Snare Drum springs buzz with bass-guitar

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Gear_Junky

Gear_Junky

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I have this question (for live practice, not recording):

when we practice in a room, the snare drum's springs buzz nastily when the bass-guitar plays a sympathetic tone (which many of them are).

True or False: by increasing the wattage on the bass-amp and increasing the number of bass speakers (like in a stack or plugging the bass amp into PA so that it's heard through the PA speakers AND the amp) this problem will be reduced because "bassist won't have to be as loud" (because of improved presence).

I really don't know, but I had this hunch, so perhaps someone can help me.

My snares are not that loose, it's tuned just the way I like it. Could tightening the snares help maybe? I may be able to sacrifice a little bit of that snare-drum snap, but not much :)

Thanks!
 
This will happen anytime the drums are in the same room with other instruments. Tightening your snares might help by changing the number of notes that they are sypathetic to.

You bass player getting more speakers will have no effect. You can get your snares to rattle if you just hum a sypathetic note close to the snare. It doesn't take much.
 
Its a drum, a drum works by resonation, sound resonants the drum, it can't be stoped compltely. but sometimes using a muffle device of som kind can help.
 
it always makes me really happy when i hear snare rattles in songs
 
treymonfauntre said:
it always makes me really happy when i hear snare rattles in songs
Click to expand...

:) You mean you're happy because they got it too? Or do you aesthetically like it?
 
You could try detuning and even tuning the snare up. Chances are, you won't be able to escape the bass frequencies. You'll likely end up getting too many sympathetic's from toms or your kick! Just live with it!
 
Questions

Gear_Junky said:
I have this question (for live practice, not recording):

when we practice in a room, the snare drum's springs buzz nastily when the bass-guitar plays a sympathetic tone (which many of them are).

True or False: by increasing the wattage on the bass-amp and increasing the number of bass speakers (like in a stack or plugging the bass amp into PA so that it's heard through the PA speakers AND the amp) this problem will be reduced because "bassist won't have to be as loud" (because of improved presence).

I really don't know, but I had this hunch, so perhaps someone can help me.

My snares are not that loose, it's tuned just the way I like it. Could tightening the snares help maybe? I may be able to sacrifice a little bit of that snare-drum snap, but not much :)

Thanks!
Click to expand...
How far is it from the snare?
Can you increase the distance?
Have you tried angling the bass cabinet in different directions?
Maybe use some kind of partition between kit/bass cabinet?
The sound is obviously coming direct as well as bounceback. You need to isolate it's direction so that ,as much as possible, it's not coming at your kit.
If you're in small quarters it's gonna be hard to block off.
If you run split cabinets on either side of the kit, you might be able to get the bassist to bring it down.
Maybe try isolating the frequency? (EQ the bass dude)
I've even had to drop my snare chains during bass solos when playing in small places.
Let me know what you find out...
 
Yes, it's in a small room. I don't think redirecting the bass will help - lows are non-directional (or less than highs), so it'll keep buzzing.

But EQ'ing is a good idea to try. Of course, his cab only has a 3-band non-parametric EQ, so i don't have much control. But I'll try. Will post results.
 
Gear_Junky said:
I have this question (for live practice, not recording):
Click to expand...

It's for live practice so just let them buzz.
For recording (execpt for drums) I always turn the snare off so it won't buzz.
 
There will always be sympathetic snare buzz when playing in the same room. But, it sounds from your description as if the room is small and not treated acoustically to absorb bass frequencies. Try adding a few bass traps in the corners to reduce the low frequency build up. Another thing you can do is ask the bass player to EQ off a little bottom. I know, they hate to hear that. But, usually there is more low frequency coming out than you really need.
 
I would think...

Gear_Junky said:
Yes, it's in a small room. I don't think redirecting the bass will help - lows are non-directional (or less than highs), so it'll keep buzzing.

But EQ'ing is a good idea to try. Of course, his cab only has a 3-band non-parametric EQ, so i don't have much control. But I'll try. Will post results.
Click to expand...
In a perfect projection without obstruction from any direction, lows would be non-directional and equally proportional. But it stands to reason that, if this were true for speaker projection, nobody would bother building baffles to channel, lining speaker enclosures, strategic sound placement, etc. Is this wrong?
I used to use a combo of EQ, traps and partitions to minimize, and it wasn't complete but definitely effective.
Lemme know what you get.
Hell, build a separation wall! :D
 
While you won't be able to get rid of it completely these will help reduce the rattle.

Tighten up the snares a bit.

Try a very small amount of cloth or folded paper towel near the edges where the snare meets edge of the drum.

If you have a 10 lug snare, try slighty detuning the lugs on the resonant head that are closest to the snare wires (four lugs total).

Move the bass amp away from the kit -- or in a small space, try moving the bass amp to the other side of the kit.

-Rez
 
I'll try these, thanks!

I'm doing quite a bit of reading on bass traps and while I won't be buying any, I'll try to devise a way of building some cheapo ones. Right now I'm thinking of just stuffing the pink insulation into cardboard boxes (for shape/portability) and piling those in corners.

I'm also starting to remember the advice to detune the resonant lugs around the snares - will try that too!

After all the acoustics reading, though, I now realize that the room size is the biggest culprit. This room should be called a walk-in closet, not bedroom! At least it has 2 entrances, though.

Thanks, everyone!
 
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