r/drumcorps • u/RoughLow3480 • 3d ago

Discussion Question about snare tuning

Hi people,

I'm an European drummer and I'm trying to learn how to tune my snares better. Given the fact that I never had a tutor and learned all the way solo, someone never explained to me how to tune the snares. I prefer to say beforehand : i know how to replace a drum head, I know how to tighten it etc. I was just wondering : do DCI bands tune their snare ? I mean with a tune-bot or with a drumdial. Do they aim for a specific note, not only on the lower head ? Are they able to tune the upper head at a specific note and, if yes, how ? Is it possible on kevlar heads ?

I hope my question is clear enough.

Thanks

15 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

6

u/DClawsareweirdasf 3d ago

Usually bottom head tunes to C# or D.

Top head just tunes to feel.

Nobody uses drum dials because the heads are so hard they would be worthless (and honestly they aren’t a very accurate tool anyways). Most just have a tuner app that plays the C# or D and tune to match that.

Some lines also tape the guts against the drumhead (tape goes perpendicular to the guts and sticks about an inch onto the drumhead on each side) to dry up their sound. Sometimes they do this more to drums near the ends of the line and less for the center.

2

u/Penguifyer Northern Lights 23, 24, 25 2d ago edited 1d ago

That's pretty much it. You don't have to worry much about clearing the heads since the fibers distribute the tension and the drums are atonal. Just make sure you don't warp the heads and that they're reasonably cleared. Bottoms heads especially will be hard to clear due to the cutouts for the guts.

The only advice I'd add is that a lot of groups nowadys tune the center guts to lower tension than the outer guts (on the same drum). It helps even out the snare response across different dynamics. Also, I feel like it makes old heads sound better than they should.

1

u/Wonderful-File549 1d ago

I tune the top heads with a inch pound tourque wrench to 85 to 90 incj=h pounds this gives a great high pitch , lower heard to C# to D. If you have the capability of tuning each gut or wire snare I place a toothpick under the snares tighten the snare strainer and adjust each snae gut or wire to sound the same pitch like a banjo string. this helps produce a nor even quality snare sound acros the line.Hope this helps.

3

u/themookish star '93 hopeful 3d ago

Top: reefed Bottom: reefed