Tuning Percussion
Although these
pages are designed to help you get
the best sound from your acoustic percussion in a live setting,
they will also allow you to provide an excellent sound source for
more specialised applications such as close-miking or
recording.
The following basic principles apply to tuning any drum:
Drums are made of materials which resonate (vibrate).
Therefore, the best sound will be achieved if this is allowed to
happen.
Different types of drum head are made to produce different
types of sound. Natural skin and synthetic heads have their own
qualities of sounds. Remember that natural skin heads will VARY
in THICKNESS much more than their synthetic counterparts.
Your drums will produce their best sound if the drum heads
and drum shell resonate together (in sympathy).
Tune the drums to sound their best and then 'fine tune' out
any unwanted rings either by SUBTLE changes in tuning of the top
or bottom head or by SUBTLE damping if necessary.
Remember that if you are not miking-up your drums, you will
need resonance and extra overtones (ring) to project their sound
over the other instruments. Some of the more characteristic
sounds of percussion drums are achieved through their
resonance.
If you are miking-up, it is relatively easy for a sound
engineer to get a great sound from a good sounding source (drum),
but almost impossible to achieve a good sound from a poor
sounding drum
Tuning is a very personal thing, and represents
part of your 'drum identity' or 'trade mark'.
The suggestions contained in these pages have been found to give
excellent performance across a wide range of musical styles, and
produced the most favourable comments from audience and sound
engineers.
Choose which page you would like to view from the list below.
Tuning Drums with Natural Skin
Heads
Tuning Drums with Synthetic
Heads
Muffling
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