Tom Tuning for Jazz, Bebop, and more | Season 2 - Episode 3

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Tuning your whole kit up high isn’t necessarily just for jazz but it’s certainly an approach that takes its fair share of influence bebop, big band, and more. But how high are we really talking and how do the toms relate to the rest of the kit? All this and more in the latest episode!
Drums: Precision Drum Company - Maple
Bass Drum: 18x14”
Batter & Reso Head: Evans G12 Coated tinyurl.com/Ev...
Rack Tom: 12x8"
Batter: Evans Calftone tinyurl.com/Ev...
Reso: Evans G1 Coated tinyurl.com/Ev...
Floor Tom: 14x14"
Batter: Evans Calftone
Reso: Evans G1 Coated
Snare Drum: Noble & Cooley 14x6.5"
Batter: Evans Calftone
Reso: Evans Snare Side 300 tinyurl.com/Ev...
Presenting Sponsor: Promark by D’Addario
Production Partners: Evans Drumheads
Hosted by: Cody Rahn
Production: Ben O'Brien Smith @ Cadence Independent Media
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[@farshimelt]

In the late 50's, early 60's I tuned my drums Max Roach high. One night a good Jazz drummer sat in and after word said, "You're drums feel like marble slabs." I've played with your first tuning ever since then. BTW, even with synthetic heads, Max tuned real high. Blakey tuned much lower, Elvin high, Philly Joe a bit lower, Roy Haynes, high. Peter Erskine & Jeff Hamilton tune beautifully. The main thing is that the intervals between the drums sound musical. Frank Butler's drums sounded and felt like cardboard boxes but he was a great player. One night Chico Hamilton sat in on Frank's drums and after the first tune, stood up and said, "Frank Butler, you must be a genius to be able play on these drums." Frank was a musical genius. Check out the Fox by Harold Land. I said all that to say this; excellent demo, thank you.

[@Brickeh]

Just want to say that you're channel is ridiculous (good ridiculous). You have such good info and it seems like every time I need help with something you end up posting a video about it the next day lol. I've learned a ton from you guys, keep it up!!

[@Onyxaxe]

Just bought my first drumset. A budget Jazz kit. The stock heads had no life in lower tunings, so I applied this videos advice. My lil kit sounds awesome now. Thank You!

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Congrats on your first kit! We’re so glad to hear that you found some value in this video. Cheers!

[@sungjindrums]

One of my favorite videos so far. Higher drums with smaller groups and lower with bigger, just great advice.

[@artcorvolet]

I've started tuning higher in recent years...especially when unmic'd

[@yharnamhoonter6685]

I’m a rock and jazz drummer and that kit sounds incredible. Thanks for the video it helped a lot!

[@PanicMachine423]

I adore this channel. Informative, relaxed, clear and concise. I am not a jazz guy - nobody ever wants to hear me butcher a basic jazz shuffle believe me - but every one of your videos irrespective of subject matter contains something I can use to improve my understanding of the kit. Thank you!!!

[@nested_King]

Perfect explanation of the concept for those who aren't fans of the sound.

[@kirkmcconnor9861]

Who Thumbs Downed this video? Seriously. Great job Cody and Ben. You guys have helped me learn and enjoy my drums and drumming even more than I already did. I hadn't ever tuned my kit this high. The sound is great. Sure put my shortcomings as a player in the spotlight though!

[@davidsuprenant893]

Cody,up until about a year ago I always tunned my toms kinda low. 10,12,14,and 16 inch.with 18x22 kick.I bought a gretsch USA bop kit and my whole tunning process changed for my larger kit.I tried tunning the larger kit up and man what a great sound,not to mention the rebound factor.These small sizes really sing,I am hooked.I tune all my batter heads about a quarter turn higher than the reso. Gotta love these small kits.They really project like much larger drums.I wish I would have discovered them years ago.Could have saved my back.!!!

[@filiperebello5485]

Amazing as always. I'm into Jamaican jazz (traditional ska), rocksteady and ska jazz, and I used to play gigs with a Pearl Rhythm Traveller kit, no reso heads, Remo Encore Drumheads. Really small drums, and the result was kind of the big band approach tunning. I think its totally usable sound even if it's not the way it "suppose to sound" a ska gig. One more time thanks for the incredible amount of information you guys are the best.

[@Rogersdrumvideos]

My favorite video yet. That first tuning is my tuning so this was near and dear to my heart. Those drums sound great

[@whatskraken3886]

as someone who plays some jazz piano, guitar, and bass, who has gotten into recording and production a lot recently, this is honestly amazing. a comprehensive look not only at _what_ the common techniques are but _why_ they are and how that might change depending on the situation makes it so much easier to understand what the final goal should be depending on the specific arrangement. i generally had a feel for what jazz drums generally should sound like just from listening to a lot of jazz but this reaffirmed the things i got right and corrected the things i got wrong. genuinely a great video.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Thanks! That’s the core of this channel. You won’t catch a bunch of overplaying with fancy licks and linear grooves but rather contextualization and explanation of concepts related to drum sounds and inspiration for how to use them. Cheers!

[@alejandrobustos2268]

Billy Higgins drum set is perfect exemple of high tunning and beautiful sound.

[@magneticpitch]

and Ed Blackwell

[@tracktuary]

The problem with articulate drums is that they highlight how sloppy I am.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Definitely a great approach for practicing! -Ben

[@AlmostReady504]

Agreed!!! That's why I loosen my snares. Haha

[@tracktuary]

It's like a distortion pedal for a drummer.

[@raynoobkac]

@@SoundsLikeADrum hi i would really appreciate if you would tell me how many full turns on the tension rod(past finger tight) ) did you make to get that sound?

[@jimflys2]

I just got a Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz kit made with mahogany shells. And to me, they just sound like Gretsch drums. No diecast hoops no maple no Keller shell know Jasper shell. No diecast hoops. They sound like Gretsch drums. I am surprised, but yet I know they must have done their homework. Tuning them has been fun doing things like you show here. Great stuff as always.

[@pbenson56fran]

Very nice that you know the history of playing drums in Jazz. I am sure this has helped you a lot.

[@videobrains]

I've tuned on the high side since an old jazz drummer taught me how back in the 80s. I used this very high tuning in church once. It was old skool 1960s semi open, no airconditioning,, with lots of concrete, and weird reverb. The resident kit was maintained by the teenagers playing the praise and worship services, tuned thuddy low, sounded like a muddy mess. Elders complained about it being noisy, and put it behind a plexiglass cage, making it sound even worse. I ended up bringing my own kit (22,16,12,14) and tuning it bop high for articulation. Nobody complained, and I actually got compliments for the sound.

[@frankspikes7858]

I love bop tuning for the clarity of sound. Nothing says I don't know how to tune my drums than low thuddy muffled drums. Yuck!!! I guess it has its place. But definitely not my cup of koolaid. Lol

[@SpittinSquirell]

Great video! I come from a rock background and recently bought a Tama Club-JAM for practice. I am not use to the smaller sized drums and have had a hard time tuning them right. After watching this I realize I've been trying to tune them like I tune my big rock kit. Thanks Cody!

[@henryrdesouza]

I particularly liked this episode. I wasn't really aware of lower bottoms. Anyway I've never played this turning and everything I did so far is on the pop/rock tuning. Great channel and info.

[@cor3ylee]

That snare sounds great, really warm sounding rolls. I can’t get enough of yalls videos, keep up the awesome work gentlemen.

[@fepatton]

Your channel has been really helpful to me. I've struggled my whole life with drum tuning, and you have brought clarity to the process. Can't tell you how much I appreciate this. Thank you!

[@miles-178]

and wooooow ... finally somebody who put the coated heads as the rezo/bottom heads!!!! that´s why they sing soooooo nice !!!!

[@ianmuessig]

I've really taken to the higher tuning approach even for non jazz settings. I prefer smaller drums so the higher pitch gives them a bit more attack, the Stewart Copeland concept. Please do a video on up-tempo ride technique. Would be a great companion video.

[@jazztoad54]

Fantastic useful information! I play in a band which plays different genres of music. I enjoy listening to Jazz both old and new. So recently I've been playing a smaller kit, tuned up a little higher than my rockish drum kit. I wanted to use the articulation of the tunings and experiment how the higher tuning would fit the songs we do. So far, I love playing the drums tuned that way and our sound guy loves them too! You can always make a small, higher tuned kit sound larger, but not the other way around. I'm definitely going to experiment with the lower reso tuning and the batter higher. !! Thanks so much for the great video!!

[@elichambersmusic]

Phenomenal explanations, contextual framing, and playing examples. Thank you!

[@DavesTrumpet]

Thanks so much for this! Applied these concepts to my Gretsch USA custom kit and it sounds great!!! You mentioned intervals between the drums. What I did was matched my 12” tom to your tom early in your video. From there, I tuned my 13” tom a whole step lower than the 12. For the 14 floor tom, I pitched it a Fourth below the 12. Works perfectly this way! Thanks again!

[@mgrdibbs]

Fascinating. Each point fully supported. I will certainly integrate this wisdom into my tuning regime. Thank you so much.

[@Quartiano]

The ending play outs are a great feature in the newer videos being posted. You are a sick drummer.

[@mathieutremblay745]

This kit sounds so great

[@miles-178]

wooooow to that sound !!!!!! always love the 50´s style of be-bop soundin´ kit !!!!! this has something vintage, something unique .... how to differ from the rest of the 90´s long sustaing sounding modern drum kits and drummers

[@zannoni96]

This is one of the best channel i have ever found in KZbin. It rappresent right the essencial knowledge that I was missing and is a huge boost in my drumming. I am grateful to have find out you!

[@geoffr7675]

Love the channel man! I’ve got a suggestion for a future series of episodes. A guide on buying the kit and snare for the sound you’re looking for. Between all of the different materials, diameters and depths; choosing the one for your style takes some thought. Just a thought.

[@saltysaltine]

I love this channel... I also appreciated the real time Tom tuning you did. It was nice to watch without edits.

[@timcline2799]

Awesome :) Beautiful playing. Pearl vision bop kit. You’re Huge help. Especially re.suspension mount tom holder adding sustain. (Way to go Pearl..)

[@brucedelaney9606]

Awesome Tuning and playing. Precision drums are fantastic!

[@Whydidtheychangeittohandlesnow]

Your kit sounds amazing

[@tracktuary]

That ride Sounds Like a Cymbal.

[@madelynnqualls]

Pete Braun it sounds like a tom 💀

[@brengeldelacruz8866]

*SIZZLE*

[@vincecassone9159]

Thank you so much for teaching me how to tune my drums for jazz in like 20 minutes. I've wasted hours upon hours trying out stuff that I hated.

[@tuulofdstrxn]

I'm just here for the sounds.

[@Mewsietube]

Thanks for a great tutorial Cody. Excellent advice supported by some fascinating background and personal insights. Fab!

[@RogierRJDonker]

Very good video. I'm slowly getting into jazz. Very good info to start off. Thanks so much

[@DJESink]

Hey, love the vids! I think some people (including myself) would really benefit from naming the tones/notes you are tuning to in each tuning scenario.

[@wojtekbukowski7133]

Well, here I am.. again!!! This is my 7th or 8th time watching this video, not because it's complex or has so much info you can't get it all in one viewing, but because I'm a Jazz junkie, and love ALL the content in this video, from the actual "how to" of the tuning, to the little behind the scenes stories. So after watching this video I realized that I tune my Bop kit somewhere between high and really-high. It fits in a trio or 4 pc band setting perfectly when playing Be-Bop. Like you said, articulation without much sustain, which for Jazz standards or Bop is perfect. Also from the audience perspective it fits right in. Sustain in a acoustic small band setting is not a good blend, as the tom sustain fights with the articulation of the other musicians, and often will make their intricate playing sound very muddy. In Jazz you want the toms to make their statement, and then immediately to get out of the way of everyone else. Many Jazz cats love dry rides for the same reason: you can make your statement without stepping on other musicians toes. Love this video, thank you guys for posting this.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

So glad to hear it! I think you’re really going to enjoy next week’s episode…

[@NothusDeusVagus]

You've got nice light'n'easy touch there. Truly enjoyed your presentation... Now I'm off to put the kettle on and think on how I'm going to re-tune my drums.

[@redrider1940]

Thanks for the explanation for the different tunings. Over the years I have wondered why those tunings where used and somewhat settled on to be the standard. It certainly makes since in the days before miking. And even in current day for un-miked gigs.

[@Kalhaedron]

Love that first tuning! Also we need more of your great playing in the videos :)

[@Scotttyist]

Great insights. I never thought about tuning drum kits to accommodate the size of the ensemble before. Very interesting concept. Cheers.

[@FuckOfAShit]

I've been mucking around with jazz drums for over 20 years and there's a lot of wisdom in this video. Great stuff.

[@playing_jazz]

Super high did it for me. I grew up listening to be only OG Bebop. Grandma was the big band listener and I always thought the drummers were cheesy LOL now I have respect but you know kids.

[@joeyknouse3727]

Great content. I've learned so much from this channel that I use on a daily basis.

[@gardeningandlife137]

Not just jazz for everything, this was great

[@carlupthegrove262]

Very helpful. I use relativly high tunings and I do play jazz a lot but I also use it for other styles of music also...

[@C0zyDunt]

One of the best so far, great to see you playing the kit as well. Keep'm coming. Oh and just got my tee-shirt. Excellent.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Oh awesome! Thanks for grabbing one :) -Cody

[@C0zyDunt]

@@SoundsLikeADrum We just need those drum keys now and what you should really sell is a 'Sounds Like A Drum' Rule for measuring rim to head distance, seeing that in the 40 odd years I've been playing drums it never occurred to me to do that until I came across your channel. Great tip and great channel.

[@123LarsUlrich]

Thank You for that one! Superb content!

[@jeremyanderson1780]

I remember reading an interview with Stewart Copeland where he also said he tuned the drums up as high as they would go...

[@Fab_Rice]

Wow thanks you again for making this! I thinks it will be interesting to compare big drum tune high versus small drum tune low :)

[@By_Rant_Or_Ruin]

And that snare is true love at first "insert thingy here".

[@innovate1983]

Great video, very insightful. Thanks

[@robertalbiston7822]

Phenomenal! Wish this had come out when I fretted for a month over heads to put on the 1963 Slingerland Modern Jazz kit I got back in high school. I did go with the Evans 56 Calftone for all, but did the Evans Reso for the tom bottoms to get a little flexibility (sustain) to do other music. The rims and hardware of the old Slingerlands are brass (COB), so the sound is controlled and warm. The COB snare is a GK Sound King on which I've left the Evans UV (super durable and fine tonality). I've had to feel my way into the right sound, but this class is providing fresh knowledge and deeper understanding.

[@MarioCalzadaMusic]

Thank you from Spain

[@ACLOCKWORKDRUMMER]

great Cody!! the other day I listened to a tv show from the '70s and it was a huge set, one head on each tom, and it was like taking a blanket and throwing it on the wires of a piano...THE DRUMS SOUNDED TERRIBLE but that sound got really popular. tony, also said that drummers can be out to lunch as far as drum sound.thanks for not being one of those drummer's.

[@DrummingMan1]

A CLOCKWORK DRUMMER yeah man I am a drummer Born from the 70s where, my first Pro kit was a nine piece Tama imperial star concert tom style! First rehearsal in, my bass player turns around and says to me, I think you bought those drum solely on looks! I says, you're right! I did! When you are in your teens, that's all that counts! LOL! I never really found that era to be great for drum design industry! Cheers… Keith

[@bobdadruma]

Another great presentation. Thank You. I own 3 vintage kits. 1950 Gretsch, 1965 Slingerland, and 1968 Ludwig. I also own modern kits with thick 7 ply shells and sharp 45 degree edges. I find that the vintage drums with their thin shells and round edges can take the tighter Jazz tuning much better than the thick shell kits with the sharp edges.

[@themole2024]

Wonderful tones. Love jazz tuning, so tasty. Dig that pattern you play at 9:35.

[@dougkirkpatrick6227]

Well that was inspiring!! Time to rehead my Gretsch bop kit too 👍

[@odysseuslaertiades1528]

At the end of the video you said that toms that are tuned high can be used for Latin music. That is one of the reasons why I prefer my toms tunded high: you can almost imitate the sound of timbales.

... you are making probably the best drumming content ever on KZbin. Blessings for sharing man.

[@johnsayre2038]

The whole clip is great, but that little bit of playing at 16:22 just before Chapter 3, man! THAT is a beautiful sound.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Thanks man! Glad you like it :) - Cody

[@joeabbadrums]

Love that Noble and Cooley! I have the exact same snare and it's my favorite over many others I own.

[@alanduncan1980]

Sure does sound like a drum.

[@kevinturvey8213]

excellent top quality content as always - thanks very much. gotta love those calftones!

[@swan4163]

Love the channel and info! Thank you! One thing that would be interesting to see (e.g. video suggestion) is tuning drums to pitch/key of the tune so that you can play the drums melodically (like Ari Hoenig).

[@JazzyJonas]

This was very cool. You can really swing too!

[@b_tclz7531]

Love this video! Just get a new jazz kit and wanted to tune it properly! Cheers!

[@christomkins8315]

Dude! Thank you so much been waiting for this one🙏🏻 love what you guys are doing and the tony drum tech tip/story wow thanks again

[@TheSingolarmente]

The die-cast hoops makes a huge difference. Love the high tuning!

[@xsonicassassinx]

i've got nothing to add to the topic. but clutch playing. great feel. love this channel

[@paulmietty7643]

Cody, thanks for another great video!

[@moroberts9137]

This is an excellent video. I wish more drummers could hear the sound of their unmiked drums in the room. Or miked even. I remember once tapping on Jack D's toms and they were like bricks. Didn't sound that way AT ALL in the audience. So often our heros and idols are miked up, and we're not :-)

[@LesterBrunt]

Ime many drummers are so afraid of the resonance of high tuning. But I find that in the context of a band all those tones blend with the rest and the punch of the drums still cuts through.

[@marty9464]

Louder bass drums back in the day were significantly influenced by their often larger size as well as the factors you mentioned!!

[@fleetwoodbrawm]

I dig your channel, I just got an old round badge kit, this helps out a lot. Nice work....

[@30rusher]

Wow I really love that sound!!

[@4stringbloodyfingers]

heya lads!! totally agree with the people in the chat ere. love ur content, execution and attention to the details. thank u for all the work that goes in and sharing. Question: since u take every aspect of a drum apart and explain them, will there ever be a video where the Bass drum port hole will be explained? keep up the good work

[@thejamman555]

Great authentic sound, Reminds me that I could really tune my drums higher!

[@scottdinges]

Ringo in the early beatles records, had his snare tuned up super high.

[@Hercules_Mavromatis]

I would love to see a big band tuning like Gene Krupa or Buddy Rich

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

We can make that happen! -Ben

[@Hercules_Mavromatis]

@@SoundsLikeADrum I'm already Hyped

[@MorganBlake]

Another wicked video guys. Again amazing content, and a really informative video!

[@PhilHenDrums]

Good stuff. If folks want to hear a good example of high bop tuning, listen to Max on Sonny Rollins’ Saxophone Colossus record. If you find pleasing pitch intervals, including the bass drum and snare, you can play bugle melodies in a solo with the snares turned off.

[@jorymil]

I really like the Max Roach sound. You could do way worse than to sound like Max on Saxophone Colossus or Study in Brown. Something I hear there is the use of the snare as a high tom: tuning the snare a fourth or minor third above the rack tom. You're doing it there right at the end.

[@wyndymequine9206]

Stumbled on this - I'm old AF played jazz on drums that are old AF since 1970-saw the youth and ponytail and almost moved on- but that was impressive, intelligent and articulate- like the rack tom.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

We've got plenty more for you throughout the channel! Don't let our hairdos or youthful energy scare you off 😉

[@sipzter]

Great stuff. Wish I knew this stuff many years ago!

[@jacobfriedman4135]

Love bop tuning!!! I love toms that sing higher and I switch between tuning my bass drum high as well or tuning it a bit lower to get a distinct difference. Also love your cymbals!!!! What are they?

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Thanks man! My friend Jesse Simpson made them in Brooklyn! Check him out on KZbin :) -Cody

[@kingtut416]

@@SoundsLikeADrum Nice!! I just subscribed to Jesse Simpson channel. His flat rides sound so pretty

[@hobijuistaba]

I have the questlove by ludwig small drum kit. I tune the bass drum more to the low end, and I have one of those cheep wall sound absorbers in it. Also a port hole offcenter in reso head. Its an amazing sound for r&b, jazz, hiphop. Still trying to get the toms to sound nice. Will try reverse interval method! Thanks!

[@alexg4284]

Really interesting, sometimes I hear the snare tuned in between the rack and floor tom

[@sgk993]

Excellent video. Thanks 👍

[@don4476]

Absolutely outstanding.

[@DrummingMan1]

As usual! Superb! I was going to swap out the Diecast on my fusion kit but, I think I'll try some of this tuning methodology in hopes of making them sing!

[@artcorvolet]

Well! ?

[@manuelgchapajr2000]

Great Video

[@andrewlockett863]

that nc snare is gawguss!

[@MiguelKooreman76]

Great vid again guys! Thnx so much!

[@frednovaes5888]

Signature jazz drum sound