Shows how to get your drum in tune with itself quickly, easily and accurately. Shares drum tuning tips and basic drum tuning techniques. Fast and even stick response with an easy to tune, downward sound progression for all drums.
I just used this for my snare, rack and floor toms...the Drumadial works great, they get my drums in tune and my drums sound better than before, awesome device!
Al, the following settings will work very well for you: 10" 75 top batter 75 bottom resonant , 12" 75 top batter 75 bottom resonant , 14"F 74 top batter 74 bottom resonant , 14" snare 85 top batter 82 bottom resonant , 22" 70 kick batter 68 front resonant
I have the exact toms 10,12 and 14 floor. If I use the tension listed in this Video, I get too high of a pitch, more like a jazz kit. Can you tell me the tension settings to get a classic rock, punchy, deeper sound? I appreciate your feedback. Thank you
OK to tune lower. Usually 2 tics lower on the top and bottom heads. 2 ply heads will also lower the pitch. The settings listed are for the mid-range of the toms. Tune lower, but be sure to match your gauge readings at each lug as closely as you can.
I just got mine today and just tested it on my snare (82 reso and 85 batter) and it worked. I tested it with the stock head which I couldn't make it sound any good tuning it on my own. I gave Drum Dial a try with the stock head before putting a new Evans head and the sound is great. Now I can imagine how my snare will sound with the Evans head. Yes, us drummers, need to have an educated ear, but this tool can come handy when time is of essence or when tuning at a place with loud sound, e.g., a venue with a gig going on. It definitely can save you time. Also, it's very easy to use. Highly recommended.
If you want the pitch to go up after you hit, tighten the resonant head more than the batter head ("towww" sound) If you want the pitch to go down after you hit, tighten the resonant header less than the batter head ("tooom" sound)
Excellent intro to how and why to use the Drum Dial. I've been using the DD for 10 years and it has always been more reliable (and faster) than pitch tuning my set by ear.
I use this config for all my toms Batter heads with clear emperors Resonant heads with clear ambassadors Mi resos always more tighr than my batter heads but not too tight, this brings a high pitch sound while keeping a warm sound.
DrumDial works very well for hand drums. Congas (tumba, conga, quinto) all tuned to 96 (C, G, E progression). The depth and diameter will determine the pitch. For natural skins, you will need to take an average at each tuning point as the tuning tip will measure the natural texture of the skin. Synthetic heads do not have this issue. I recommend using 400-600 grit paper to polish and remove the high spots on the rawhide skins at each tuning point. Tune bongos similarly to 95-97.
Tuning in a circular pattern, in small increments, after seating the head will solve this. For other tuning problems see the troubleshooting video number 3 in the series.
Thanks for the reply. I ended up watching part 2 & 3 of your video today and saw that you had setting recommendations on other drums so sorry for the redundancy
Just remember to have good drums and this thing will work really good. It also helps a lot with keeping the same sounds from your toms, just rememer the setting.
Just bought a drumset and the drum dial. You answered another question about tension for an 8" tom. Can you give recommendations for starting points of all my drums: 10,12,14F toms, 14 snare and 22" bass? Thank you in advance
On my bass drum, with hand tightening alone (just getting the washer to touch the claw), I had a tension of 72 per lug. It's an Evan Emad2 head. Is this due to the head type? I guess I need to tune higher than the 70 recommended for the batter head?
Al, yes tune just slightly tighter in this case only to between 72 and 74. A good tuning would be 74 kick batter and 74 front resonant. This should be tight enough to remove any wrinkles and the hardware should not rattle.
hello I will be buying this tomorrow, I wanted to know if this comes with like a suggested tuning chart according to the size of drum and stuff? Thanks.
Edward Aleman Yes!, Comes with a tuning chart for suggested tunings according to your drum sizes. The tuning chart is also available on our website for download or print out.
Hi, I'm a new drum dial owner. I have a yamaha stage custom. Bass Drum(s): 22" x 17" Tom(s): 10" x 7", 12" x 8" Floor Tom(s): 16" x 15" Snare: 14" x 5-1/2" Remo ambassador coated on snare and 10'' tom Evans onyx on 12'' and floor tom. All the reso head was stock head.
Hi, I have a drumdial but i have a question, why do you recommand 78 on the setting charts that come with the drumdial (for 2 ply head) whereas in the videos and the com' you recommand 75 ? And what do you recommand for me with 12-13-16-18-24 (i use vintage emp on toms with ambass' reso and superkick 2 with amb reso for the kick) ?
The chart is only meant to be used as a guide for most drums. In the video we went with a medium low setting, the chart uses a medium setting. 12 75 top batter 75 bottom resonant 13 75 top batter 73 bottom resonant 16 74 top batter 74 bottom resonant 18 74 top batter 74 bottom resonant 24 bass 74 kick batter 73 front resonant
Hi I was wondering if you had any suggestions for tension on a 8 x 10 tom, 9 x 12 tom, 14 x 16 floor tom, 18 x 22 kick, and a 14 x 6.5 snare. Thank you for all your help and your product!
Hello! Thanks for this video. What recommendations do you have for a TAMA Starclassic Performer B/B with a 8 X 10 tom, 9 X 12 tom, 12 X 14 tom, and a 14 x 16 tom? I also have a 14 x 6.5 Mapex Sledgehammer snare drum? Thanks for your time.
Hey drum dial! Barely got my drumdial tuner yesterday and really excited. My drum set is a tama imperials star. Toms have Evans clear batter while bass drum is Evans emad. I want looking for a high tuning much like jazz players use. Bass drum(s):22" x 18" Tom(s):10" x 8", 12" x 9" Floor tom(s):16" x 14" Snare:14" x 5-1/2"
22" x 18" 74 kick batter 72 front resonant 10" x 8" 77 top batter 77 bottom resonant 12" x 9" 76 top batter 76 bottom resonant 16" x 14" 75 top batter 75 bottom resonant 14" x 5-1/2" 89 top batter 82 bottom resonant
Hey DrumDial, what do you recommend for these drums? I bought a Gretsch Energy 5-Piece Kit and the drum sizes are as follows. Please let me know, thank you. 22 x 18" bass drum 10 x 7", 12 x 8" toms (5-lug configuration) 16 x 14" floor tom 14 x 5 1/2" snare drum (8-lug)
+Bilbo Baggins 22 x 18" 72 kick batter 70 front resonant 10 x 7" 76 top batter 76 bottom resonant 12 x 8" 75 top batter 75 bottom resonant 16 x 14" 74 top batter 74 bottom resonant 14 x 5 1/2" 87 top batter 80 bottom resonant
Hello DrumDial, I bought you product (drum dial) back 1999, and still have it today. I had one issue with it years ago, and the reason escapes me, but I had to open it to a"fix" it. I recall the spring mechanism has slipped or something and I had to rewind it. I've put it away for many years thinking it would no longer tune properly. Are the numbers relative? If assume my dial spring tension is looser, and 75 on a tuned dial is only 50 on mine, I can still tune to a pitch relatively speaking? Is there a way to calibrate the dial? Do you offer a refurbishing/ calibration procedure? My dial looks like new, I hate to scrap it. Great video series. Thanks.
+broderp The easiest way to fix your tuner is to return to us for repair service. The cost for service to new condition with a 1 year warranty is $30.00 (includes return shipping). If you had another DrumDial to compare to, the difference in tension could be taken into account. We recommend sending your tuner in for service. If you decide to send in for service, make check or money order payable to DrumDial. Please return your tuner via insured mail or other insured carrier, UPS, FedEX etc.... Be sure to include (inside the box) your complete return address, e-mail and phone number. Return to: DrumDial 1830 E Broadway #124-197 Tucson, Az. 85719
Hi Steve. I know I've posted on some of your other videos after having bought the Drum Dial, but I just want to say-**again**--- that it is **THE BEST** investment I have made in all of my 50 years of being a drummer/percussionist. I wanted to ask one question, regarding tensioning the drum head when seating the heads, then tuning them to the proper pitch. About 13 years ago, I downloaded a thing called "The Drum Tuning Bible", which, according to the author, when doing anything with tensioning the drum head, he said that when tensioning the the head with the two keys(one across from the other), to only give 1/4 turns, and make certain that they are even turns. He said basically the same as you do-- tension the head tighter than the pitch that you want, do the pressing down in the center of the head, but then he said to allow the drum to set over night, for 12 hours, then bring the drum head back down then start it all over from there, 1/4 turns. I just wanted to ask if all of what he said is necessary? Thanks so much!
Thank you Steve! The drum head will take the shape of the bearing edge very quickly with downward center pressure at the slightly higher tension. No need to wait over night.
My pleasure, Steve. I have 11 drums and two timps that I have to tune, and your Drum Dial takes all guesswork out of tuning them! Thanks ever so much for your fast reply. I am highly--and with great pleasure--recommending all of my drummer friends get your DrumDial.
Can you tell me what you guys recommend for my Tama starclassic bb hyperdrive kit? This would help me a ton to save as a guideline how to tune my drums from now on using the drum dial. Thanks so much!!! Rack tom 1- 10x6.5 Rack tom 2- 12x7 Floor tom 1- 14x12 Floor tom 2- 16x14 Bass drum- 22x18 Snare drums- 14x6.5 and 14x5.5.
+Andy Ham Thanks Andy! These settings will work very well for you and will be at the midrange of the toms. 10x6.5 76 top batter 76 bottom resonant 12x7 75 top batter 75 bottom resonant 14x12 74 top batter 74 bottom resonant 16x14 74 top batter 74 bottom resonant 22x18 72 kick batter 70 front resonant 14x6.5 87 top batter 80 bottom resonant 14x5.5. 88 top batter 80 bottom resonant
Hi!! My set is a Tama Superstar Classic with: 20" x 16" Bass drum 10" x 07" Tom 12" x 08" Tom 14" x 14" Floor Tom 14 "x 05" Snare My reso heads are Emperor clear and my top are emperor coated. My snare reso is an ambassador and on top there is a powerstroke 3 coated drumhead. What is your suggestion for a medium tunning? Thanks!
Hi I was wondering if you had any suggestions for tension settings on Remo Silentroke mesh Drum heads on Pearl Export kit a 10" tom, 12" tom, 16" floor tom, 22" kick, and a 14" x snare. Thanks alot Drum dial is such a great product.
DrumDial works great with Remo Silentstroke heads and all types of other mesh heads (single ply, dual and triple). Very good starting points are: toms set to 65-70, snare set to 75-80 and Bass set to 70.
Hi! I have a Pearl VBX with Birch shells. I have 3 Toms that have a Coated Evans G2 batter and a clear Evans G1 Reso. What are some settings that you recommend? Tom sizes: 10x8, 12x9, 16x16. Thanks!!
Hi! I love the product, it really helps. What do you recommend for a Ludwig breakbeat kit? * 16” x 14” Bass Drum * 13” x 13” Floor Tom * 10” x 7” Tom * 14” x 7” Snare
Can you use a drum dial if you've already purchased new heads and already have them on your kit but having a tough time getting them tuned? I've always used double bass pedals and single kicks but now have two kick drums and 2 single pedals and getting them tuned just right has been frustrating me like crazy. So I've been thinking of buying a drum dial.
Sorry I’m a bit late to the drum tuning party but would love a recommendation for lower/medium tuning. Just got a my dial and a Tama Starclassic Walnut/Birch. Tom sizes are 8x10, 9x12, 12x14, 14x16. All are Evans EC2S clear for the batters and EC1 for the resos. The bass is 16x22. My snare is a Starphonic Brass 6.5x14 with an Evans EC Reverse Dot. What numbers should I tune the batter and reso heads to? Thanks in advance!
@DrumdDial Hi I just got my Ddial and it looks like a sturdy and reliable instrument !!. is it possible to get some tuning setting for my new Yamaha Stage Custom Birch please ? All Toms are G2 coated batter head and G1 clear reso. Snare has stock heads : Remo UV coated up and UV clear bottom Bass Drum : Emad 2 on kick and EQ3 with a port on a reso side Snare : 14 x 5.-1/2 Tom1: 10x7 Tom2: 12x8 FTom: 14 x 13 Bass : 20 x 17 Thank you in advance !!
Good morning DrumDial, how would you recommend to tune Ludwig Epic Power Bass drum:22"x18" Evans 360 Emad 2 snare: 14"x6,5" Remo Ambassador Coated Tom 1: 10"x8" Evans 360 Black Chrome Tom 2: 12"x9" Evans 360 Black Chrome Tom 3: 13"x10" Evans 360 Black Chrome Floor tom: 16"x16" Evans360 Black Chrome In all cases resonant is still budget head, delivered with purchased kit.
+Abraham Wu Tune to 82-84 . Use caution when tuning djembes (tuned much looser than congas). The djembe head is much thinner and will break at very high tunings of 85 and higher.
What Do You Recommend I’ve Got PDP DW Mainstage Drum sizes are 8x10" & 9x12" toms, 14x16" floor tom, 18x22" bass drum and 5x14" matching snare. Thank u...
Hi Dumdial, I love the product. What do you recommend for Tama Starclassic walnut/birch kit ? 16"x12" bass drum , 13"x12" floor tom, 10"x7"tom 13"x6"snare, + 20"x14"bass drum 14"x14"floor tom , 12"x8"tom Thanks for your help Greetings from France😊,
Hello may i ask what numbers in the drum dial for the batter/reso head tuning to low or medium? Thank you ! Mu snare drum is a 14x6.5 yamaha stage custom steel snare. Then mapex pro-m 10/12/16. Thank you!
I have a Ludwig Evolution I normally play metal/hard rock songs what would be best tuning for Snare 5” x 14” Toms 8” x 10” and 9” x 12” Floor Tom 16” x 16” Bass Drum 16” by 22”
Hello! I have a mapex mars crossover with Remo Coated for batter and clear for reso. What should mine be tuned to? toms: 10x7, 12x8, 14x12, 16x14 kick: 22x18 snare: 14x6.5
Recommended tuning for Ludwig open "concerto" tom's (Batter heads only) 6" 8" 10" 12" 13" 14" 15" 16" and 18" x 16" floor tom w/ 18" resonant head? Thanks!
Hi! I just got my drumdial and it seems to me that your recomended pressure for the toms (about 74-76) is too low for me, but Im strugglin to find a good littlebit higher tone. Any advices? Im using a pearl vision birch drums -8-10-12-16- with evans genera resonant head on bottom and for the batter Im using an evans g12. Thank you!
Thank you Gabe, yes, tune to what sounds and feels best to you. We provide tuning ranges and suggestions that sound very good, but you have the option of changing it up. If you find a tuning that works best for you, please feel free to share it with us.
How's it Goin guys! I'm playing a 14x14 steel Yamaha snare and I just recently switched from a Aquarian singly ply to a Reno emperor with a single coated head. Any suggestions for tuning?
Hi DrumDial. I've got a Tama Starclassic Performer B/B in Hyperdrive config (see sizes below). Can you help with some DD ideas? I've just replaced the heads with Evans EC2 Clears and would like to nail a 'thuddy' tone. Thanks! 12 X 9 tom 14 X 12 floor tom 16 X 14 floor tom 22 X 18 kick
12 X 9 75 top batter 75 bottom resonant 14 X 12 74 top batter 74 bottom resonant 16 X 14 74 top batter 74 bottom resonant 22 X 18 73 kick batter 72 front resonant
Hello DrumDial! I am a new DrumDial owner and in the process of converting my Mapex M-Series acoustic kit (12", 13", 14"and 16" toms, 14" snare, 22" kick) to an electronic drum kit. Replacing my mylar heads totally, I will be using 2-ply black XS mesh batter heads from 682drums.com and Roland-like center mounted cone triggers. As a resonant head to further reduce drum volume, I am using single-ply Pearl MFH (Mufflehead) mesh heads. The snare wires have been removed. What tensions would you recommend I use for each of these mesh heads (both batter and resonant)? Btw, I really like the quality manufacture and precision nature of your DrumTuner product and highly recommend it. I only wish I discovered it years ago.
Hello DrumDial! I just bought 6.5x14 wood shell snare. What would be a great measure for high tuning and medium tuning sound? Looking forward to hear from you. Thanks!!
DrumDial thank you! I saw a video where they compare the drum dial and tunebot. They said that by getting the tension in the same measure doesnt mean it will make the snare to be in tune/good pitch. It should be measure by the pitch and frequency. What can you comment about this? Thanks
Thank you, that is a common misconception. Whether you are tap tuning by ear or tap tuning with a frequency meter, you must get the drum in tune with itself first by matching the edge frequencies at each tuning point. DrumDial does this automatically and gets the drum mechanically in tune with itself by evenly matching the tension at each lug. By using a frequency meter alone, and not equalizing the tension, the drum will come out of tune very quickly. DrumDial lets you troubleshoot problem drums by identifying bad bearing edges, hoops and heads. A freq. meter cannot do this either.
What are the settings i want to tune it too for top and bottom heads if i want to play rock /metal music? I have 10,12 rack toms 14,16 floor toms 14 inch snare and 22 inch bass drum.
Great videos....I bought a dial because of them....What frequencies should I tune my ocdc venice series to 1 Kick Drum: 22in; 2 Floor Tom’s: 16in; 14in; 2 Rack Tom’s: 12in; 10in; . Might add an 8" that I have laying around as well
That will work and get you a good sounding drum. Follow the video to tune all of your toms to get good stick response and a nice downward sound progression.
These setting will work well for you: 22 74 kick batter 73 front resonant 10 76 top batter 76 bottom resonant 12 75 top batter 75 bottom resonant 16 74 top batter 74 bottom resonant snare 89 top batter 82 bottom resonant
What's the best tuning advice for a pork pie little squealer maple kit. 22x20 kick 14x6.5 snare 12x9 rack and 16x16 floor all Aquarian beaters and Remo ambassador resonant?
I have an 80s Yamaha Birch kit 8x8 tom 10x9 tom 13x10 tom 16x15 floor tom (all toms have EC2 frosted batters and EC resos) 13x7 Pork Pie Little Squealer with a Evans HD Dry batter 14x5.5 DW Black Nickel over Brass with Evans EC Reverse Dot 14x5.5 Yamaha Stage Custom Birch with Remo Ambassador X How do you decide what tunings to use for specific kits and snares? I'd love to be of more help to fellow drummers to their kits/tuning.
8" 77 top batter 77 bottom resonant, 10" 76 top batter 76 bottom resonant, 13" 75 top batter 75 bottom resonant , 16" 74 top batter 74 bottom resonant, 13x7 89 top batter 82 bottom resonant 14x5.5 DW 88 top batter 80 bottom resonant 14x5.5 Yamaha 88 top batter 82 bottom resonant When deciding different tunings, we start at the midrange of the drum or kit. Most sound their best at the midrange or slightly above for small venue and close miking. Tune below the midrange for outdoor venues.
Hi drum dial! I have a pearl MCX masters 10-12-16 with g2's on the top and g1's on the bottom. My kick is a 22. I was wondering what the best settings for these drums are. Also with the opti mount system do I still tune at the lug or in between like you do with a snare bed? Thanks:)
Tune as you normally would at the lug. After the weight of the tom has "settled in" with the opti, recheck tuning. 10 76 top batter 76 bottom resonant 12 75 top batter 75 bottom resonant 16 74 top batter 74 bottom resonant 22 73 kick batter 72 front resonant
Hi Drum Dial could you please recommend setting for a set of Yamaha Stage Custom Birch Fusion Kit. 10x7 and 12x8 rack toms, 14x13 floor and a 20x 17 bass drum. Also, recommended settings for a Mapex Black Panther 14x5 Razor snare and a Yamaha Stage Custom steel 14x7 snare. My toms have Remo Emporer Clear on top and Remo ambassadors clear on the bottom. I absolutely love your product by the way....my snares have remo stock heads on the bottom and Remo controlled sound heads coated on top
@@DrumDial Thank you so much for taking the time to answer. I love your product and am excited to try these settings to see if I can take my kit to the next level.
Hi, I’m looking for recommendations for what I should use for tensions for my kit (Mapex V Series): Snare: Mapex Black Panther Sledgehammer; Batter - Evans EC2 Reverse Dot Resonant - Remo Ambassador Hazy Toms (10” rack & 14” FT): Batter - Evans EC2 SST Resonant - Evans G Plus clear (I think) Thanks in advance!
I just bought the drumdial. Helped me get a good sound from my cheap SP snare drum. What would you recommend for tuning the Tama cocktail jam kit? 10x5 tom, 14x5.5 tom, 16x6 bass. Those are single head drums. The snare is 12x5. Thanks.
@@DrumDial So just use the batter tunings? Only drum with a resonant head is the snare. The toms and kick are single head shallow drums. Thanks for reply.
Yes, use the batter settings. We wanted to include resonant settings for users that have bottom heads for other style cocktail sets. Loving the cocktail kits, thanks for asking!
Gresch Energy with his Gresch heads Kick 18*22 Alt tom 7*10 Floor Tom 8*12 Bass Tom 14*16 Snare 5 1/2*14 What do you recomend for medium and high tune? want for funk music..
A thicker batter head will tune to a lower pitch than a thinner Reso head. If I use both heads with 2 plys, and the same thickness, the drum will resonate at a lower pitch? If true, I suppose it would help with over ring? Is this asking for or creating other issues? Is this a large or small can of worms?
Very good question! Yes, will lower the pitch and overtones with a noticeable decrease in pitch by a half step. Smaller toms will sound deeper. We have seen this technique used on floor toms and bass drums to deepen the sound. Tone and timbre are always fun to experiment with and great sounding drums with excellent stick response is what we strive for. Not opening a can of worms here, especially if the end result helps your music.
The software is our own. You can get a similar program called "Audacity" . We use a spectrum analyzer and spectrum analysis to build the filters. There are pc based spectrum analysis software programs. Let us know if you find a different suitable program. We also use a chromatic tuner to determine the center (fundamental frequency).
don't know if you guys are still helping out with this, but what is the best kind of tuning for metal genre? - 6.5" by 14" snare drum - 8" by 10" tom - 9" by 12" tom - 16" by 16" floor tom - 16" by 22" kick drum
We suggest using a 2 ply top batter over a single ply bottom resonant for toms. These settings will get you the sound you are after with excellent stick response and an even downward sound progression with a nice interval between each tom. snare 88 top batter 82 bottom resonant 10 76 top batter 76 bottom resonant 12 75 top batter 75 bottom resonant 16 74 top batter 74 bottom resonant bass 73 kick batter 72 front resonant
How do we know what to tune it to? I have a Tama Imperialstar with a 12 and 14 inch toms and 16 and 18 inch floor toms. 22 inch bass drum with 14 inch snare. Im confused as to the numbers you are commenting
Not sure where i am going wring on this but after pre-seating 10’ batter, starting at 79-72, and tuning the dial up to 75 in circular fashion as suggested, when im done and double check the tension is showing up to 78. Adjusting the tension down on the 78’s throws everything off and back to square one again. What am i missing here?
Only detune the lugs that are at 79 to just below 75 (1 or 2 tics) be sure to tune in small increments. If you have a lug that is at 73-74, leave it and as you tune the other lugs higher, that lug will go to 75 on its own. Also see our video #3 in the series on troubleshooting if you need more help.
I'm having trouble find tunings for my kit, could you help me please? It's mostly for punchy metal playing, thanks. 10 x 6 Rack 12 x 7 Rack 14 x 12 Floor 16 x 14 Floor 22 x 18 Kick 12 x 5.5 Snare
Hello great DrumDial. Pls can you tell me tension for low, mid and high tun? I have DW Design Toms 10x8 and 12x9 Stand tom 16x14 Bas 22x18 Using a Remo Powerstroke 3 Thnk you.
Hello, I'm Louis, however, you could tell me which voltage for the drum s' head (tuning) would be the most optimal for my drumset. I own a Gretsch Renown mapple. • Shell : 10 x 07” • shell medium : 12 x 08" • Shell bass : 16 x 16” • Bass drum : 22 x 16” In waiting I wish you a very good day Musicalement,
Hey Drumdial, I've jumped on this bandwagon and giving it a go. What are your recommended settings for 22 x 18" Bass 14 x 5.5" Steel Snare 10 x 8" Tom 12 x 9" Tom 16 x 16" Tom Using Remo Pinstripes Batter, Clear Ambassadors Reso
