How to Tune Your SNARE Drum (the RIGHT way)

[@leonrosser183]

Excellent video and great idea with the tape underside of the remo skin

[@JazzyJonas]

This is probably the only video I've seen where the length matches the real-world time it takes to change heads and includes everything. 💗

[@stantonmooremusic]

Thank you 🙏🏼🥁🙌🏼

[@erikl6988]

This is the New Yankee Workshop of drum videos. So relaxing and enjoyable.

[@stantonmooremusic]

Thank you! 🙏🏼🥁🙌🏼

[@andrewjacobs3731]

That’s the snare sound I have in my head… awesome

[@stantonmooremusic]

Thank you! 🙏🏼🥁🙌🏼

[@c0ns1d1ne]

Ha, I used to put looped gaffa tape on top of the head for years before I discovered moon gels. Can't believe I never thought of putting it underneath. Facepalm moment. That snare drum is beautiful.

[@patrickbrennan2864]

Hey Stanton, Ever stretched a (clean new) sweat sock across the batter bearing edge, then placed the head ? You’ll get a rifle-crack. I’ve got a Sonor ferromanganese snare and this modification produces the best sound I’ve ever gotten out of the drum. This might be an old trick everybody knows, I have no idea, but if you’re after a sharp dry sound, it works. (And…If you’re playing with Buddy Guy, and you want the music “so funky you can smell it”, well, substitute the appropriate piece of clothing in the appropriate condition….) You might recall, I’m the guy who suggested applying phrases to drum licks instead of numbers (or applying phrases to them AFTER learning them with numbers, with counting)- at least for us beginners, the playing becomes much more musical, and easier to remember. I’d guess that’s why Trilok Gurtu was surprised we westerners put numbers to music - in his country of India, they don’t count notes: “What a strange thing to do, music is a language…I don’t know how to have a conversation on stage with my bandmates through Math…” All the best man! Thanks for the teaching Patrick

[@stantonmooremusic]

Hi Patrick, I hadn't heard of that trick. I'll have to try that! Thank you for sharing that and thank you for tuning in! SM

[@bigloaded8324]

Those 15" Kerope hats sound absolutely amazing! So does the snare.

[@jspfgh]

Does the muffling w/ tape on the underside of the head work on the toms as well? Great method!

[@stantonmooremusic]

To be honest, I haven’t tried it on the toms. But I’m sure it would work great! 🙌🏼

[@arielscarpino8890]

Please video of the snare side!! Thaks idol!!!

[@stantonmooremusic]

Yep! Coming soon, I promise! 🙌🏼

[@hectordesosa777]

Very very good tips My friend.

[@seawyfe7289]

Just bought your Acacia Spirit of New Orleans from Memphis Drum Shop. New drummer so thought I'd start out with the best snare! Thank you for all your videos! Snare shipped yesterday. So excited about my new instrument!

[@stantonmooremusic]

Very cool! So glad you picked it up! I hope you dig it!!! 🙌🏼🥁👊🏼

[@daggzg]

I have yours Titanium Galactic Black version. Awesome instrument! Fantastic snare :)

[@stantonmooremusic]

I love hearing that! Thank you! 🙌🏼

[@candlemaniac]

Stanton, thank you for your insights!

[@celebmrk9]

I really dig that muffler at the end!

[@thomasantkowiak6974]

Very helpful, thanks! Even had rhythm with your brushes when just smoothing the drum head down. Just saw you again in Seattle and the show was so great.

[@wnoto]

I noticed that too. :)

[@stantonmooremusic]

Thank you! 🙏🏼

[@craicattic]

Very good!! Thank you for sharing you knowledge, much appreciated!!

[@joechiocca8429]

This is fantastic for me- an aging guitar player, that for some reason now, wants to be an aging drummer!😅 Very informative- great playing here!

[@Ramshackled17]

Great video, thank you.

[@stantonmooremusic]

🙏🏼

[@Tiger_Smash59]

Thanks Stanton

[@harryo74]

how tight or loose do you have your bottom snare side heads? on a regular size snare? on a deeper size snare? what should average be start so we can have flexibility to tune ? any advice appreciated

[@tdrum21]

Great tips in here. Which kerope hats are those?

[@stantonmooremusic]

Thanks! They're 15's not sure of the weight though...

[@fredlittle8127]

Would you find the gaff tape ribbons beneficial in taking the edge off of the resonating ring with toms?

[@stantonmooremusic]

Yes, maybe a little too much in fact. If I do a ribbon on the rack tom, I make it tiny. I usually try to tune the rack/mounted tom so that it’s in tune with itself and I only use it if I really need it. 👍🏼

[@ajbambino]

Hell yeah, I love how you made your snare an 8-lug. I always dug the sound and characteristics of an 8-lug more than 10-lug. A little more lively-er and has more personality. Kinda like a dude struttin down the street after having a few drinks....not a lot. But got that swag walk.....but sonically on a snare. I know Bonham used a 10-lug supra, but i always felt like his personality and swagger was more in line with 8-lugs...

[@batacoPANTERAabbott]

You did it first try with no effort at all and it sounded amazing. I've been trying for 3 years to tune and i always get this bell-like ring no matter what i do (3 different snares and still). Can i ask you to touch on tuning only the snare side next video? Thing is, many of us would like to know how the snare head should sound on it's own so it can co-vibrate correctly with the top head. Thanks in advance, you are an amazing inspiration.

[@stantonmooremusic]

Thank you! 🙏🏼 Yes, I plan to film a snare side vid in the near future. Thank for watching!

[@batacoPANTERAabbott]

@@stantonmooremusic just a little suggestion if you don't mind my saying: i've watched plenty of your vids and they are great but the volume seem to be too low, especially for your voice. Hope it helps stanton! Thank you so much

[@rhythmfield]

Man you’ve got a nice pumping sort of push-pull business in the left hand roughly around 17:15, dang man that’s nice. Is that sort of an ostinato stroke, or some finger stuff? Would like to see if you have a video on that or maybe a zoom lesson? You do those?

[@arielscarpino8890]

what snarewire do you use in this video?

[@ruffdrag]

Appreciate your tutorial on snare drum tension options. The reason the tension points nearest the Remo logo are sounding lower is because you have gaffers tape underneath the head at those points. Friendly tip... always bring the tension from low to high when adjusting, just like a guitar string. Down then up. The drum head, just like the guitar string stretches. Peace! To be a rock and not to roll......or maybe buzzzzzzzz roll ; )

[@candlemaniac]

That's the same for tuning Timpani as well, always tune into the pitch from below it.

[@mikeevangelista1177]

Love the tape idea gels are getting old and definitely get in the way sometimes. Thanks for all your videos 🥁🔥

[@theBRT1955]

To me it seems like the tape would really help to control the overtones when listening to the pitches at each lug, Genius!

[@milostopic1514]

This is great, and I like a different approach on how to achieve this low fat sound. I was getting similar results with detuning lugs 2-3 lugs closest to me and adding weight (a wallet kind of muffling) but I always believed this is not particularly "healthy" for thinner heads. This makes more sense. Thanks :)

[@lackorluck4388]

Awesome video, thanks for all the inspiration over the years! I bump you and the dirty dozen at work all day! I can't wait for the snare side video!

[@groovetube24]

Great lesson and I agree ears are better. I also like my head to have a certain tension feel. I take it that when you fold your Snareweight underneath it adds a little “mass” to the damping. I know the concept of folding the ends in but on top is to give a tad less damping. Killer sounding snare too!

[@anthonyn1312]

So when I change a drumhead, Is it okay 🆗👍🤣 if I can put Remo coated head with a black 🖤 dot?

[@stantonmooremusic]

Sure! Whatever you prefer!

[@andyg_drums]

Great video. Thanks for the help. Can you tell us what kind of in ear monitors are those?

[@stantonmooremusic]

Thanks! I’m using the Jerry Harvey Roxanne model. 👍🏼

[@vaquero4495]

An internal muffler like in a Jazz Festival or an old Gretsch round badge would eliminate the need for the tape, yes?

[@stantonmooremusic]

For me personally, the internal muffler changes the feel of the head. It’s also a different sound muffling wise. I prefer the tape, But that’s just my personal taste.

[@vaquero4495]

@@stantonmooremusic Oh? I can see that makes sense. I have never tried just tape so I am in for a fun experience. Thanks very much.

[@rhythmfield]

Off subject but if you don’t mind, is that a large-diameter set of hi hats? 15 or 16”? I’ve been using larger hats in recent years and love the buttery lower thing, you have a nice mellow tone on those hats!

[@stantonmooremusic]

Good eye! Yep, those are 15’s. I love them!!!

[@HenkJanDrums]

Thanks. Nice video.

[@emlix1]

"That's still CRANKED, hahahaaha" I lol'd loud and long there.

[@gmiller598]

I have your 4.5x14 Acacia model. Do you keep the 42 strand snares on your drums or do you prefer different strand counts to get the level of snare response you want in different musical settings?

[@stantonmooremusic]

Thanks for picking up the Acacia. I keep the 42's on. I love the 42's! 👊🏼

[@gmiller598]

@@stantonmooremusic Nice. I applied the gaff tap to the ambassador on it and it blew me away how much those 2 small strips dried up the overtones and focused the sound while keeping a good amount of snare response. I see why you like the 42's with that setup. Great tip!

[@stantonmooremusic]

Greg Miller I’m glad to hear that that is working for you! Thanks!

[@xcy0n]

Ok. And what about the reso head?

[@stantonmooremusic]

I’m going to do another video on the reso head. Didn’t want make this one too long 👊🏼

[@xcy0n]

@@stantonmooremusic I‘m looking forward to it, nice! 😘

[@johnrobinson8323]

Wow! That snare sounds great at every level. Even the low tuning is nice. I guess that's what you get with a Dunnet. Pardon my spelling. 🥁❤

[@portnickos]

This is SO great, Stanton! 🔥🔥🔥 I'm a proud owner of that Titanium SONO snare (which btw is the best snare I have ever played), so I was waiting for that video like crazy! Really cool, "step by step" breakdown of your tuning process. Diggin' that Jeff Hamilton tape trick too!! Your video at the Drum Center Of Portsmouth is also great showing how great and versatile that snare drum is (along with the equally amazing Acacia version). To be honest, I like the lower tuning even without the Big Fat snare. I mean, it has its purpose. So, I have a couple of questions but I think I will save them for the Stanton MOORE Drum Academy (SMDA) forum, hehe...😉 Thanks for sharing this, man!! 🙏🏻

[@stantonmooremusic]

Thanks Nikos! So glad you’re digging this vid! More to come!

[@davidsykes9331]

Just curious why you didn’t show how to tune the snare side

[@stantonmooremusic]

That will be another video 👍🏼

[@flashostrock2057]

@@stantonmooremusic that's great I'm curious about that too. Especially if you sometimes feel the need to detune the reso head. 😊

[@roybeckerman9253]

The snare ( resonant) side, isn’t touched on… It’s one of the most important parts..!

[@elithepitbulldog2209]

Haha, I own and enjoy the same snare drum. I also have your solid maple version.

[@stantonmooremusic]

Very cool! Thanks for the support! I appreciate it! 🙌🏼

[@nedgrant918]

16:43: Left Hand groove 18:15: Second Line var.

[@SpaceDjoxy]

What about the reso head? 😫

[@roybeckerman9253]

What about the snare side. It’s not mentioned and is one of the most important things to get right..

[@stantonmooremusic]

I’m going to do a separate video on the snare side. To your point, it is very important and I don’t want to glaze over it. I want to spend time and dedicate a whole video to it. 🙌🏼

[@ochocabra1542]

I love Stanton, but I don't understand the 'change head because it's a little worn' thing. heads sound best in their death throes. especially with brushes

[@hectordesosa777]

My Game is Héctor . I live in Caracas venezuela

[@themole2024]

Why not just use a drumdial to evenly tighten the lugs?

[@stantonmooremusic]

Ears are better 😉

[@stantonmooremusic]

When I started tuning drums 30 years ago, there was no drum dial yet. This is the way I've been doing it for 3 decades. Also, when flying from gig to gig, you want to carry as little gear as possible.

[@Ambrose0713]

I've been playing drums for 8 years and I eventually find out there is a item called “Tape”.

[@realdealradio]

🎼🎵🎶🤟

[@nickrepice4360]

Super Mario! Did anyone hear that?

[@roybeckerman7843]

No mention of the bottom head…! That’s most important, regarding sound..

[@stantonmooremusic]

That will be another video. I want to take a lot of time demonstrating how to tune the bottom head. I agree with you it is important… Important enough to warrant its own video. Stay tuned. Thanks for watching 🙏🏼

[@roybeckerman7843]

@@stantonmooremusic 🙂👍🏿 Everyone seems to have a different opinion, on the bottom head’s tightness..

[@hectordesosa777]

Name

[@TimSuliman]

Why don’t you just use a heavier batter head? It seems like you don’t actually like the Ambassador.

[@stantonmooremusic]

The heavier options would be ambassador x or emperor and both are a little toooo heavy. The tape ribbons make it jusssst right! 👍🏼

[@bishopoftroy]

1. Star pattern tuning does nothing special. You just forget what lugs you tuned up. 2. Tune the lugs only up the last time so the head doesn`t get stuck in the tightened position. String instruments also suffer from this. 3. Don't press the head with the hand, it only loosens the head unevenly. (it`s already sitting how it supposed to sit since you tightened the lugs up) 4. Reso head is at least as important to tune right. There`s a whole different technique there.

[@Adiaf8oros]

Well i think it was great before the Big Fat Snare Drum head on top.....

[@stantonmooremusic]

😂It’s just an effect for a different sound. Thanks for tuning in! 🙌🏼

[@wardleslie4737]

Good Grief, isn't there enough HOW TOO TUNE out there. It's getting real old seeing all these "want to be famous dudes" doing what has already been shown a half million times all over the net. Besides, it's all about "HEY LOOK AT ME, I'M ON KZbin". And could care less what anybody says or thinks of me posting here.👎

[@AmericanBarber82]

Still waiting for the snare side tutorial 😉