdrumaVictoria16]

I learned not to choke snares, thanks 🎉

[@KirksDrumRoom]

You're very welcome! And thanks for watching.

[@AdrumaVictoria16]

@@KirksDrumRoom your tutorial is the first time that I re-tuned the drum and actually liked the sound. I’ve been playing for a long time..

[@KirksDrumRoom]

@@AdrumaVictoria16 That's awesome to hear! So glad I could be of help.

[@gretschludwigdrummer209]

I'm ok tuning my snare but having problems tuning the Wife....any advise ??

[@KirksDrumRoom]

The Wife?! Oh Brother! This divorced individual is the wrong person to ask. Ahahaa! 😆

[@Chiroman527]

Maybe it's Me... I think the sound is very washy - not tight enough , too much Over ringing for my taste. You are right about the strainer on the snare wires. Please define what yu mean by 'Tight" on the snare side head. I often hear to make them Table Top Tight? You ask what is the hardest Thing about Tuning Snare drums....In my perspective - Everything LOL> As a 72 YO, Player of Drums, who resurrected playing in 2019 after 50 Years [1969], I have become much more engaged into the instrument - learning more about different Drum heads , and Drum Tuning. Tuning is an art that takes lots of practice to Master.

[@KirksDrumRoom]

You nailed it about taste. Everyone has a different thing they want to hear. And I feel no one is wrong with what they like sound wise. It's a very personal thing. As for "tight", yes you always hear about "Table Top Tight". I personally like it tight enough so that it's just hard to push down in the middle of the head. I feel it gives the snares what they need to work appropriately. That said, I've also used a snare with a much looser resonant head for a very sloppy sound when I was asked. It wasn't my preferred sound. But it was the correct sound for the situation. Many congrats that you are playing again! I hope you're finding great joy in it.

[@hoozerob]

A question (a year later); Is the snare head higher pitched than the batter head? Some drummers make them the same. Some claim that the snare head should be much looser than the batter head too. Thoughts? 🤔

[@KirksDrumRoom]

I say try different tuning methods. I, personally, haven't had success with looser resonant heads on my snares. However, I know some folks who like that sound. It's just not for me. But it may be just what you're looking for. Trial and error, even though somewhat frustrating, is an amazing teaching tool. Also, with all the sound men I've worked with in both Chicago and Las Vegas, they always seem to like the sound of how I tuned in the video. But again, that doesn't mean it's the only way.

[@hoozerob]

@@KirksDrumRoom The way you tuned, sounds really good.

[@KirksDrumRoom]

@@hoozerob many thanks! I really appreciate that.

[@westonnemitz1093]

Questions: I want a really high pitched snare sound, I’m using a 14” pearl export shell with a 2 ply evans head. Is it safe to just crank it to the max? Also, I’m using a 24 strand snare wire. Is it safe to cut a few off either side to kill their sound a bit?

[@KirksDrumRoom]

Great questions! I assume the Export shell is steel? I'm also going to assume it's 5 1/2" deep? I would switch out the double ply head for a single ply. If you're a hard hitter, and you go through lots of snare heads, look for a thicker single ply. Now is where problems 'could' arise. If you crank the head too tight it'll start choking the sound. The unfortunate truth here is that more expensive drums usually have a wider tuning range. But definitely experiment. I've been surprised a couple of times with the sounds I've been able to get just by throwing caution to the wind a bit. As for the 24 strand snare wire, I'd caution cutting snares off. The problem is, unless you get them perfectly cut and smoothed down, you run the risk of tearing the snare side head. I hope this helps. Thanks for the questions!

[@westonnemitz1093]

@@KirksDrumRoom thanks so much for the answers! This info is great. I know it is a wooden shell, but I’m not sure what type. Also yes, it is 5 1/2 deep, so I think my problem here has to be the head. I am a pretty heavy hitter so I’m gonna do some research on a thicker single ply, any brand you would recommend? Also, managed to find a 20 strand wire laying around which sounds great!

[@KirksDrumRoom]

@@westonnemitz1093 Here are my recommendations. Since I'm a Remo endorser I know that drum head well. And by the looks of it, the Evans should also do the trick. I've just never played it. remo.com/product/ambassador-x14-coated www.daddario.com/products/percussion/evans-drumheads/drum-set/drumset-snare-batter/uv1-coated-snare-batter/

[@westonnemitz1093]

@@KirksDrumRoom thank you so much for the help! I will let you know how it ends up sounding!!

[@KirksDrumRoom]

@@westonnemitz1093 Excellent! I'd love to know how it turns out.

[@raion9692]

Which remo head is on the top?

[@KirksDrumRoom]

It's a Remo Diplomat Fiberskyn.

[@teerextot2268]

😀

[@Tdrums8]

whats funny i was playing a gig and the snare didnt sound right and i got frustrated and loosened the snares way off just touching the bottom head and on the recording it sounds amazing !!! Maybe a little lose but the entire band loved it sounded like Phill Rudds ..So i dont know how tight anymore lose worked for me and no snare buzz

[@KirksDrumRoom]

Whatever works in the moment is what's correct! Ha! 👍🏻😆🥁

[@anthonyn1312]

Remember, step by step to tuning snare drums correctly

[@KirksDrumRoom]

Truth! 💯

[@anthonyn1312]

@@KirksDrumRoom The size of a Mapex versatus snare drum is 14x4.625? Like, what is that even mean?

[@KirksDrumRoom]

@@anthonyn1312 it's a 14 inch diameter, and 4 5/8 inches deap.

[@anthonyn1312]

@@KirksDrumRoom Oh, I get it now!

[@killyourtv4579]

I didn't know Chris Hansen played drums!?

[@KirksDrumRoom]

Ahahaa! 😆

[@killyourtv4579]

All jokes aside.. Great video my brother! Really helped me with a different approach to tuning. (Unlike most KZbinrs) You have GREAT skill. Thank you!

[@KirksDrumRoom]

@@killyourtv4579 thanks so much. Glad I was able to offer some help.

[@killyourtv4579]

@@KirksDrumRoom Absolutely! I'm subbed now. God bless! 🙏

[@KirksDrumRoom]

@@killyourtv4579 thanks for the sub! More topics coming soon.

[@MrE1981]

When you grabbed the snare wires and scrunched them together while saying be careful.....my stomach turned. Maybe take your own advice. Also the snare side clearly still had lugs that were out of tune.

[@KirksDrumRoom]

Yep, when I was editing this video, I heard that tuning issue also. But when I went back to listen to the drum before a possible rerecord the drum was fine. I actually have no idea what that was about. As for the snares, in over 30 years of drum tuning/repair, I've never damaged a set of snares. Whether wire 'snappy' snares, cable, or gut for marching, they are rather resilient. That being said, there's absolutely no guarantee that all snares won't bend, break, or get damaged. It's certainly possible that can happen.

[@philippefrater2000]

I use a trigger and broken glass into a reverb to enhance my snare sound. Wanna hear it? Follow me ...

[@KirksDrumRoom]

That sounds like a cool effect.

[@philippefrater2000]

@@KirksDrumRoom It is, wait a minute...

[@philippefrater2000]

@@KirksDrumRoom Here it is...

[@KirksDrumRoom]

@@philippefrater2000 Unfortunately, nothing showed up. Is there supposed to be a link?

[@philippefrater2000]

@@KirksDrumRoom Sorry, the link was supposed to be here the other day... 🙄

[@brianchisnell1548]

A real musician does not need help tuning.

[@KirksDrumRoom]

But lots of people do. 👍🏻

[@jonblachley1911]

Use a drum key.

[@KirksDrumRoom]

Truth. Ha! 😆

[@rglassma]

I watched this video for about 1 minute before stopping it. What made me stop watching was the comment, "you need to make your bottom head very tight". Wrong !!! You do not. If you wish to learn the relationship between your resonant head and your batter head, my suggestion is that you watch the series "Sounds Like A Drum". Do a search and subscribe. That will give you great insight of what to do to make your snare drum sound great, and then, take the time to experiment on your own,. Be patient...

[@KirksDrumRoom]

Sounds Like A Drum is a great channel! And his take on different tensions is absolutely correct. However, in my experience, more times than not, a tighter snare side head seems to be preferable in general settings to other sounds. As I see it neither one of us is wrong. Depending on what we need from our instruments, we end up just being different.

[@vincentquattrocchi7924]

Sounds like a DRUM ...HA HA HA The know it all channel.....380 -400 HZ IS WHAT U NEED... By the way most of their SNARES sound like shit in their videos.