DrumDial Drum Tuning Part 3 (Troubleshooting) 

I bought the drum dial and always had problem with tuning. This troubleshoot video helped me figuring out that all my shells where damaged. Very helpful;-)

I've had my drum dial for years and it makes tuning so easy! Unfortunately I never saw these videos before. I've spent so many hours in confusion trying to tune around lugs that sound too high or low, even though the tension was the same. Now that I've watched these videos, I'm pretty certain that my drums have some of the problems described here. Looks like I'll need to check my bearing edges and hoops.

If the bearing edges are even all the way around and the heads are new, you are correct that the hoop may have some high spots. The wooden hoops are not as easy to repair as the metal ones. Check the wooden hoops on a flat surface just like you would for the bearing edges. Wooden hoops can be repaired if needed by most drum repair shops.

I am definitely purchasing one of these! Mainly because i've "chased" that note many times on the batter and reso heads while tuning (yes, other head was muted, i promise haha). Thank you for the insight in the videos. Now i can tune my 7 piece set without so much pain.

Very cool I think you have a new customer

That does sound like your surface test area is not very even and flat. You can check the table top, flat test area by using a long metal level or other known flat tool, like a large carpenters square. If the test surface has low spots, they can be built up with layers of craft paper taped at the edges. The flat glass test for the bearing edge and hoop sound like you got them perfect! Definitely time to tune up.

Yes, I tried the ambassador...more volume, more sustain, more rebound, vintage sound...so much better than amy other Emperor, G2, Ec2, Pinstripe etc. head...

Hi, settings for a Ludwig backbeat. Bassdrum: 22x16 emad2 batter, and factory reso. Tom: 12x9 ec2 batter and factory reso. Floor tom: 16x16 ec2 batter and factory reso. Snare drum: 14x6.5 g1 batter and 300 for reso.

Yes, but it will only be temporary. The hoop and head will deform again. Bearing edges are an inexpensive fix and can be repaired in a few days at most drum repair shops and custom drum shops.

Match the top and bottom heads. For example use a Remo Ambassador on both the top and bottom and match the DrumDial readings (75 top and bottom). A thicker head, like a 2 ply, matched on the top and bottom will have less sustain than a thinner head tuned to its mid range.

It is possible to get the hoops very straight and flat. The surface you are checking against must be very flat, otherwise you may end up bending the straight portions of your hoop. An easy fix for this is to only check the hoop, as you rotate it, at the same area on the flat test surface (table top, etc.). A tiny bit of wobble? We can absolutely work with that.

Excellent drum tuning video. I’ve had my DrumDial for about 5 years now but struggled with the best drum tensions for the various batter and bottom heads. It was interesting to see the various recommendations for the various kits in your reply’s to questions. I play classic rock on a 7 piece Tama Rockstar kit. From what I can pull from your recommendations the following looks like what you might suggest. Would you have any suggestions on changing the following. 14” Snare Batter 85 and bottom head 81. Mounted Toms 10” Batter and bottom 76, 12” Batter and bottom 75, 13” Batter 75 and bottom 72, Floor Toms 16” and 18” Batters and bottoms 74 and finally the Bass 24” Front and back 74. Thank you in advance for your guidance

I absolutely love my drum dial! It helped me discover a bad bearing edge. Now, were would I look for someone to fix the bad spot?

Very helpful!

In part 2 of this series you tuned the toms to around 75 on the DrumDial. Here in part 3 you have this tom's batter head at 85 on the DrumDial. Is there one of your lessons that explains why, or can you explain here?

Why don't you sell the software shown in the video? I believe there would be a market for it.

Hi, settings for a Tama Superstar hyperdrive? Kick drum: 22x18 emad2 Batter and std tama reso Rack toms: 10x6.5 and 12x7 ec2 batter and std tama reso Floor toms: 14x12 and 16x14 batter ec2 and std tama reso Snare drum: 14x5.5 g1 batter and Evans reso.

are you just using a normal tuning program on the computer there? Like a guitar tuner?

Hello! I have a brass snare that have exactly the same problems. My question is: can a brass snare be fixed if it have a bad bearing edge?

Would a shell thats out of round, or a head thats been over tightened also cause a loose lug?

Hello, I have digital drum dial How can I tune my set? snare 13 " Tom 12 " Floor tom 14 " Floor tom 16 " Bass drum 20 "

If I repair the deformed hoop and change the head of the drum without fixing the bearing edge, may I get likewise a rather accurate tuning avoiding loose tension rods?

I can tune a drum by just going in a circle rather than doing the star pattern?

Any recommendations on tension for 8x8, 10x10, and 12x12 toms, 14x14, and 16x16 floor toms, and 22x18 bass drum?

I've been battling with a couple of snare drums with loose tension rods at higher indicated pressure on the drumdial, but my tests show the issue is the hoop rather than the bearing edge. I'm pretty sure the bearing edges aren't the problem because they all passed the paper test. Does that sound plausible, or is there something else I should look for?

I have 10", 12", 16" toms... a 14" wood snare (Ayotte) and 22" kick. Suggested tunings? Is there a formula for changing the tunings for different keys?

Very Nice, what is the application you use on your pc to tune. thank you.-

Hi, I have a new 20X17.5 Sonor Select Force Bass Drum. While trying to tuning the resonant following your recommendations I can't tune it below 80 without the lugs being loose. I try the circular and the cross pattern. Any advice appreciated, Thanks

Hello Steve! What software do you use for tuning?

Hi, I have a 14x 5.5 Tomahawk Steel snare, On my resonant head- lugs by snare wires are stuck at 90 and wont let me go below as it is usually loose by now while all other readings can reach to 85. Is this a frame warp issue?, my top head is at 90 and I cant get the bottom to a proper 85. It also sounds pretty high pitched but also pretty good! so I wonder if this issue is detrimental as I like a low snare but cant seem to get there.

What program is that on the laptop behind the drum at the 3:37 time mark?

I just got a digital drum dial and have a question. Is it normal for the reading to change after tuning another lug?

Hello, what is the name of the application you have on the computer

How does the drum develop a bad bearing edge? Is it just a mess-up from the factory or does it form over time?

What's the pc software shown on 2:40? Thanks