How to Tune Your SNARE Drum (the RIGHT way) 

This is probably the only video I've seen where the length matches the real-world time it takes to change heads and includes everything. 💗

Ha, I used to put looped gaffa tape on top of the head for years before I discovered moon gels. Can't believe I never thought of putting it underneath. Facepalm moment. That snare drum is beautiful.

Hey Stanton, Ever stretched a (clean new) sweat sock across the batter bearing edge, then placed the head ? You’ll get a rifle-crack. I’ve got a Sonor ferromanganese snare and this modification produces the best sound I’ve ever gotten out of the drum. This might be an old trick everybody knows, I have no idea, but if you’re after a sharp dry sound, it works. (And…If you’re playing with Buddy Guy, and you want the music “so funky you can smell it”, well, substitute the appropriate piece of clothing in the appropriate condition….) You might recall, I’m the guy who suggested applying phrases to drum licks instead of numbers (or applying phrases to them AFTER learning them with numbers, with counting)- at least for us beginners, the playing becomes much more musical, and easier to remember. I’d guess that’s why Trilok Gurtu was surprised we westerners put numbers to music - in his country of India, they don’t count notes: “What a strange thing to do, music is a language…I don’t know how to have a conversation on stage with my bandmates through Math…” All the best man! Thanks for the teaching Patrick

Those 15" Kerope hats sound absolutely amazing! So does the snare.

This is the New Yankee Workshop of drum videos. So relaxing and enjoyable.

Hell yeah, I love how you made your snare an 8-lug. I always dug the sound and characteristics of an 8-lug more than 10-lug. A little more lively-er and has more personality. Kinda like a dude struttin down the street after having a few drinks....not a lot. But got that swag walk.....but sonically on a snare. I know Bonham used a 10-lug supra, but i always felt like his personality and swagger was more in line with 8-lugs...

Excellent video and great idea with the tape underside of the remo skin

This is fantastic for me- an aging guitar player, that for some reason now, wants to be an aging drummer!😅 Very informative- great playing here!

"That's still CRANKED, hahahaaha" I lol'd loud and long there.

Appreciate your tutorial on snare drum tension options. The reason the tension points nearest the Remo logo are sounding lower is because you have gaffers tape underneath the head at those points. Friendly tip... always bring the tension from low to high when adjusting, just like a guitar string. Down then up. The drum head, just like the guitar string stretches. Peace! To be a rock and not to roll......or maybe buzzzzzzzz roll ; )

To me it seems like the tape would really help to control the overtones when listening to the pitches at each lug, Genius!

That’s the snare sound I have in my head… awesome

I really dig that muffler at the end!

Just bought your Acacia Spirit of New Orleans from Memphis Drum Shop. New drummer so thought I'd start out with the best snare! Thank you for all your videos! Snare shipped yesterday. So excited about my new instrument!

Great lesson and I agree ears are better. I also like my head to have a certain tension feel. I take it that when you fold your Snareweight underneath it adds a little “mass” to the damping. I know the concept of folding the ends in but on top is to give a tad less damping. Killer sounding snare too!

This is great, and I like a different approach on how to achieve this low fat sound. I was getting similar results with detuning lugs 2-3 lugs closest to me and adding weight (a wallet kind of muffling) but I always believed this is not particularly "healthy" for thinner heads. This makes more sense. Thanks :)

Wow! That snare sounds great at every level. Even the low tuning is nice. I guess that's what you get with a Dunnet. Pardon my spelling. 🥁❤

You did it first try with no effort at all and it sounded amazing. I've been trying for 3 years to tune and i always get this bell-like ring no matter what i do (3 different snares and still). Can i ask you to touch on tuning only the snare side next video? Thing is, many of us would like to know how the snare head should sound on it's own so it can co-vibrate correctly with the top head. Thanks in advance, you are an amazing inspiration.

Love the tape idea gels are getting old and definitely get in the way sometimes. Thanks for all your videos 🥁🔥

Please video of the snare side!! Thaks idol!!!

I have yours Titanium Galactic Black version. Awesome instrument! Fantastic snare :)

Very good!! Thank you for sharing you knowledge, much appreciated!!

This is SO great, Stanton! 🔥🔥🔥 I'm a proud owner of that Titanium SONO snare (which btw is the best snare I have ever played), so I was waiting for that video like crazy! Really cool, "step by step" breakdown of your tuning process. Diggin' that Jeff Hamilton tape trick too!! Your video at the Drum Center Of Portsmouth is also great showing how great and versatile that snare drum is (along with the equally amazing Acacia version). To be honest, I like the lower tuning even without the Big Fat snare. I mean, it has its purpose. So, I have a couple of questions but I think I will save them for the Stanton MOORE Drum Academy (SMDA) forum, hehe...😉 Thanks for sharing this, man!! 🙏🏻

Stanton, thank you for your insights!

Very helpful, thanks! Even had rhythm with your brushes when just smoothing the drum head down. Just saw you again in Seattle and the show was so great.

Very very good tips My friend.

Thanks Stanton

Awesome video, thanks for all the inspiration over the years! I bump you and the dirty dozen at work all day! I can't wait for the snare side video!

Great video, thank you.

Haha, I own and enjoy the same snare drum. I also have your solid maple version.

Thanks. Nice video.

Man you’ve got a nice pumping sort of push-pull business in the left hand roughly around 17:15, dang man that’s nice. Is that sort of an ostinato stroke, or some finger stuff? Would like to see if you have a video on that or maybe a zoom lesson? You do those?

Just curious why you didn’t show how to tune the snare side

16:43: Left Hand groove 18:15: Second Line var.

Does the muffling w/ tape on the underside of the head work on the toms as well? Great method!

I love Stanton, but I don't understand the 'change head because it's a little worn' thing. heads sound best in their death throes. especially with brushes

how tight or loose do you have your bottom snare side heads? on a regular size snare? on a deeper size snare? what should average be start so we can have flexibility to tune ? any advice appreciated

What about the snare side. It’s not mentioned and is one of the most important things to get right..

So when I change a drumhead, Is it okay 🆗👍🤣 if I can put Remo coated head with a black 🖤 dot?

Still waiting for the snare side tutorial 😉

An internal muffler like in a Jazz Festival or an old Gretsch round badge would eliminate the need for the tape, yes?

what snarewire do you use in this video?

Would you find the gaff tape ribbons beneficial in taking the edge off of the resonating ring with toms?

Ok. And what about the reso head?

Great video. Thanks for the help. Can you tell us what kind of in ear monitors are those?

What about the reso head? 😫

I've been playing drums for 8 years and I eventually find out there is a item called “Tape”.

Off subject but if you don’t mind, is that a large-diameter set of hi hats? 15 or 16”? I’ve been using larger hats in recent years and love the buttery lower thing, you have a nice mellow tone on those hats!

Great tips in here. Which kerope hats are those?

My Game is Héctor . I live in Caracas venezuela

🎼🎵🎶🤟

Super Mario! Did anyone hear that?

I have your 4.5x14 Acacia model. Do you keep the 42 strand snares on your drums or do you prefer different strand counts to get the level of snare response you want in different musical settings?

No mention of the bottom head…! That’s most important, regarding sound..

Why not just use a drumdial to evenly tighten the lugs?

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Why don’t you just use a heavier batter head? It seems like you don’t actually like the Ambassador.

Well i think it was great before the Big Fat Snare Drum head on top.....

1. Star pattern tuning does nothing special. You just forget what lugs you tuned up. 2. Tune the lugs only up the last time so the head doesn`t get stuck in the tightened position. String instruments also suffer from this. 3. Don't press the head with the hand, it only loosens the head unevenly. (it`s already sitting how it supposed to sit since you tightened the lugs up) 4. Reso head is at least as important to tune right. There`s a whole different technique there.

Good Grief, isn't there enough HOW TOO TUNE out there. It's getting real old seeing all these "want to be famous dudes" doing what has already been shown a half million times all over the net. Besides, it's all about "HEY LOOK AT ME, I'M ON RU-vid". And could care less what anybody says or thinks of me posting here.👎