learning to tune

[eirlisdrumer]

i hear a lot of people say to get rid of overtones is to learn tune, where do i "learn to tune" and if someone knows how then please tell what to do lol im so lost

[fishbulb']

People talk about a "Tuning Bible" Don't know what it is, but it might help.

[ThugsRook]

i hear a lot of people say to get rid of overtones is to learn tune...
in order for a drum to be "in tune" all the lugs need to be in tune with each other. thats where youll get a clean sound.

from there you can tune up or down as per your preference. some ppl like the reso tuned lower than the batter, some like it tuned higher, and some like it exactly the same.

:wave:

[Cocaberry]

i hear a lot of people say to get rid of overtones is to learn tune, where do i "learn to tune" and if someone knows how then please tell what to do lol im so lost

Knowing how to tune helps get rid of bad overtones. You still need overtones there to help the drum project and sound good.

Google "prof sound tuning bible" to find the tuning bible and read all of it.

[eirlisdrumer]

i know but i know that but how do i make sure theyr all in tune with each other

[Quinto]

you could use ur ears^^ur so smart

[eirlisdrumer]

well i do, and i use the star pattern and everything, and turn the key the same amount on all lugs, and then i hit the head close to each lug and it all sounds the same to me but appearantly theyr not

[super_kick08]

Google up tuning bible. Helped me loads. Just read, you'll figure it out.

And really read, don't try to get out of something so essential.

[eirlisdrumer]

ok i read the tuning bible and i did everything it said, and i still have overtones, and on top of that i cracked my head in the process, so now im really pissed

[mamcdonald]

You cracked your head? What the hell does that mean?

Look, I was recently in a musical and the conductor told each and every one of us, "You ALWAYS have the worst seat in the house." It's the truth. Honestly, as much of a science as tuning is and as much as we pursue perfection, it's not possible and, trust me, it sounds great to everyone but you. I was at our schools BOTB last night and the floor tom sounded horrible from the drivers seat, but out in the audience it had fantastic punch and just sounded wonderful.

You have to understand that you can't compare your acoustic tom sound at low tapping volumes to what toms sound like on million dollar records were the drummer is bashing away.

Find a sound that you like and stick with it, don't rely on a tuning bible to tell you how your drums should sound. EXPERIMENT!

And, BY THE WAY, overtones are a GOOD thing. Overtones are in every piece of music you've ever heard just in varying amounts. Sound is nothing more than waves and vibrations and if every instrument under the sun were PERFECTLY in tune, all the waves and vibrations would cancel each other out and it would sound dead and dry if audible at all. Overtones are extremely important to any instruments sound.

If you have not played with a full band yet or at least other musicians, try it. See if your toms don't sound different. Some of those overtones will get lost in the sound of the other instrument and you may find that they sounded great all along. This is getting too long...

[aznriceball]

Find a sound that you like and stick with it, don't rely on a tuning bible to tell you how your drums should sound. EXPERIMENT!

While a great post overall, don't dismiss the tuning bible like some gimmick. It is the bible for a reason and is the guide to look to when you need help, experimenting or no.

[mamcdonald]

I have used it to a GREAT extent, almost every time I tune my drums (three printed out copies scattered around)...but if you follow his instructions and you still hate your tom sound, why accept it as good "because the bible said so"?

[aznriceball]

Lol, you shouldn't use that sort of reasoning for anything at all! We've eyes and ears for receiving information and a brain for processing it. Not the other way around.

[Cocaberry]

I have used it to a GREAT extent, almost every time I tune my drums (three printed out copies scattered around)...but if you follow his instructions and you still hate your tom sound, why accept it as good "because the bible said so"?

If you still hate your tom sound maybe you just have crappy shells. Don't expect a great tom sound from beginner or intermediate shells.

Its either that, or you didn't follow the steps correctly, or you just need new heads.

[jversluis88]

Learning to tune will require a lot of tuning practice. Read up on the Tuning Bible, and tune as much as possible.

[ThugsRook]

i know but i know that but how do i make sure theyr all in tune with each other
dial tuner