What's your tuning interval if any?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deen
  • Start date Start date
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Deen

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Hi guys,

My kit is the standard one with a pesky 13" between the
12 and 16. Most pro's skip diameters and get a natural
interval between the drums and get easier tuning and
more melodic sounds. But what baffles me is how guys
like Anton Fig, Simon Philips, Manu Katche, Billy Cobham
and Jack De Johonette tune their 13" toms and still get
that nice ascending and descending progression of
sounds when rolling on the toms. Is there a specific
interval that drummers are using to tune a kit with a 13"?
I can't seem to get that 13" to sound the way I like it.
 
As a general rule I try to tune to an interval of a 4th, however I have found that the 13" sometimes works better with the 3rd.

As an example - in the key of G, the 12" is tuned to G, the 13" is tuned to C (the 4th) and the 16" is G (an octave). However, if the 4th for the 13' takes it too high, out of it's ideal resonant range, tuning to B (a 3rd) may work better.

The reality is, each drum must be tuned to what sounds best for that drum, which makes the theroy of melodic tuning more of a guideline than a science.

Good luck.
 
interesting. How do you guys get the fundamental tone of the drum: with a tuner or by ear?
 
In theory, the best way to establish the fundamental tone for a drum is to take the heads off (some argue you must also remove all hardware) and suspend the drum shell in a manner that allows you to hit the shell and listen to the tone of the wood - that is the fundamental tone of the drum.

I've never been that anal about it (although it does seem logical).

If I'm trying to tune to a specific scale (normally for recording a song in a given key) I will tune the drums by ear (to a guitar note or a piano, etc). I don't believe I've ever tuned precisely to a given key - because you still need to tweak the tuning to allow for maximum resonance, etc.
 
Thanks

Thanks Guys,

I tune my toms using a piano.

Mikeh, you seem like a pro. I guess few drummers tune
to intervals since after more than 40 reads on this thread
only 2 responses. I'll try the intervals you suggested.
Thanks again.
 
Deen, thanks for the kind words. I did play at a professional level for several years. I now play "semi-professional" doing about 50 gigs per year. I have always tried to approach drums as much from a melodic approach as a rythemic approach.
 
Tama Swingstar w/ Remo Pinstripe, no bottom heads :

1st mounted 12" : (D - 587Hz)
2nd mounted 13" : (A - 440Hz)
Floor Tom 16" : (A - 220Hz)

Sounds great. I always tune with 440 as a base and it is in tune with most keys.
 
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