The Confusion that Makes Snare Tuning Difficult | Season Six, Episode 18

There’s a major roadblock that seems to be the root cause of so much struggle with snare drum tuning. While each of the constituent elements may seem obvious, their roles and how they interact with each other is largely misunderstand, making it difficult for so many drummers to produce a sound that they’re happy with. We’ll break down the function of each of these elements, demoing how they work and how they relate so you can feel confident in the decisions you make when it comes to tuning.
PATREON:
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PRODUCTION PARTNERS:
GIK Acoustics (sonic treatment): sladl.ink/GIK
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Evans Drumheads: sladl.ink/EvansDrumheads
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Signal chain:
Mics - Focusrite Clarett 8Pre USB- Mac Studio w/Pro Tools 2022.5
Recorded at 48kHz / 24bit
Microphone: Single AKG C314 sladl.ink/C314Pair
Acoustic Treatment:
GIK 242 Acoustic Panels: sladl.ink/GIK242
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GIK Tri-Trap Corner Bass Trap: sladl.ink/GIKTriTrap
Drums:
Pearl Masters Maple Custom Extra w/70’s Ludwig LM400 Supraphonic
Cymbals:
22” Jesse Simpson clone of old Zildjian A, 15" Zildjian Kerope Hihats
Drumheads:
Snare: Evans G12 coated / Snare Side 300
Snare Wires: PureSound Custom Pro Steel 20-strand
Toms: N/A
Kick Drum: Evans UV EQ4/ EQ3 Coated White Reso
Hosted by: Cody Rahn
Production & Consulting: Ben O'Brien Smith @ Cadence Independent Media
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[@jacksonmiller3016]

Can we put all this science aside and appreciate that Cody is straight up a world class drummer? Absolutely awesome grooves this episode.

[@Claes_Isacson]

Agreed!

[@TsunamiBeefPies]

Cody's grooves are one of my favorite things about SLAD videos. He never seems to run out of them!

[@johnreardon4944]

I liked his 3/4 groove. Simple, yet so cool.

[@DrMackSplackem]

No and yes, respectively.

[@dustyclamper56]

Absolutely 👍🏻

[@jacksonmiller3016]

I love how deep you guys get with your topics. So many years of videos and not single one feels like a “filler episode” or just a trendy topic you want clicks on. You guys have saved me time, money, and frustration and I can really dial in my own sound.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Thank you so much! This is PRECISELY what we’ve aimed to do throughout the series.

[@user-nv2gw1tt5o]

Well….Jackson saved me from posting - he said it all. Love this channel!

[@jeffreywegener8841]

Your site is the most intelligent I have come across with regards to drum tuning. I’ve played for 50 years & had to deal with all sorts of myths & misunderstandings about sounds . It was particularly bad in the 80 s . When engineers muffled the crap out of everything as it was a quick fix . Thanks for sharing the science. You play great . Beautiful press rolls etc . Thanks .

[@jeffreywegener8841]

Your site is the most intelligent I have come across with regards to drum tuning. I’ve played for 50 years & had to deal with all sorts of myths & misunderstandings about sounds . It was particularly bad in the 80 s . When engineers muffled the crap out of everything as it was a quick fix . Thanks for sharing the science.

[@christianholst5617]

Not enough people talk about snare wire tension. It's these fine details that make a huge difference. Thanks and more please!

[@uniiin]

Cody's smile at 7:43 is just the best reaction to adding the snare wires. I love it. Thanks guys.

[@Mieczu_DRUMS]

Its just insane that people had to wait all those years for channel like this! The amount of information we can find on this channel is just mind blowing. Its hard to believe that nobody before you guys didn't think of that... cheers and keep the good work 🫡

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Thanks so much for the kind words. We don’t claim ownership over any of this information or claim to have ‘discovered’ any of this but we’ve done our best to build a library of resources to help inspire, inform, and motivate drummers to put in the work achieve a similar degree of facility with sonic control alongside their performance skills.

[@keithallen1102]

Played a Ludwig supraphonic for 40 years. This video "fast forwards" that experience, years of taking heads & wires off, listening, trying different heads, tunings wires, thanks!

[@alsdrumhang]

In a long string of excellent videos, this one stands out. Great content, very informative and as always superlative playing from Mr. Cody. Cheers guys!

[@TsunamiBeefPies]

Thanks. Once again, you guys have provided a thoughtful approach to the mechanics of making a snare drum sound. More killer grooves from Cody, too. I love when you use that press-roll for your backbeat! I hope you two never run out of ideas for this channel!

[@lewybody]

Always appreciate your attention to detail, and not shying away from all the complexities and intricacies that should be considered, and while constantly reinforcing that no rules should be applied without understanding the implications, and to question those "rules" for greater scope and range of possibilities that are almost always missed otherwise. Great advice! Thank you.

[@chadhiggins9944]

I love love love this video! What a great teacher. Great player too. This whole thing was an A+

[@ayoungethan]

I know this vid wasn't a tutorial but in some ways it seems like a greatest hits summary of the principles you discuss in previous snare tuning videos. Thanks to you I am getting not only great sounds out of my snares, but also a great range of sounds and a growing ability to troubleshoot when something sounds off. Speaking of which, have you guys done a troubleshooting video yet? Would be awesome to go through the most common tuning/setup mistakes and the sounds/symptoms they produce.

[@therwbrman]

I think this might be THE most useful/ helpful video you’ve done so far (and I’ve seen A LOT of them!) Thanks so much for this one! 🙏🏻

[@maegara1430]

I just discovered this channel and I love how informative and pedagogic it is, But Also I have to say I really appreciate how 'relaxed' this video sounds. Be it your voice placement or the overall sound recording quality, this is just gentle to my ears, thanks guys

[@Boyitellyouhwhat]

Lol

[@Ravage4]

Your channel is just so educational, it’s amazing 👌🏻

[@Damo_Drummer]

This is a fantastic video. Educational with a grounded, common-sense approach and delivery. Well done!

[@amethystine17]

This channel has done way more than any other to open my mind about tuning and take it out of the dark arts; thanks.

[@Claes_Isacson]

Great vid as always! Also; Thanks for exposing that sweet spot myth! I agree 100%! 🥁👏 Have a good week!

[@tommckeown6970]

In your tuning example, the top head is tuned to roughly a C and the snare side is right around a G above. So, they are tuned in a 5th. Just for the nerds like me who go for specific pitches. Either way, it sounds good.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Hmmm, did we demonstrate the pitch of the snare side head in this episode? The overall pitch went up a fourth when we added the snare reso but we didn't check for the specific pitch for the reso on its own.

[@tmaddrummer]

Now I get it.... Two heads are better than one! Thanks and Blessings Cody!

[@jeffreywegener8841]

Possibly the best I’ve seen on snare tuning . The analogy is technique- about foundation . Then possibilities. I still notice comments about the “ right way “ . You have very articulated brilliantly the interconnection between the parts - thus 🔥 🙏

[@DyneDrumming]

This was soooo helpful. It seems that every video says to just crank the bottom head, but like mentioned I get so much resonance. Thanks!

[@DrummerRIP]

Awesome! Stellar build up approach & examples! Thank you! 10 out of 10!

[@marshpw]

This is honetly a great video for any level of drummer out there. You definitely touched on some topics that were more nuanced but should be understood/talked about more. As well as really laying out all the main details very clearly and pleasantly. Thanks!

[@ChrisTingley-pw9ms]

I was a pretty simple guy. Use the JAW tuning method (just above wrinkle), Evan’s dry heads, and in the studio a moon gel (which wasn’t a moon gel, it was a 25 cent stickey hand from a vending machine). Otherwise, it’s all just rim shots. But also, videos like this didn’t exist in my day and I wish they did.

[@SONORSQ2guy]

Great job. I like the fact that you used the most versatile snare drum ever made. 👍🤟

[@alexgolovchenko3791]

Hey, great video Dude. Very in depth breakdown. I, myself, am always experimenting with my snare. I built it myself out of a spare 14 inch tom I had. I'd like to introduce another parameter, temperature and humidity. When I take my kit out to do small gigs I find each venue is different and the snare must be adjusted to accommodate the room. The size and shape of the room, height of the stage, if any and the temperature/humidity all play a roll. Thank you for the video, super cool. Regards, Alex G. 😎

[@dalekay9ine]

Maybe this is very wishful thinking (albeit with good hearted intent) but I wish every drummer could see and hear this video and truly understand and appreciate what you're saying towards the end about boxing yourself in and not knowing the near limitless possibilities of every drum they own as opposed to using prescriptions and thinking "I HAVE TO HAVE an 8 lug maple drum" or ______ whatever it may be. Thanks again guys!

[@alexis.jacobo.drums14]

Thanks for sharing, amazing video and information! Greetings from Argentina

[@moodifi]

I can't believe that you're giving this well researched and detailed information simply for free in a well produced hq video. I feel like having lectures in drumming - so much love for your work ♥

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Neither can we 😅 If you feel like supporting our efforts, please consider joining our Patreon and you’ll get access to even MORE material.

[@moodifi]

I was kind of begging for that answer, I suppose haha. I am considering it and will probably do it in the near future :>@@SoundsLikeADrum

[@ziccuj]

Great video again, thank you so much!

[@powlobo.m.b.]

Probably best video explaining a snare!!! Thanks !

[@brent3760]

Great beats today!!!

[@benkitay9015]

Super helpful info. Thank you

[@PabloJ1968]

Very good, as always.

[@TheGuyFromWI]

I like to think I am moderately informed about drum sound, but I gotta say it never crossed my mind that snare wires are muffling or that they should be tensioned in conjunction with the reso head. Noooooicee!

[@ericessenberg3591]

Soooo, we’re back to endlessly fussing. I love your videos. Thanks for all you do !!😀

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

We prefer to see it as experimenting but sure! Thanks for the kind words.

[@Khempejjer]

Great video!

[@GoranRista]

That was wonderful!

[@chinmeysway]

very articulate - great explanation thank you

[@bshubo]

great video thanks! - a big issue for me is the sympathetic vibration from the tom

[@Dannys.channel]

I love the idea and truth about tuning up or down with snare side heads And wires.

[@chewygad7899]

Great video. Love to see this guy really give it the beans

[@John_Thompson]

I've had my Supraphonic 400 since 1978 or 79. It came with a second hand Ludwig Jazz kit, guessing mid 60's. I never ever learned what you're teaching here. Just took stabs at it, not a methodic approach, with no understanding of the elements and how they interact. This is great. My older son used it in the 2000's. It's down cellar. I will use your video here to set it up. Looking forward to it. It has been used a lot.

[@DrumFaceP]

You guys are the best ❤

[@fredrikh3547]

Nice video, thanks!

[@dustyclamper56]

Good stuff 👍🏻

[@johnedwardkeoniambrose1151]

Wow you really make it easier to see .. visually you know? ..you're a guy who gets me.. I always compare something to a mechanical way- comparison? Lol, we'd get along famously..you don't jump from the last chapter of a novel to anywhere inbetween to explain..like the 1st chapter, 5th 3rd and so crazy so-on lol ..I know you get it🤗👍🤘 my wife does it constantly!! It's very frustrating..it's like telling someone about a movie, but all over the place lol ..don't mind knowing the end .just not tossed into a blender is all😂 Thanks ever so much !!🤗 I just may tune it to your snare..I like it ..thanks again, keoni🥁

[@llRoBoBinHoll]

Hi guys, would you consider doing a video about tuning and (maybe even drum selection) for unamplified gigs/jam sessions? Maybe you got some insights on what sounds good for the drummer vs how it actually sounds in the room

[@tendingtropic7778]

thanks; so its way more complicated than I thought haha ;-). Very insightful. What would you recommend for a 'funky drummer' tight snare sound? (in terms of tension of the batter, snare side heads, and the wires)?

[@norbertrenner9364]

if a snare drum has only one sweet spot or not is one thing ,the way cody can get angry about this subject is another !

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Ha! Just to clarify- Cody is telegraphing the frustrated sentiment that we both share for so much of the nonsense we see people spreading out of ignorance when it comes to drum sounds and tuning capabilities.

[@norbertrenner9364]

don't worry guys,what you do on your chanel is by far the best in the w.w.w.......but the idear,that a drum has a sweet spot,where every part of a drum is is working together in the best way possible is not so far away,an edeal resonance or whatever,which not means,that other tunings can't sound good.Maybe like the moon,the sun and the earth,where the moon has too 'sweet spots',once when we have a full moon and once the opposit,but all in between is often pretty charming too,often even more pleasing than a full moon. Thanks for what you do,it's allways inspiring and fun to look at at the same time....

[@shanephillips4417]

didn't start watching until recently, but this channel is soooo good. Fr, this is just stuff that I would want to experiment with if I had the money to do it

[@nickdenardo6479]

one of the things i like most about this channel is that a lot of the topics they cover don't involve any money. they're big advocates of experimenting with what you have available. of finding what the instruments you already own are capable of and tuning them to your needs. time, on the other hand, is a different thing. thanks for covering these things in depth for those of us that don't have the time to do it all

[@LaurentOliveri]

Man I luuuuuuuuuve that 22 ride !

[@AaronTremblay]

What are your thoughts on the G12 for snare batters? I’ve thought about trying one, but I do love my power center reverse dots for snares

[@hazardeur]

love the vid. what would have been even better is to hear the different sounds it makes directly cut next to each other. i mean, ,i can search for the sounds myself but it's always best to hear it without interruption, back to back.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Other than the side-by-side of the batter and batter + reso that we included, we didn't believe that this was at all important because it's not about comparing the sounds bot rather demonstrating steps along the way. Maybe we'll compile them into a KZbin short and share that later though. Thanks for the feedback!

[@hazardeur]

no worries. that would be a great idea! @@SoundsLikeADrum

[@politicallyerect6086]

What’s your feelings on die cast hoops vs standard, in regards to maintaining different tunings/tensions?

[@NotMyWar]

You played a beat when you the resonant head on, was it November Hotel?

[@christopherlee4648]

Any tips on how to get rid of the snare wire ringing + whining with the shell after the wires clap the bottom head after a big rimshot? (with no dampening)

[@wiouxev]

Just for a good reference point - what kind of tuning were you rocking when everything was put together? How tight for batter and reso and how tight were the wires? I understand this is hard to convey, but some kind of ballpark/reference would be helpful!

[@DG-sf9ei]

1st is tuning evenly and correctly from top to bottom. 2nd is the drumhead and how its correctly matched with type of drum. 3rd - is the type of drum rim- basically the heavier and more genuine metal rim will make the drum sound better and hold its tune more. 4th - is the number of lugs, usually 10lugs are much better than 8 because more lugs means more consistent contact of drum head to drum shell and also more consistent tuning for longer period of time. 5 - type of snare wires being used, basically brass wires with at least 12 strands or more sound the best. And FINALLY - the drum shell and what brand drum company tag that is attached to the drum shell has literally nothing to do with anything......other than the fact that the big name drum company engineers and marketing teams are smart enough to realize the 5 components I just listed are most important to a snare drum sounding like an 8 hundred dollar drum, when only about a hundred dollar bill in 5 components that I listed separate that 8 hundred dollar drum from your cheap drum. I know this because I've owned both over the decades, and my last snare drum is the last snare drum I'll ever buy - a cheaply priced knockoff 10 lug snare drum for $40 at a pawn shop with all the upgraded 5 components mentioned......and a blind eye with a composer's ear couldn't differentiate it from a Ludwig Supraphonic.

[@andresaguilar327]

Ludwig's Supraphonic LM400 is the drummer's snare. No better snare to explain these concepts than this one!

[@bonzoleum]

Brother- mic-wise 11:57 how do you get your voice like this? It sounds like you have an invisible SM7b right in front of your face.

[@markmitchell4451]

What is the effect of loosening the wires and the reso head? Guess I could just try it just thought maybe it’s been done already… great channel guys!

[@weeschwee]

Well if you only loosen the reso head the wires will sit tighter against the head because the hoop is now raised a bit more. So you might want to loosen the wires as well. And it's the opposite if you tighten the head. It will pull the hoop closer to the shell so you might want to tighten the wires a bit to keep the same tension. Soundwise I'm not sure what will happen. If you only loosen the head I imagine the snare wires might be too tight and start choking the drum.

[@johnmatthews3226]

Hearing the tone of the snare jump up essentially a perfect 4th with the addition of the reso head, and without changing the tension on the batter head was eye opening. Or ear opening, i suppose

[@riddmkidd]

How would you consider the top head tuning for this drum: Loose, medium, tight? Do you remember how many turna past finger tight it took to get you there?

[@Dannys.channel]

Medium. That's two and a quarter turns.

[@pour-g8677]

With out a nylon washer i just usually do from finger tighten 2 FULL turns or 2 1/2 turn on snareside then make sure all same pitch or sound then batter side you dont really need to equally tighten them so tighten it to liking then ur good.. snare is the easiest to tune for me

[@ronaldgenendlis6423]

No one I ever knew growing up ever talked about this subject nor taught by teachers as well. Good stuff oh yeah put the Ludwig muffler back in. Haha

[@curtishill109]

What do you mean, when you say compression and equalization?

[@rumpelpumpel7687]

could you make a video on how to tune a snare that only has 8 screws on the rim? Im a drummer, but im not a professional and i really cant afford those pro drummer snares :D mine is a basic that came with the sonor kit ^^ and it's much harder to tune than those "12 screws on each tension hoop"-snares that i know from school practice ^^ some advice would be appreciated

[@katielowen]

It would be awesome to see some text on screen showing the hertz / note that you tune a top or bottom head in some of your videos. I think that would’ve help a TON in some of your previous snare tuning vids!

[@ayoungethan]

He tuned to feel, not pitch

[@mqpiffle100]

use those earballs

[@ROCKUMENTAL1]

Hi there.. the first bit of the video where you compare how drum sounds without reso amd with reso.. You missed detail in that you did not indicate what tension you set the reso at?.. can I assume you tuned it same as the batter?

[@ROCKUMENTAL1]

FYI Great video.. was just missing that initial reference point for comparison purpose.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Thanks for the kind words. We have no idea what the tension or pitch was. That wasn’t the point here. This isn’t about a recipe or evening a tuning methodology but rather a demonstration of how the constituent parts perform and influence each other.

[@kevindohn6776]

Is there much of a difference between metal snare drums of different brands? I've seen a lot of youtube videos lately featuring Ludwig, I've never owned one, I have 3 metal snares, a Pearl sensitone, a Yamaha, and an old Premier. I want a Ludwig, but they seem to be quite expensive even second hand ones, and I'm wondering if there's a big difference in the sound of one, compared to the drums I have.

[@mr.145]

Any metal drum with a spun in one piece shell will have something extra imop. I own 5 Ludwigs,and an old Tama Royalstar spun steel too( which is great) I have a few folded and welded snares too and they have 20% less mojo, or presence if you like.The best analogy is ,if you had a big church bell and cut it with a grinder 5mm wide from top to bottom, then had it welded up again, then compared it with an uncut one,then thats the difference.My fave toned 3 drums out of about 40 ive used as a pro in various settings.are 14" ×6.5" Ludwig hammered Bronze,Pork Pie Usa made 13"×7" Maple, and if recording , a Alu Ludwig Supra ,as for some reason, microphones love them , no doubt.

[@Darkurge666]

I have a Ludwig Black Beauty, 14x5.5" I believe it measures. I'm struggling to get a sound I like from it. I want to avoid muffling, and I rather use the correct batter head to get a sound I like than adding a bunch of moon gel or the like. But I've tried a lot of heads, and I can't really make it work. Could it be that I simply don't like this snare, even though so many others seem to rise it to the sky? Or am I simply doing something wrong? I find the Supraphonic much easier to get good sound and feel from. More puch to the sound and more controlled overtones. And I want overtones, I like the complexity and "open" sound, but my Pearl Dennis Chambers Signature snare seems to give me this sound much more easily. Any ideas what I could be doing wrong? I feel like I've tried all methods and recepies I could find. I really want to like this snare. So what is it I am missing?

[@michaelverhey2781]

Maybe you just don’t like the sound of brass snare drums?

[@TRC_PNW]

Maybe Supraphonic is your expectation? It’s my favorite drum of all time, and everything else…just isn’t it. I too have a Black Beauty that I’ve never loved and I attribute it to well, it isn’t the Supraphonic. I have a Gretsch solid steel that I do love, especially in the studio, but it’s a whole other animal, whereas the BB and Supra are like two cousins, but one of the cousins isn’t the cousin I’m already married to. 😂

[@jc3drums916]

It's impossible to diagnose your snare over the Internet, especially without knowing your tuning process and what the snare sounds like, so all I can suggest is to be very methodical and deal with one variable at a time, like this video did. Tune the top head to approximately where you think you'll like it (in terms of feels as much as sound), then leave it alone as you tune the reso side, checking what the snare sounds like at every 1/8 turn, until you find what sounds best. All of this assumes there's nothing wrong with your snare wires. So before you start, check to make sure none of the wires are stretched, and that the wires are attached correctly - the two outer wires should have equal tension. If one side is sitting tighter against the reso than the other, that can kill the sound of any snare drum. If there's nothing wrong with the wires, and you can't get a good sound using the above method, then perhaps the drum just isn't for you.

[@ayuu.]

Perhaps you just doesn't like its sound signature. I have a Ludwig Black Beauty 14x6.5 and I love it To add, you may wanna explore what was shown, use the ruler method for tuning or using the tuning techniques in this channel. I spent many hours exploring what works best for my black beauty to my sound preferences

[@waynefaucheaux8003]

Try an Evans (small or large) red EQ pod on the shell/different shell positionings

[@evantench6651]

How long did it take to get back in the pocket after the haircut? Seems like you got it worked out.

[@mineralt]

your touch is 100x lighter than mine...every time i hear you play I feel like I am Bam-Bam LOL

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

It all depends on the situation, right? In this small studio, swinging for the fences is extreme overkill, especially if there isn’t a musical context that demands it. When it’s time to bash, we’ll be bash! But you can choose when to do what.

[@derfab.]

...what about using a CS (black dot) as the batter head?

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

All of the topics covered in this episode remain regardless of the choice in heads (assuming they're not mesh or some weird hybrid).

[@pling5320]

In other words: don’t be afraid to experiment with your (snare) tuning 💪🏻

[@DrMackSplackem]

Interesting that the pitch went up a perfect fourth with the reso head added.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Yep! Keep in mind that this interval could have been a major third or a perfect fifth (or plenty of other intervals) depending on the pitch of the snare side.

[@mr.145]

Perfect 4th was the Joe Morello choice of snare tuning...First 2 notes of " Here comes the Bride" if i remember correct.?

[@DrMackSplackem]

@@mr.145 That's it. Same first 2 notes in the opening melody of Stravinsky's Petrushka, BTW.

[@Joethedrummer]

👍

[@masoncb01]

Im confused, if taking the reso heads off of toms kills the sustain then why would no snare side head result in more sustain? ~2:30

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Depth of the drum and the amount of mass (significantly less than the average tom reso).

[@brodaciousmax8025]

I spent like 20 mins on wire tension alone 1 day. If nothing chk it out the range is cool and ya might find a good sound.

[@user-nv2gw1tt5o]

Fellow drummers - what’s your favorite snare? The ultimate badass snare which when tuned correctly can cut through an entire symphony is David Garibaldis Yamaha Signature Snare. However, my best all around snare is Benny Grebs Brass 2.0. There is nothing that drum can’t be tuned for. - covers every genre! With that said, I have yet to own a Ludwig Supraphonic.

[@drummerboyharm3078]

My workhorse snare in a Tama signature SC 14X5. Never let me down.

[@user-nv2gw1tt5o]

@@drummerboyharm3078 I’ve never tried Tama products. Always used Yamaha, but now it’s Sonor SQ2 and DW Collectors

[@drummerboyharm3078]

@@user-nv2gw1tt5o good taste. Especially the Sonor!

[@motorman111jld]

I prefer the wet snare sound for the tyof muswe play at our church.

[@timekeep3r]

Nice vid, I expected more & not trying to be a prick but I'm sure that snare can sound a bit better & snappier .

[@vorkap]

Main failure in 70 percent of bad snare tuning cases is simply - not tuning the reso head high enough

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

To the contrary- we’ve found that the vast majority involve a snare side that’s cranked tabletop right because someone told them “that’s always how you’re supposed to do it.”

[@kevindohn6776]

The snare side skin needs to be checked quite often, I've noticed it loosens up every few weeks, and the drum doesn't sound as good, needs to be tightened up a bit every once in a while

[@manuelruiz9189]

This is precisely why when I have to use someone else's kit, I always bring my own snare+cymbals. Having to share a kit is worse than using someone else's toothbrush. I'm sure some of you can recall horror stories.

[@TheRoomboom]

there is no airflow in acoustics (no mass transfer)

[@reddieseled]

I wouldn’t tune the snare reso any tighter than a G4. The batter side tune to suit

[@bowiemusic]

OK, so he's putting the the snare head on (another component of the sound) after demonstrating the sound of just the batter head. But he hasn't said anything about truing the batter head which should be done 1st. That would certainly be an important thing to mention. Still a great video with some important points

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Thanks for the comment! Just to clarify, this wasn’t a “how to tune” guide but rather a piece to highlight often misunderstood aspects of how a snare drum functions and the roles of each of the elements.

[@evanlawrence5815]

Sir, what are those hi hats. Give me them.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Ha! They're 15" Keropes. For future reference, we list all the gear in the description of the videos.

[@Dannys.channel]

I dunno. I don't agree. I think people who are confused have JUST started to try tuning their own drums and haven't tuned them and played with them enough to be comfortable with their snare. After I spent a lot of time trying to get a studio sound in the end 1 comment made me forget and put it aside forever and only care about what it sounds like LIVE infront of people and whoever is listening through a live stream has to make due with whatever plug-ins we get with triggers to get a fake sound.

[@blackl1steddrums]

What a cool s-nare-io

[@johnreardon4944]

Excellent video yet again! I noticed one thing about Cody's backsticking. (Not a criticism. Just my statement here.) When doing back sticking, the butt end of the stick should hit the rim. And it should also hit at center between two lugs. Then slide the stick back and forth until you hear the sweet spot. I see so many drummers at my venue not doing those things. When they're using my house snare, I can hear the differences easily. When I play using my technique, I get compliments from other drummers. It's a brass snare with die cast hoops, which is great for it, but that technique is universal on any drum. Just last Sunday I played another venue's snare drum that wasn't tuned well at all. In a video my friend took, the cross sticking sound came out fairly decent. While not directly the topic of this episode, I think some here might want to also try this back sticking technique while testing each of the steps presented here. I hope someone finds this nuance useful. Thanks!

[@josephchambers3394]

Why does my snare drum sound more like a “splat” on an accent and less like the nice buzzing sound you are getting?

[@thorineichenschild4231]

I'd check my wires first. See if they're flat against the head, tensioned evenly and with even spacing from the shell on both sides. Then perhaps see if the bottom head is a little too loose for the sound that you want

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Simply put, the ratios of tension that you’re using aren’t aligning with the sound you’re looking to produce. If you make adjustments as referenced in this episode, you’ll be much closer to the sound you desire.

[@BeatsAndMeats]

Tighten your snare side head. If you have a Drum Dial, using a Remo Hazy Ambassador, get to 81 on all 4 snare bed lugs, and 83 on the rest of the lugs. If you have a Tunebot, get all the lugs to 430hz or 440hz. If you have none of these, its easier to start with a pretty cranked batter and reso, and then work backwards. Start loosening the batter head til its where you like, then back off the reso head it its acting wild. If it gives you a weird ringing/resonance at the end of the note, loosen just the 4 snare bed lugs a little bit. Then hit the batter head like you mean it. OR... you could just take it to Guitar Center and pay the drum guy $20 to tune your snare for you.

[@geloortega953]

Was he playing with broken sticks???

[@carchocolate93]

They look like the Carter Mclean sticks, the tip does look a bit like a broken stick

[@johannjohann6523]

I don't think tuning a snare drum is "confusing". You want the bottom (reso) head to be "tight" so the snare Beads can do their job sounding "crisp and articulate". And the top side of the snare to your liking again as long as the "notes" that are played are defined nicely. I generally like a medium tuning, as high tuning generally is annoying to most people's ears. You must be careful when dealing with higher frequencies - don't overdo them, as they can give a listener (your audience) "ear fatigue". Take the time to experiment with your snare. I don't think most drummers take the time to become intimate with their drums. Let the drums "speak" to you, trust your ears and go with what your gut tells you. And ask other people too once you dial in your sound, if they think it "sounds good". There are "wrong" answers to tuning your snare. But after doing it a couple times, I'd like to think most drummers should be comfortable with getting the sound they think their snare "should" soundlike in their head. And if you can, try different types of drumheads, as each drum seems to have a certain drumhead that works best with it, and it usually isn't the drumhead that comes stock from the factory sad to say. If your drums "sound good", that's 50% of playing drums. Skill and chops are not as important as simply "sounding good". Too many drummers worry first about skill level, instead of sound level. Keep on Rocking you Animals!

[@davepounds8924]

Jesus, Too many people overthink tuning a snare! Trying all kinds of different ways Don’t overthink!! Check bearing edges Keep the bottom head tighter and tune top head to your liking make sure it’s not making funky sounds Don’t overthink!!

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Do you consider what we discussed here to be "overthinking it"?

[@davepounds8924]

@@SoundsLikeADrum No but I think tuning to a certain pitch is overthinking Nobody’s going to hear that when playing in the band what pitch the snare is Tuning to a Star pattern is unnecessary also

[@valclements1244]

Surely you don't actually tune a snare drum,or any drums unless you need to play specifically for some orchestral piece of similar. Having played for 50 plus years, the obvious thing with any snare drum is the get your comfortable rebound on the top head and the tone from the bottom head. All drums have their sweet spot where they will sound best. This will change depending on how thick or thin your batter head is.The sound of your snare drum should suit the music you play, so that's here low, medium and high tension comes into it. Each tension will have it's own sweet spot. Things like snare beds are really not necesary with a modern snare drum as the heads are flat, and the snares are attached in such away, that they lie flat against the drum head. Snare beds were cut to compensate for thick hide heads and their problems with moisture, as well as vintage snare wires and the way they covered the whole head .Rogers got the snare thing right with the Dynasonic drums, the snare would just kiss the bottom head, giving the perfect snare drum soundTthe snare was always under your preferred tension, much as it is with a parallel action strainer - probably the best choice for a snare drum. Not many drums can match the Ludwig Supersensitive for sensitivity, or the British Premier 2000.A ot of drummers don't undrstand a simple batter head and what it will produce soundwise. How many drummers put Hydraulic heads on snare drums and wionder why they sound so bad??? Try as many different weights of head until you find the ones that work for you- don't just stick with the head the drum was supplied with. Some heads take years to play-in, and you only figure this out when after 15 years of an incredible sound, you decide to out a new head on the drum, and you cannot find that sound again. Other drummers with the lxury of an endorement deal might change the snare drum head every night, so this never becomes a problem. Brand new heads have their own set of problems unless you know how to give them some age quickly. It's all a learning curve, so go and experiment. Also remember, you might be using the incorrect weight of sticks for your own physique and strength, sometimes a lighter stick will get both a bigger, and better sound from a drum, simple because you have more control over it.