Changing and Tuning Drumheads

Use this as a basic guide, this formula is meant to be tweaked to work for you so if you feel like you should skip or a step, go for it. Mess around with different tensions on the top and bottom heads to hear what you like and don’t like. Create Your Sound.

Do an assessment of the bottom head. Check for defects (holes, cuts, wrinkles, tape/glue adhesive) that may cause tuning issues. Change as necessary.   

Start with the bottom head - Tap the side of the drum using your fingers and listen to the “tone” of the drum.  The bottom head should be tuned relative to this pitch and sound.  Using the cross pattern, one-by-one turn each lug off the rim for a fresh start, then tighten using a relative amount of tension and match for each lug until the “tone” of the bottom head is relative to the “natural” tone of the drum.  Use fingers to tap around the head near the edge of each lug and listen, the pitches near the lugs should be close to the same pitch, adjust if one is too high or to low to the corresponding tone.

After removing the top head use finger tips or a clean rag to remove any dust or wood chips that may be resting on edge or have fallen into the drum.  Put new head on with logo matching the logo on the drum.

Use fingers to start threading lug back into hardware.

Using drill, or 2 drum keys, tighten each lug to make light contact on the rim.  Use cross pattern to prevent over tension on one side as this could cause damage to head and drum.   Once every lug is hugging rim, use drum key to tighten each lug and press down on head with palm, fist or elbow to stretch it. (It’s normal to hear glue cracking)

Rack toms:

Use the drum key, start on one of the lugs closest to you, loosen the lug until it releases from the rim, then tighten until contact is made and turn drum key until a small amount of tension or pressure is felt.  Move directly across drum head loosen until release and tighten to match the desired tension. Repeat cross pattern until all lugs are relatively tight and the tensions are the same. Just like with bottom head, using finger to tap around each lug, matching tone. Repeat as needed until top head has no wrinkles and drum “sings”.  Top head should be slightly tighter than bottom head.

Floor toms:

Same formula - Find natural sound of drum by knocking on shell, tune bottom head to relative pitch.  Stretch top head then, using drum key again, start on lug closest to you, loosen until released and tighten again until a small amount of tension is felt.  Move directly across the drum, release lug and re-engage to match desired tension. Remember the natural “tone” of the drum is the ideal sound after the drum is hit and the resonance vibrates.  To avoid unwanted undertones, bottom head should be matching or slightly higher in pitch than top head.

Snare Drum:

Bottom head should be nice and tight. Not too tight so drum is being choked.  Using your finger to tap around lug edges, matching the tones.  Top head - start at bottom lug, releasing and re-engaging lug for desired tightness and move directly across matching tension as before.  Head should be tight and firm for easy bounce back, careful not to over tighten as could lead to damage of head or drums.  Pitch should be matching or top head slightly tighter than bottom. 

Bass drum:

Batter side where kick beater makes contact with head should be just tight enough where no wrinkles are visible maybe a half turn tighter. Pillow or dampener should be properly down for realistic use. Bass sound is punchy with audible low end and little reverb.   

Residence side should be slightly tighter than batter side for a nice tight boom or thud.

***If it sounds like a drum it’s in tune.  Toms should be clearly pitched high to low and snare should be crisp.

Things to listen for:

Rattling - this means somewhere metal is hitting metal (no bueno)

Vibration recoil - drum should be solid tone not wavy sounding.  Fine tuning will fix.   

Dive Bomb - When striking drum and pitch moves quickly from high to low, the difference from top head to bottom head is too extreme and more than likely bottom head needs to be tuned up.

Ringing - A drummer’s feedback, if the bottom or top head is too tight, you will hear unwanted over-tones.  Use drum’s “Natural” tone to find out if bottom or top head is too tightly tuned.