Finding the Sweet Spot for Toms | Season Six, Episode 31

[@piojorojo182]

You guys are the true drum bible! Thank you for sharing so much knowledge and exploration! I always learn something new from you!

[@badge6211]

For the longest time I thought I was tuning wrong because my toms didnt sound like a mic'd up kit. These videos really helped clear that up. Thanks guys!

[@knolljo]

Whoa-oh-oh

[@Gavdrums]

Yea I remember as a teenager trying to get my export to sound vinnie Paul’s kit then one day realised, it’s sounds different on different albums, he’s using different kits each album , there are mics, desks, compression, reverb, the room sound , head choice, sticks, he’s vinnie Paul, soooo many variables. Or jimmy chamberlain or save froglets or who ever . After that I just tried to get them to sound good

[@xwasssabix2347]

I like how it eventually goes from "Damn, it sounded good in the last iteration, but this sounds really good too; Guess we haven't hit the sweet spot yet, " to "Well hell, now it's so high he's treating it like a different drum. We must have passed the sweet spot already, but it still sounds really good to me."

[@diddyhayes]

Last two weeks’s videos have been great with the tom tunings. I have learned so much about tuning because of your videos over the years. Thank you.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

We're so glad to hear that you're learning a lot! Happy drumming!

[@Michael_Stipend]

I love those higher tunings with just a touch of muffling to focus the pitch. Melody city!

[@rmauran]

I love the spirit of exploration that you guys present, and how you often cut through the dogma. Nice Work!

[@samdavparsley8266]

I greatly appreciate all the knowledge you share. I’m about 5 weeks in to my drumming journey. I am having a lot of fun. Also I am just starting in my later age in life. Your knowledge and that of other channels is truly helpful. You definitely know what you’re talking about. Sweet to have you share. Thanks man

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Welcome to the wonderful world of drumming! We’re so happy to be of some assistance. Cheers!

[@phenylmusic]

as a jazz drummer i normally tune my 12" rack even higher than the 6th tuning and i've noticed that usually so do my peers it tends to live in the range of the open snare drum here or sometimes slightly lower (by pitch it would be f to g, the 6th tuning here is e) when i use a 10" rack, i go even higher into like an elvin range (ab to a) the way i tune allows the tom to sing and doesnt choke it out despite the "high" tuning, i think due to the reso head being quite a gap lower than the batter if i really go into specifics, i tune the reso exactly a 4th below the batter- rack: f batter, c reso; floor: bb batter, f reso ive found that this tuning allows the overtones of the batter head (when a finger is right in the middle of the drum) to align with the fundamental pitch of the tom and without any muffling allows the tom to sing very beautifully and melodically

[@riddmkidd]

It would be nice to hear the tuning of the individual heads as well

[@theddrumdrummer6669]

First time watching this channel at rdavidr’s recommendation. What an absolute GOLD MINE! Gonna be watching these videos all day long!

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Welcome and enjoy!

[@lt.frankdrebin3317]

Man I love that Platinum Mist on that Pearl MMX kit. I still have my Pearl MMX kit in Black Mist that I bought new in 1998. I've since bought an MMX in Wine Red and have a couple toms in midnight Fade. Can't beat Pearl Masters Custom MMX! Love your videos.

[@piojorojo182]

Sorry I have to tell you. I’m pretty sure that’s not an MMX. That’s the thicker maple version with no reinforcement rings 🙄

[@piojorojo182]

Well I just confirmed it. It’s a maple extra. It’s on the description 😂

[@mikeevangelista1177]

Ahhh the joys of tuning lol I’ve spent years trying to master a certain sound. Had it all dialed in then played a friends kit while building a house and my drums were stored and it was one up one down and I couldn’t go back to two rack Tom’s. It changed my entire tuning up. Took me quite a while to figure it out. I messed around with it the past two days again but ended up returning to where it was but just a tad higher. I guess that’s my sweet spot 🔥🥁my biggest problem really is getting the snare to not interact with the 12 tom and vice versa

[@CrappyProducts]

Indeed my toms are pretty much tuned just before it gets into Jazz territory. Both heads same tension, more fullness of sound, tends to work the best for me

[@nanashipersonne4151]

I mostly adjust it so I like the rebound then see if I like the sound. If I want it lower higher, I change toms or of course batter head and reao head.

[@PrinceAsmodeus]

Excellent, as always.

[@DrummerRIP]

Spectacular!!! 10 out of 10! No limitations - only more options! Thank you! 🤓😁👍🏻

[@prd004.2]

Outstanding demo! 👍🏼

[@JD-qz7ub]

Brilliant advice! It just goes to show that there is no right and wrong but what actually matters is what works for you and your situation. And like he says, it's a great opportunity to learn more about your drum kit and you. Go and experiment. You won't know until you check it out. I know I will! Thank you for this (and your other videos).

[@billheck5107]

Great video…always something you can learn and apply.

[@toomdog]

Best gotchya I've been gotten by in a while!

[@monkeyboydc]

Appreciate you guys and what you do so much!!!

[@mattdeluca99]

Great video … and great conclusion! Thank you

[@ingemosh5430]

this is another great episode.

[@luigisavoia2401]

For my own drums sometimes, I find the best sound for each individual tom is not always best for the whole mix between all the drums. I try to tune to get almost zero sympathetic snare buzz. Works ok actually.

[@HenkJanDrums]

This sounds like music. Good drums should have possibilities to tune it for blues, rock , funk, latin, jazz.

[@calvinrawlins]

Have you guys seen this trend where drummers are removing rubber gaskets from the lugs on their shells? Apparently its supposed to increase resonance (especially in metal snare drums). I'd love to see your channel cover this, since your experiments are so controlled.

[@miyahollands6136]

I am a fan of tunings 3 and 4, as its a piece of a puzzle, it needs to sit well in the mix with the rest of the kit, and 3 and 4 seams to tick (check), that box. although, that's not to say I wouldn't say no to option 5, if the kit also had a 14-inch tom in between this and the floor tom. So for me, the size of the kit you're playing also has an influence on tuning - to give them their own unique voice within the mix

[@jerrygamez5723]

Thanks for the video.

[@paulrevelli]

I think the depth of the shell comes into play as well. In my experience, I find I can get a lower pitch out of my 10" x 12" than I can out of my 8" x 12". Conversely, I like the way my 8" x 12" sounds in a higher tuning than I do my 10" x 12".

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Everything comes into play. This is about the drum as a whole combined with your preferences and performance context.

[@tomasshannon6537]

question! have you guys ever done a video exploring the idea of slightly oversized snare wires that go over the circumference of the drum?

[@SaltySicilian]

I’d love to hear you tune a CC 12th and vine kit. I swear this thing is naturally so resistant to resonating. At first I loved it, but recently it’s been frustrating me that I cannot get a clean note out of my 16” floor Tom. You go from floppy to choked and never ever get a smooth fundamental like yours.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Not sure Cody ever got to check it out but we had one of those kits at D’Addario when I was there and it was a great set of drums. I believe that was a mahogany/poplar/mahogany kit. A lot of the character of those shells was in the bearing edge shape. The apex is all the way on the inside of the shell with a slope (maybe 45°?) down the re-rings and with a dramatic outer round over. This gives drums a much darker/fatter tone with a fast decay. - Ben

[@larrykingrey5647]

Have you considered the INDe spring Tom and Floor Tom mounts. Tom’s really sing. Small version of RIMS isolation. INDe BR2 really open up my classic 69 Ludwig’s.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

We’ve done some mods with their hardware (great stuff!) but want for nothing with these drums and this setup. Between the optimounts and snare basket + TnR TrueVibe iso mounts, we’ve got our bases covered.

[@larrykingrey5647]

@@SoundsLikeADrum ok bud. Love your info, delivery and attitude. Thx for replying. Hope you have a great year.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Thanks so much and we both appreciate it! -Ben

[@carlupthegrove262]

How much do you change per step? 1/4 turn, 1/2 turn?

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

That’s entirely up to you based on how much of a sonic difference you perceive.

[@eschaef71]

Sorry for the generalization, but this is in agreement with my experience that most toms are tuned too low. It was cool when there was a big diff between the 12 and 16.

[@johnseabrook1562]

So much about drum tuning is idiosyncratic and dependent on the drum and the player. My go-to point on the toms (10/12 rack+14 floor) is a half step above the open strings on a bass guitar..10 inch@ Eb/12 inch@Bb and 14 inch@F….gives a nice interval+plenty of tone…works on my kit anyway…(Tamburo)…

[@maeu59]

Is there any specific amount of lug turns you used between each tune? 1/4, 1/2 turn etc.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

No, though we were focused on a gradual progression of fundamental pitch.

[@Gavdrums]

Can I ask, when you say increments are you going up in 1/4 turns?

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Generally speaking, we recommend using increments of 1/4 turns or less. Essentially whatever the smallest repeatable amount is for you.

[@Gavdrums]

Cheers for the reply. And thanks for all the good information in general@@SoundsLikeADrum

[@brent3760]

Is that a 12x10?

[@heathrobertbowden4925]

The perfect remedy . /_\

[@jonathanreddish8590]

so...... i need to buy a new drum set?

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Huh?