How I Became a Drum Tech | Q and A

[@matthorndrums]

Thank you all for watching the videos. Glad to have finally created something that resonates with all of you! Here's to 10k more! Yes, it's a sock. EDIT: Monetization has been turned on since this video was published.

[@Lifelover00123]

Got customers coming into my drum shop saying things like "so I''ve been watching this guy on youtube thats tech-ing..." me: "Matt horn?" them : "Yeah!" Word is getting out :)

[@2010Dementor]

i love thhis content man!!

[@drumaddict89]

thank you for creating them 🤘

[@ryangryszczuk7537]

Hey Matt. Love the videos. I'm 35 play the drums. How often do you change your bottom heads ..and any tips for beginners on how to tune your kick drums ( I coulda saved my mom n dad pillows n blankets till 10 years ago thru trial n error and upgrading as you do in drums cymbals n hardware.❤ The videos keep it up! I wish i had KZbin when I started. Cheers

[@Johnnybananass-_]

I was teaching warped tour 05... that's a travelling circus for sure,.

[@DjWooPig]

With getting into the industry, you hit the mail on the head. Work at your local venue or production house. You’ll start off pushing cases and wrapping cables. The days are long, and the pay is shit, but with every show that passes you will start to move up the ranks. It might surprise you how quickly it can happen because most people aren’t dedicated or responsible enough to stick around for long. Net work with everyone you can, and that doesn’t mean showing every tech your sweet guitar or drum fills. That means having genuine conversation about something other than work. Most people that are on tour work enough. The last thing they want to hear is you ramble on about how great you are at playing drums in your dad‘s basement.

[@matthorndrums]

Mic drop!

[@rps_silver1435]

I just wrote the drummer a DM if they could need one. Did in the beginning for free and for fun. Now i get good money with it. Just try it

[@frederickbaugher8361]

Make sure that everyone you meet in the business has your contact information in their phones. I have been in this business a very long time and I have seen amazing opportunities develop for people who were available to help someone in a jam. For example, I was producing a recording session, and the guy who was recommended to play guitar sucked. I told the other session players to call every guitar player they know and if one of them answers the phone get their ass down to the studio as soon as possible. Well, someone did answer the phone and we have worked together many times over the years.

[@edvanesch178]

Matt, I am a drummer my name is Eddy, and what you do, and share with us is so cool. There's not a lot of this kind of footage around. So please can you make lots more of these videos? Musicians can learn a lot, and people love this. Take care, and bless.

[@matthorndrums]

Thank you for the kind words, Eddy! I plan on making these for a long time! Thanks for watching!

[@Curtis.720]

Mate you’re a certified legend.

[@christopherhunt3961]

I’m a guitar player but I love watching your videos. They’re awesome

[@klasu1031]

Ofc u hit 10k subscribers. Even I'm watching these entertaining and interesting videos. And I'm from Oulu, Finland.

[@ronaldvolnoff4997]

Thanks for doing this, and thanks for carrying us around like a baby in a baby bjorn so we can enjoy all the drum tech action! Looking forward to whatever is next!

[@matthorndrums]

Love my lil babies!

[@kevinwaters1197]

Matt, I have been playing drum since 1978. I have a engineering job where I sit in a cubical all day. Watching your videos makes me wonder what it would be like to be a drum tech for a touring band. Thank you for the videos and keep them coming.

[@AustinFryMedia]

16:20 is no joke. Seeing you use dampening made me realize that it’s okay (actually preferred for me) and I’m here for it. Great video, as always. Been following you and luke since TWA days. It’s refreshing to hear opinions and strategies from someone like yourself who lives and breathes drums almost every day. Keep it up man.

[@gatolibero8329]

Our music teacher taught us to dampen drums. I never knew it was some kind of taboo thing. I'd use heavy objects with tape or cloth to get the desired sound. Who knew...

[@downswingdegen]

I’ve done merch, stage managed and been a drum tech from 20 to 31 I’m 38 now. It was a dream to make it to your level. It was always for fun and be with friends. But it must be amazing to do it as a professional. Your videos makes me want to get back into it. Thank you for keeping my inner child happy.

[@carsonford4345]

Man, listening to you talk I literally hear me trying to talk myself through all the things stressing me out lol. Thank you, this was helpful for me. From a broke 25y/o drummer on his way up the ladder 🤙

[@damionchrist]

I loved touring, especially in a bus! Best days of my life. Got to see the world playing drums, amazing! Never had a legit drum tech, but had good friends that would always help. Had 3 dw kits, which are the bomb! No regrets.

[@ericp9596]

Good stuff Matt, appreciate what you do. Keep it up.

[@simontopping7169]

Honestly, i think alot of drummers really appreciate how openly and often you talk about tuning. Its one thing I’ve played with all my life and though others will say mine sound great, i always second guess and look to learn from pros like yourself. Never known one to talk about it until finding you. I have learned alot from watching you videos, as relaxing as they are!! Keep it up man!

[@matthorndrums]

Love to hear it man. I sometimes feel like my approach to tuning sounds lazy, but it's just how ive always done it. Turn knobs until it sounds good, idk. I think people make it more intense and serious than it needs to be.

[@markdoesborg7755]

Hey Mat. Cool video. Thanks for sharing. I became a crew member for Bad Medicine - Italian Bon Jovi tribute band. Before one show I just ran on stage and helped them out with carrying everything. After the show I did the same thing. Now I am a crewmember for them and aspiring manager for my guys. Show your work ethic and ask how you can help. Interaction with the artist comes eventually. Stay cool, prove yourself every day and you’ll get there! Good luck everybody!

[@remotecontrol9874]

Same deal in Hollywood. I got a job working at a major movie studio in Burbank because I knew someone and I had tech skills.

[@banobi4979]

nice! been waiting for this one

[@ThePumpshack]

Being a drummer myself , your videos have been hella helpful for tuning and maintenance! Can’t wait till the next vid 🔥👌🏼

[@andrewg4863]

Definitely like a skilled trade. You learn hands on. You fail, stress, you rage, overtime it gets simple and overtime you develop the skills, shortcuts, knowledge, logistics. And it’s repetitive like other trades.

[@La_sagne]

anything other than an sm57 would have been weird for a drum tech to use for this 😅

[@matthorndrums]

Hahaha! For real dude!

[@WhisperingTranquility.]

i have never really been interrested in drums, but i watched all your drum tech POV in one day xD

[@StaterDrums]

This was a nice change up, thanks Matt!!

[@coreygalletlydrums77]

Thanks again, appreciate it, maybe I’m on the right path as a stagehand (for now)!!!

[@samharrell1131]

Loved getting to know the guy behind the camera. Keep up the good work bro! Loved that you pulled the curtain on life of a touring musician/ tech/ person. It’s definitely not for everyone and has a way of rooting out the bad ones. Love what you do bro! Btw going to check out some early Word Alive stuff. 28:04

[@seanbdrums]

Haha, thanks for answering the question! That's a pretty bad one 😅 Luckily everyone solved it like absolute pro's

[@PeeWeeHermitGames]

Regarding the rack tom, I would recommend changing the head and getting a thicker head as well. The tension in a thicker head tends to hold the tone, response, bounce and tuning much longer than cheap thin heads, or thin heads in general Especially tuned the way he does with his drums. ALSO, the angle that the tom is at is going to capture all that wind, cool air, hot air, lights, etc. Always going to go out of tune.

[@alexmas3824]

Thank you man for the moments of positivity in dark everyday life. hello from Ukraine

[@AdamBriffa]

The sock pop shield got me going tbh, Matt! Great stuff!

[@ccoreybarkleyy]

these have become my comfort videos

[@kingatreyu]

Hey Matt, great video! if you're asking for content ideas: Since you proably know also a lot of different setup of various bands, I would like to see/learn how they setup their click&backing tracks. Maybe you could give us a tutorial how to setup Ableton (as I am starting to get into that at the moment. For example I'd like backingtracks/samples for everyone and clicktrack just for me as the drummer). Cheers big fella

[@mikeo5657]

You're taking me back 20 years to the days when I was teching.. You're absolutely correct, be a good person, be helpful, be that guy who will jump in and help but not annoyingly aggressive. Takes time, do the grind, and with time, it might happen.

[@Lifelover00123]

Chiming in on your proposal to other techs. I got into the industry by "being an accident" as well. I got asked to fill in for my drum teacher 18 years ago when he went on tour and then got pulled out into the tech-ing side (amongst other things) after because I was "professional and chill". It really does come down to being open to listening and learning as much as you can while taking opportunities when you see them and running with it. I'd also like to give you a huge hug for saying that you do not have a method for tuning. I get asked this like 10 times a day and after so many years its just second nature. Sometimes the drum kind of goes where it wants to naturally go and other times its easier to tune based on feel. Some people really want the drum to feel a certain way, other people want it to sound a certain way, certain drums when recommending heads tend to not play nice with remo and others dont play nice with evans heads etc. Its such a loooong process to break down and explain to people looking to get into it and every line of drum is different! Anyway, a HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE congrats on getting 10k. Much love from Texas

[@jcmoore5819]

I’m a guitar player but love watching these videos. It’s cool to see the backstage work that goes in to seeing the band perform. Tuning drums can be a tedious process sometimes. Seems you’ve got to work extremely quickly and efficiently. Busy work but probably super fun!

[@somersfamily]

Legend ❤ we love you

[@undeadknight01]

I'm about to see Sirens for the first time tonight in Minneapolis. Matty's a great drummer!

[@blakehunt5382]

Freaking awesome man! I appreciate the transparency bro!!! Can we all appreciate this man was doing this at warped tour for $300 a week 😳😳🤯🤯

[@tyrustucker]

As a drum tech for a backline company I can agree fully and hopefully outline for others, that tuning drums is a complete science fair. There will never be a single solution. Just test different methods and see what sounds good for each drum! Then do it all over with another method and see if that works better or not. I use drills to quickly get my tension rods to almost finger-tight. Saves a little time, but most of what I’m doing all day is tuning/changing heads. Also thanks for all these awesome videos Matt, I aspire to be at your level some day!

[@andylemm]

This is sick, thanks Matt. You're the man.

[@EthanTeaDrumming]

Knowledge is so valuable in this world. You are opening the door of drum teching to so many people. Thank you!

[@Jhan1996]

Love your vids man. I’ve been drumming since I was 3 and I love watching you setup and go to war with those toms lol keep it coming bro!

[@toddelroddrums]

My 12” DW rack tom has drove me crazy for 15 years! The only thing I’ve discovered that seems to make it easy to tune is a little tape on the bottom head

[@mickgentry8128]

Keep doing what you are doing Matt all of us drum nerds are loving it cheers.

[@Pilot_the_Dune]

It is crazy and not glamorous to think about but, getting into the business is who you know. I didn't want to believe it until luck fell upon me. I do teleproduction. Broadcast mixing, FOH, monitors. Literally came from building cabinets to audio engineering by a high school friend. I am a drummer of 30+ years so that helped. Matt us right. Networking is the key. Go hang. Be a good hang and professional. Cheers.

[@TheCrashley1772]

As far as the dampening thing... I put rings on my drums to control the sound on stage. If there needs to be more sustain or reverb, that can be added front of house.

[@matthorndrums]

It's just weird to me that some people think dampening is a bad thing. Not every band calls for John Bonham tones lol

[@darlarae516]

I have missed tangents . Love seeing you share.

[@Joshmathisdrums]

Awesome to see you doing your thing! Hopefully I get to run into you at a show sometime! Thanks for all the videos!

[@RileysDadRocks1]

Dude I just found this channel somehow while on youtube. I love this kind of shit and I wish there were more behind the scenes stuff out there about backstage stuff and everything that makes a show happen. I'm a drummer and really enjoy watching what you do. Your POV videos are very cool and fun to watch. Thanks. Keep em coming Bro✊️

[@smokin2again]

Seen a couple of your videos and just subscribed.Wife and I have seen well over a 100 bands over the last 25 years so music is our thing and enjoying your content

[@ghosttownreview1531]

Yes, a tuning tutorial from you would be great! I'm constantly tuning my students' drums and I know I could be quicker / better at it.

[@deesnuggets730]

Been watching your videos for a few months, never put it together what bands you worked with until i seen avenged and falling in reverse and recognized the drum set. Blew my mind.

[@Eeper]

Super cool to see this. Me and my band are just starting to get into this crazy world of touring and playing with bigger acts. It’s just cool to see this POV. So thanks.

[@rockabillyron]

Awesome! Enjoy and work hard

[@juanluiselzurdo]

Congrats on your 10k’s 🎉, love your channel

[@petarawlinson8776]

MATTY! Happy seeing you doing what you love and being able to make a decent living doing it 😁 However, I miss you, Luke and Tony. TWA just isn’t the same without you 😭😭

[@STICKYNAVE]

I love these videos. I've just seen you this past week in St. augustine at the amp ! Drums sounded great!

[@LukeyLukeFairchild-ey4ct]

You sir are an amazing tech and Drummer!!

[@michaelgiambruno5278]

Dude didn’t even realize it but I’m pretty sure I saw you with the word alive back a few years ago opening for Starset. Honestly blew me away how good y’all were

[@ZachMeadowsMusic]

This is great! You’re the real deal- confident, professional and humble. Keep filming, I’ll keep watching 😊

[@Bierschaum88]

Tanks for your videos. They are so chilled, so honest, so entertaining. Just like a school lesson bit in a cool way. Greetings from Germany. Stay safe

[@heartcasket6334]

I enjoy this type of video for sure! mixes it up enough to retain me on the channel! Can you make a video about picking your personal cymbal setup like sonically what do you look for in diff situations

[@johnmcconnell474]

The only time that mic pack problem ever happened to me like after sound check and everything was good was the damn Jack was just not pushed in all the way or the volume knob got turned 😢

[@Dazlerdee49]

Matt these videos are what drummers find so interesting I would love to go into tech cause I love gear and presentation and tuning love your inside keep doing the videos

[@miketurnbull7410]

Brilliant and yes, I'd like to see more of this type of content - we get to see a bit more of who you are and that's great. Thank you.

[@JamesExploresHorror]

Man it's so cool to see you doing such big things! I've followed you for awhile now with your time in The Word Alive and now seeing you doing this. It's just awesome man! You're such a killer drummer too! Wishing you nothing but more success in the future! 🙌🤘🔥

[@wiktorselke4706]

imo it would be cool if you would make a video about what is your pelican case, tools that you use or some cool things that help being drum tech. amazing video as always 🤘

[@tyburham5430]

Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions. Very much enjoy your videos.

[@MrMTG21]

Proud of you man! I remember getting off work and going to the bar behind the pizza place we worked at when you got your first shot. Hope you’re doing well and lets grab a beer sometime soon when you’re in Arizona!

[@matthorndrums]

Copper Basin?

[@souldrummer818]

Mate your onto something here, interesting what you say about the tuning and to just be a good bloke yes so true, I’ve been round all the big players and bands here in Australia 🇦🇺 the guys that made it are cool some of the ones coming up through the ranks are cocky.

[@gekyumes_dad]

please do a video on the top ten traits of a punisher

[@RobertEMuir]

DW drums are usually note tuned. That's why a lot of drummers have a difficult time tuning them.

[@coopfam82]

3 minutes in.. Man this is awesome!

[@JoeJohnSoundsandVisuals]

Hey Matt, love the video. It really shed some light on aspects I was interested in. I know alot of questions were some of the major ones, and also for some more beginning drummers. I was wondering if you would be open to a video down the road that breaks down some finer details in ways for more experienced drummers such as myself. Ive been playing for 18 years now, scored some endorsments, played in tech death, beatdown, thrash bands, played with the Word Alive in my old band in CO Springs. although I can't remember if it was Luke drumming haha anywho, IM trying to breakout more, so just seeing if theres any deeper advice for more experienced drummers. im just kind of spitballing, and this randomly occurred to me as this video ended. much love from CO, keep it coming.

[@oldmanuserphan]

My biggest learning experience here is hearing about detuning the snare at the console. Something I've never thought of as a drummer. I've heard of it used in studio, just not live. I'm not entirely sure whether I'm ok with that, but I think I might be.

[@oldmanuserphan]

And yes, protect your ears. After years of small time gigging I can tune a guitar using my tinnitus' pitch as my reference note. It's always there. Always. (edit, I ring at a high A flat)

[@richardpearce4079]

Nice vids mate. Enjoy wat hing them. I started to learn at the age of 42 but then Covid hit and everything closed down. It slipped by and I never started up again. Big mistake.

[@GP-Music.]

Yep, it's not what you know. It's who you know. That opens doors! Have to go out and network and be a hardworking team player. Congrats on everything Matt! Enjoy the holiday season. I hear its kicking off again Jan 12th-13th. Hope to see ya with Luke in January, so I can holler at you and Chris obnoxiously from the floor lol. Much love brotha!

[@mittiecollins1510]

Awesome video, Matt! I always 'wanted to be in a rock n role band'! I have always loved any kind of drums, and I am learning so much and getting to see a bit of what it would have been like!

[@mittiecollins1510]

Silly auto correct! Meant roll!

[@tylerdrums_eth]

Crushing it! Stoked to have met yah at the Little Rock show on the last tour!

[@matekiske]

bro i love this guy as a drummer !!!! KEEEEEEP ROCKIN BUDDY !

[@aaronpulido7049]

Awesome bro! Love your videos man! Keep up the great work looking forward for the next show 👍

[@JRSully89]

Just use the Evans black chrome. Very little tuning needed, super deep, and very durable.

[@stevolene]

Good job editing this video, still have no idea who you work for but it’s enjoyable to watch

[@ryandoyle221]

Very informative man. Looking forward to more. Loved the sign off at the end. “Go learn somethin bout the drums, bye” 😂

[@hamjam4]

Maybe the DW kit is tough to tune because of the Tru Tension tension rods? The thread pitch is finer, so you have to turn the rod more to get the same result as other drums.

[@lars2rp]

Most cities have a backline rental company, so a potential way in could be to just give them a call asking to maybe freelance for them (given that you already have at least some knowledge regarding drums or guitars or amps...) if you can hang on to this type of freelance work (if you do a good job and are a good hang) you will definately meet people and get opportunitites. Making it a sustainable source of income can in almost all cases only come through time and experience.

[@str1897]

Your videos are gems ! I follow you since Life Cycle and I love to see you grow ! Hope we get more Q&A !

[@zaneking8239]

Awesome man! Great video! Keep doing what you’re doing! We appreciate you!

[@barryyoung9500]

I toured with Bobby Rock as a tech and driver/ everything dude 😆 I worked at a music store with alot of pros that came in, and just asked him, and he flew me to Hollywood! So just ask! Very nicely !

[@emppurova666]

Great clip as always!

[@wallacehardiniii9038]

Love this Q&A!

[@PeterBillyDrums]

keep dong it matt! i loved all the content you make. cheers from indonesia! God bless you, matt!

[@junreylemitares4300]

I respect you dude your amazing drummer.

[@Bigdogfindley]

LOVE your videos bro! You seem like a super chill dude. I just finished watching the Portland video. I really wanted to go to that show, but couldn't make it. Back when I was playing, I absolutely HATED tuning my drums, so I would have my buddy (who was an AMAZING drummer) come over and tune them for me. I would do my own snare, but I could never get that ring out of my toms. Doing what you do would stress me out I think. I did FOH and some lighting for a few gigs for friends bands and that never bothered me though. I love doing FOH, but just don't get to do it any more unfortunately.

[@adamminix4598]

Ok this is cool as fuck, I’m glad I found your videos. It’s awesome getting a back stage look at what goes on. As far as that headphone hiccup, shit happens man! I’m sure nobody in the crowd even noticed. I was at So What Festival in 2022 and the headset didn’t work, or quit working (I can’t remember), for Clay Aeschlemon during Polyphia’s set. So his drum tech started off by tapping on his leg with his hand as the metronome, then eventually grabbed a drum stick and used that to tap him with. I had no clue until a few weeks later when I saw an article on it, went back and looked at some of the pics I took and could see him plain as day lol.

[@matthorndrums]

Haha this happened to Luke and I back in the day when he was playing with TWA on warped. I didn't have a headset though, and he was hardwired. I had to loo at the blinking light on his mixer match the click so I could tap on his back. Glad you like the videos man!

[@thousandwattflowerpot5419]

Great Video Matt, learned a lot.

[@kyleliftsdrums4669]

Love your vids dude, they chill me out - straight up drummer ASMR for the most part. Great for winding down after my own shows - keep it up!

[@EP1C_HD]

My brother is starting a band I’m the only person (besides himself) to tune and adjust his guitars because he taught me fingers crossed my boy goes on tour 😂 find ur music friend and NEVER LET EM GO!

[@bradysolis8101]

I’ll tell ya why it’s hard to tune that DW kit. It’s those damn tru tuning lugs !!

[@jesse-gz1ri]

It's about being in the right place at the right time,as I'm shy and antisocial I'll never make a decent living even after over four decades of playing drums professionally. It's more luck than talent or knowledge.

[@sketchyreacharound5150]

What happens if you the drum tech gets sick or needs to take a sudden absence of leave for the night or a couple of shows? What does the band do next for a temporary replacement?

[@brianhorn7938]

Your name is Matt Horn. My name is Brian Horn. You're a drum tech. I'm a drum tech (a different sort of drum tech lol) I work with marching percussion, the snare drums specifically. When you're part of a perc staff for a drum corps and you work directly with a section, your title on staff is a "tech" so I would be considered a "snare tech." Our group is the Hawthorne Caballeros if you're ever curious to check it out (we're currently the 2x drum champs of our circuit!) Love to find a fellow Horn Drummer out in the wild! This is a first! Haha Also this video is awesome, there's a ton of great info here! Have a good one homie 👍🤘

[@bearmehenceofficial24]

Awesome stuff bro! Congratulations on 10k I Love the videos! I’m excited to continue watching, following and supporting you man!🤘😎