How To Tune Your Toms - Drum Lesson

First things first KZbinrs, this is how "I" tune my toms and I hope you all understand that I'm not telling that this is the ONLY way to do it. I just want to shed a little light on the way I approach tuning my toms and I hope that you gain a few knowledge nuggets out of it 🍵🙏🍵
►Intro Sticking/Accent Notation: bit.ly/2VoRj8E
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►Listen to the Podcast on Spotify: spoti.fi/2HxpOmv
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Endorsements
• Gretsch Drums
• Meinl Cymbals
• Aquarian Drum Heads
• Vic Firth Sticks
• DW Hardware
• Audio Technica Microphones
• 64 Audio In Ears
• Aiya Matcha
0:00 Intro
1:15 Removing the head
1:50 Check for imperfections
2:30 Heads have tone
3:00 Seating the head
4:00 Mute the bottom head
4:30 Let's start tuning
6:50 Tuning for feel
7:30 Using the TuneBot
10:15 Tuning the floor tom
13:30 On the kit
15:30 Thanks for watching

[@mikedover6590]

I love tuning but if I’m honest about it, my favorite part of tuning is smelling the inside of the shells. Best scent ever!!!

[@mikeslessons]

When your drums are new or fairly new I agree 100%, but when your drums are over 50 years old like mine… buttered ASS!!! lol 😂🍵🍵😂

[@mikedover6590]

@@mikeslessons on the note of tuning though, would love to see a snare demonstration, mostly for the purpose of how you treat your snare wires and how that affects the sound. I feel like I only see people show the “put a stick under the wires” to tune trick.

[@mikedover6590]

@@mikeslessons I agree with you on the smell of natural wood shells, but the buttered ass smell, is still good to me but not because of the smell, more so imagining what smoky clubs and and that kit has played through. As long as I can imagine a great story then I’m ok with it.

[@weschilton]

I love the smell of 30+ year old Yamaha Recording Customs... my '65 Ludwigs... ew! ;)

[@mikedover6590]

@@weschilton I’ve got a while before I get there. My Yamaha Stage Custom is only about 10 years right now.

[@jj0dyw0ah..21]

My dad doesn't understand why I'm always taking off the heads and putting them back on.... but now I feel that I KNOW what sound I want so it only takes me 10-15 min to tune my drums. but i personally just find it fun to take my drums apart and put them back together.

[@thelowertownsound]

Best tuning video i've seen. Answered questions i didn't even know i had. I love the idea of taking feel into account. That's rarely addressed in any tuning videos i've seen. Your teaching is top notch!

[@aligrant2605]

I must say mike, the camera quality is absoloutely amazing! I know how much effort, time and focus you put into the visuals, and trust me, it really doesn't go unnoticed!

[@marcusbrown87]

Mike, your drums always sound amazing! Can't believe that's only one mic!

[@oscargarzajr5799]

I just love how excited you get. And how much you love and enjoy teach us all what you know. Thank you for your awesome videos.

[@rockytoprecordingreviews4167]

Very helpful and informative video! The more care and intention you put into your drums and their maintenance the closer you get to those drums.

[@hypercussion]

Really helpful video. I was struggling with getting the sound I wanted. I was already using a Tune-bot for consistency. The problem was that for years I had always tuned my reso heads slightly higher than the batters to try and emulate Bonham’s tom sound . Your advice to tune both heads to the same frequency and mute the head you’re not tuning worked beautifully. I found the general pitch I wanted for each drum and tuned both heads to that frequency with the tune-bot and like magic, the perfect sound and resonance. I saved my settings and now I can retune or even change heads and dial the same sound in quickly every time. Thanks for posting this method!

[@jonathanbormann5077]

Yes!!! I asked for this on a video a while back. So stoked to see/hear it. Thank you Mike!

[@CharlesTPrimm]

This is excellent. I was fortunate enough to get an in-depth lesson on tensioning from the Mighty Max Weinberg before a show back in 1980. Never forgot it. Same principles. Can't stress enough how important the feel is.

[@ladya6841]

This video brought tears to my eyes! Thank you for this video. I was just saying I wish there was an actual helpful video on tuning. You kit sounds incredible!! Excellent video, such a great teacher!!

[@MyConcertLife5]

I ain’t going to lie, you making the sounds with your mouth acutely helped me a ton because I understood everything you were talking about from that. I’ve only been drumming for a year & some change but I’m glad I found your channel. Too many people do to much or say to much. Thank you

[@tavo8543]

Congrats for 200k subs, u deserve so many more! Thanks for teaching with that passion! 🙏

[@mikeslessons]

WOW!!!! I just saw that... thanks brother

[@adesojiadeyeye423]

Another awesome class!!!. I'm getting more knowledge and increased confidence on my drum skills. Thanks Mike!!!!!

[@drummerjqa]

explaining about starting with a "pure tone" and going from there is an awesome way to think about it. Too many people miss that and tune too high and choke the head or its too loose and they try to tune from flappy. That used to be my problem when I started to try to get my tuning together and the issue most of my students have

[@robertfizer]

I just want to thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience! I appreciate you taking the time to explain the process and understanding the difference between the batter and resonating heads.

[@garyunsworth726]

Really enjoyed this, I've been playing 33 years and learned alot watching this, thank you 😊Ps your kit sounds fantastic 👍

[@DC-xt1pt]

I have watched a LOT of tuning videos in my quest to hone the art of drum tuning and I must say, this is definitely one of the best vids out there. Thanks.

[@humbertoleandro896]

"I've in KZbin since 2005/2006" that's how long I've been watching your videos Mike. Bought my first drumset in 2006 and went to KZbin and typed "drum lessons". Changed my life!

[@mikeslessons]

Did you guys/gals hear the tone of the new head? How freaking cool is that???

[@addisoncarpenter5675]

Love the tone and feel of new heads!

[@pentzzsolt]

When you slapped the worn out and the new head in the air, the difference was astonishing, I never realized that.

[@dgarreis]

Same here never hit a old head and new head off the kit. All these years never knew. Great info.

[@argentinacongroove4375]

Yes sir!

[@mikeevangelista1177]

Someone told me to do that with all your new heads your buying in the store example open them up tap em and grab the ones that go together the best. I tried it and I actually found some of the same heads had a slight tonal difference and once in awhile you can get one that’s a bit dead. Great video

[@dR_83_]

Thank you so much! This is the first tuning video that actually helped me!

[@chrismallios1621]

So glad I discovered your videos. They have really helped me get to the next level even though I thought I had reached a level that dead ended

[@patcarrano158]

Thank you Mike ! Yes the FEEL of the drums is just as important as the tuning . (Something I've battled with forever ) ...but it does also depend upon the genre of music you're playing . When the kit sounds & feels good it just makes you WANT to play them because it's pure joy ! God bless

[@jobaecker9752]

Totally agree. There are some gigs where the heads feel like concrete, and other where they feel like butter -- not sure why that happens (and what combination of muscle, temperature and mindset are happening) but when they are butter it's like nothing else in the world.

[@Chiroman527]

Pat, I watch this and Many others (Rob Brown, Jared at DRUMEO, Cory at Sounds Like a Drum), I just can't GET THERE. That nice Sweet Spot that I hear in this Video. I have a PDP Concept maple kit, with 5 Toms (3 rack 8, 10, & 12) and 2 Floor Toms (14 & 16). I had Evans G2 coated on the Batters - finally settling on those after trying others ..... Remo Emperors, Evans GC2s Clear. I am using the Standard Remo ( I think they are Ambassadors ) Reso heads that came with the Drums. Mike seems to attain a nice sound with just a little overtone. I prefer the Doooo, Doooo sound Jared talks about. What I did learn at this video was to put the drum on a stool to Muffle the reso head and Vice Versa. Need to learn to use the TuneBot too. I hate that Growl that Mike mentions. Drives me a little Nuts - I am a Newbie at drum tuning, and at 70 YO I resurrected playing Drums after 50 Years ago (1969). I only play along to My Music about 1 hour a day. I will keep trying to tune and not let my OCD carry me a way :):)

[@lemme123]

This video is so useful ! Thank you SO much for the demonstration and sharing your tips! ❤😊

[@crankshaft109]

Always great content delivered like a good friend. Thanks Mike!

[@mikeslessons]

Awe man... that means the world brother 🍵🙏🍵

[@odeskoo]

Imma sit n my room and practice tuning my drums. AWESOME. thanks MJ

[@Drumminman4U]

Best tuning video I've ever seen hands down. This is the part of drumming I find most frustrating but it's obviously necessary. Also, those toms sound absolutely perfect to my ears but of course I'm an old jazz guy so I love that sound. Bravo Sir. 🙂

[@jmfs3497]

I really liked this video, Mike Johnston team! Content over all is really informative and easy to digest and fun. The Audio quality really communicates the tuning very well, so good job to the audio engineer that set the mics and all that. Very good to listen to, and I might even watch it a second time through while a warm up on a practice pad, lol. Does anyone else do this?

[@bobslenker27]

Cheers. Good stuff. I never had resources like this in the 80s & early 90s when I was starting out.

[@glennracoma7481]

Glad you bought up how one feels playing the drums after tuning the drums. Thanks great video

[@RCSchult112755]

Well thought out and helpful. Thanks, Mike!

[@johnschweiger6486]

Great video Mike! I really appreciate you saying that we don’t absolutely need a Tune bot, (That’s reassuring because I don’t own one), and learn how to tune by ear and feel!

[@mchaggis622]

Fantastic advice. Those toms sound beautiful. Thanks Mike. 😊👍

[@MarcelGavalier]

For years and thousends videos outhere... this is first video that i can say thats is informative.

[@JimiRachman]

The most important thing about playing drums is drum tuning, and thank you sir for giving us that lesson.

[@Tyl-Fiedler]

Amazing Video ! Thanks a lot for the Tune bot readings too! Always was so interested in what Tention your toms are :) Love your content thanks . Btw: your Solo in pasic is the Best Drum Solo i Ever heard!!

[@philippevanharennoman8260]

Great tuning video ! Thanks very much !

[@slowwwwBurnnnn813]

Great video Mike!

[@gadymarcus2362]

Wow phenomenal sound thanks man.

[@jedblavla5206]

Subscribed. Absolutely brilliant mate

[@cyberbl1tz6]

“Now it sounds like buttered ass.” made me laugh harder than I have in a while. 😂 you have some of the best content on KZbin. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@simoneyinbrazil4407]

Thank you mike the goat. First person I understood this from

[@AlwaysInThePocket012]

You've gone and made a great video again, thanks Mike!

[@barberjeff67]

I like putting the head logo where there's a tone control. Easier to locate on the fly. Beautiful drums!

[@MarkDuffyPhotography]

I need a "Sounds like Buttered Ass" t-shirt in my life!

[@mikeslessons]

I’m starting small first, just wristbands and water bottles. But eventually FULL BUTTERED ASS MERCH!!! LOL 😂🍵🍵😂

[@cobra1995xx]

@@mikeslessons i cant wait to see the logo lol 😎

[@cobra1995xx]

Im in

[@patcarrano158]

That cracked me up bahahaha !!!🤣

[@MarkDuffyPhotography]

@@patcarrano158 gets me everytime, he has these brilliant wee gem of nuggets that just casually get thrown into a sentence

[@chrismallios1621]

When I first started playing drums, I used to tune pretty high. As time progressed, I started tuning lower and lower. I tune a bit lower than most because it seems to give the drums a much bigger sound. For example, I have heard both extremes. Super low tuning and way too high tuning. As matter of fact I recently heard a guy tune so high on his drums that his kick sounded way too gongy and his floor tom sounded like a small high pitched rack tom. That has kept me from repeating my past mistakes. Love all your videos. Thanks for sharing and for being so thorough.

[@alexyorkshots]

I've learned so much here. Thank you!

[@robertreedy414]

Sir,great vid! I see that A&F snare behind u on the shelf. Some real money back there

[@warrenvollaro2529]

Hey Mike, thanks for this as I know how to tune drums but ironically I'm playing electronic drums now I miss my gretsch drums as I love your blue drums, cheers !!!

[@Johan-yv6rk]

Thank’s for all amazing lessons. Spend one hour everyday to make my Brooklyn sound like yours. Impossible. They never stop singing. More sound lessons please. 😕

[@farleycarl]

Thanks for the video Mike. You covered all the bases. A 5 minute video just wouldn’t have been as comprehensive. Liiike thaaaat! lol

[@ewrluv2drum]

Seriously though, thank you for the lesson. I have a somewhat mechanical approach, but I'm going to try tuning the top the feel and bottom for tone.

[@goloyblog]

now i can tune my toms the right way...thank u sir keep on groovin

[@thedrumdon2485]

Great lesson- thanks!

[@sandyhancock5521]

Great little vid! Thanks!👍

[@mikeslessons]

So glad you enjoyed it Sandy!

[@carlosclerigadrums]

Beautiful sound!!!!

[@alexandersimonovsky2417]

Hi Mike,you play great and your lessons are very useful und your Gretsch sounds great! Please tell me what kind of drumheads on the toms and the Kick? thank you very much!

[@DolkkarToyznstuff]

Thank you for the video, I was tired of my toms sounding like buttered ass. You got my sub!

[@kellypace1534]

Great video. Great info. And great playing. Two questions. Has the wrap been removed at the top and bottom so the head fits better? Would removing that 1/2-1” of wrap be advisable? I have the same kit (same sparkle color and year), in 22/13/16 and they are a bear to tune. How would you approach those sizes when tuning? Thank you.

[@Chiroman527]

Mike, It is great - No Snare Buzz that I can detect!! They sound soo good.

[@daxtichy1]

Nice video, great example of not over thinking it! Do you also pre-stretch the reso heads?

[@julesplace9107]

Great video. THANKS!

[@martinhackx666]

Now we need a video about how do you record this video, it's sounds amazing

[@leehart8514]

Mike ... awesome tone I think that would be great tuning for funk rnb motown also.. what I play.

[@erik198]

This video is very helpful.

[@troycampbell1880]

So informative. I’ve been drumming for a long time but always just got by with tuning… never really knew what I was doing or what was actually happening… just tried to make it sound decent. But, this video actually lets me know what I’m doing and allows me to know how to get what I want from the drum. Are you using the same head on top and bottom? If there’s a difference/or same, what is the reasoning? This is also something I’ve never had a clear answer on to know how to make my decision. Thanks!

[@johnnyappleseed2277]

i likw the color of your drums i have the same color on my drums midnight blue is such a good choice color and with the right lighting it looks like the sky at night when it goes from a dark blue to a night sky and with the metal flake it pops better than any other color.

[@Daddynixterdrums]

“Now it sounds like buttered ass!” Had to replay that line and that look on Mike’s face a few times to really let it sink in

[@mikeslessons]

LOL 😂🍵🍵😂

[@BenMinal]

Killer vid as always dude 👊

[@philipmorris57]

Beautiful tuning but lets just admire Mikes Beautiful playing also, he's the man ❤

[@mikeevangelista1177]

I remember the day I finally turned my damn tom over and realized the bottom head was out of tune not the top. I spent so much time messing with the top when all along it was the bottom. I too spent so much time trying heads tuning re tuning I’d spend hours upon hours trying things out. Once I got a tunebot it was a game changer save the settings or write them down and you can tune your kit the same every single time. Thanks for the video. Any specific way you tune your kick??🥁🔥

[@shaneadler]

Thank you sir Also do you have videos for tuning the snare and kick??

[@paulcampos7991]

Great video!!!!!

[@caddydrummer]

YES! I went looking for a how to tune video in your history, Mike. Could you do one for snare too?

[@mikeslessons]

I absolutely can and shall :)

[@spaceshiplord3178]

Hi Mike. How did you mount your cymbals to your walls? I really like to look of it. I am referring to the wooden frames one sometimes can see in your videos. Did you craft these frames on your own? Thx in advance! =)

[@markthesoundguy]

Mike this is an amazing video! Such great info and can't wait to give this method a try next time I'm swapping heads. Since there's no metronome app to ask about........What type of power drill is that?! ;)

[@bdespain11]

Mike, great video! I had a question about my 1960 Gretsch drums. I recently took the head off one of my toms and the bearing edge looked like it wasn’t routered like a normal drum. Like it was only routered on the outside of the bearing edge. Is this common for 60s Gretsch round badge drums? By the way my sizes are 22”, 16” and 13” toms.

[@keziahj]

beautiful - thanks a lot!

[@toddkroh4258]

Love the tuning lesson and where did you get the Buddy Rich wall Hanging?

[@bongothewonderchimp]

Fantastic video Mike! I noticed your rack tom had an internal damper but you didn't mention whether you used it at all, and you seemed to have so little snare buzz I'm wondering if you did use it?

[@gitagrip5630]

LOGO for me goes where the drum head tells me, meaning put the head on spin it slowly ... if it binds in any single point go the other way till you can rock\slide the head in all directions and have the same amount of clearance between the shell and head retaining ring about 1/8th of and inch . Some head manufactures leave too much weld/bead protruding on the retaining ring. and or a drum might look circular but is slightly out of round.

[@nicoladamicodrummer]

thank you for the video! what references do you use for kick and snare?

[@willshaughnessy8515]

some tricks I learned over the years and by playing with Louie Bellson., Jim Chapin and of course my uncle Ed Shaughnessy... every drum is a unique beast.. so many factors incl wood, edge of shell, head, tension rods.. type of skin ( if using animal skins like I do)..there could be a dissertation on the subject..weather of course and room dynamics..sticks .. so .. with Gretsch RB .. I have a 59 starlite.. ..I think real skins works for me. if you want that quintessential Be Bop sound.. i cut them custom for each side of the drum.. and I tune , as you found out.. batter in 3 rds and reso 1/2 step up..bass included.... snare for Gretsch has always had some conjecture on resonance quality.. I use a mule top side / camel bottom side.. with a larger snare wire stand.. the drum pops..crisp and clean.. with the right amount of overtones and rings so desired in the jazz sound..

[@mathewshaw2772]

Mike..Totally love what you do..I have a request that will hopefully take you out of your comfort zone and would be very interesting for us drummers to see the outcome..Would you do a video of you playing/soloing with jazz tuning and then rock/metal(Danmar click pads in the kick) double ply heads etc..Just a thought..Keep up the awesome work.Oh by the way..I need a new kit..Your new one would look great in my practice room!

[@tylerblake3596]

Would love to see your methods for kick and snare too :)

[@stilletoe]

Hi could you tell me the tuning device you used please the make and where you purchased it ? Thank you

[@tomszafranski]

Hi Mike, Just wondering if you're using single ply heads on top and bottom.Thanks!

[@aduozokeretz2k]

Love you Mike..... Plz do a video on which kit to buy e drums or acoustic?

[@danalnajes]

The answer is simple play what works best for you.

[@Goose24]

Where was this video 25 years ago? This is great. Also, something you did but didn’t comment on is something one of my teachers taught me way back. For those wondering, when loosening the head while tuning, note that Mike went PAST where he wanted then slightly tuned back up. This helps the head stay in tune. Thanks for the video Mike.

[@mikeslessons]

James, THANK you so much for the kind words. Way to pay attention, that is definitely something my hand does without even knowing it, but it's extremely important!

[@DG-sf9ei]

Where was the internet? lol. But I know what you're saying. The younger generation is at more advantage from the start to get things right because of access to great vids and info like this.

[@aaronreeves8376]

That killer Gretsch sound!!

[@carlupthegrove262]

Useful...very useful... thanks

[@metalheavythrasher]

Please please PLEASE do a video on tuning the snare drum!

[@troyv.769]

How do I find these heads with this logo style Mike uses? I like how minimalist they are compared to the huge logo everyone is doing now.

[@johngiummarra8983]

Great video Mike! I'm sure you've done this a thousand times but could you give a rundown of your cymbal setup, especially in this demo? Cheers and keep up the awesome work!

[@mikeslessons]

Happy to! From left to right... All Meinl Byzance, 15" Foundry Reserve Hi Hats, 22" Foundry Reserve Light Ride, 21" Mike Johnston Transition Ride, 20" Extra Thin Hammered Crash.

[@johngiummarra8983]

@@mikeslessons Thank you so much Mike. I really love your playing and your overall sound is absolutely delicious!

[@bradhenderson3628]

Excellent tutorial, Mike!! Thx!! #RnR

[@danielpinkelnig]

Can you do a "how to tune your snare" lesson? Love your snare sound 🔥💥👍🏻

[@rupertbeehsley1680]

I always put tape on the hoop and a nut box so that it goes back in the same place every time I change the head. Over time the hoop “marries” to the drum.

[@deanmatters]

Great video. What is the exact model of those Aquarian heads?

[@mikekelly9851]

Your CPR is the way I "set" the head on the shell before I tune it to the pitch I'm looking for. Putting your finger in the center to cut out overtones was a great tip. Thanks! What brand of heads are those?

[@Jovanmusictime]

Are those mesh heads like silentstroke (on batter head) still tune the same way? Thanks.