Snare drum help.

[xBITCHxPLEASEx]

I just picked up a DW snare. I feel kind of silly for asking this, but I've been having a lot of trouble tuning my snare drum to my set because I don't know what it's supposed to sound like. what I do is I turn the peg all the way to make the springs wicked tight. Is this bad for the snare?

Here's a picture of it, if it helps:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51wXWHnkOkL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

[screamoutmyname]

i usually tune the pegs decently tight (depending on how you want it to sound)... then to make sure it's even all the way around, i turn off snares and hit between each peg to make sure that the pitch is fairly consistent each time...

or i guess you could just make sure you turn each peg the same amount.

sorry if this was really confusing, i don't really have a good way to explain it without actually showing you in person haha

[xBITCHxPLEASEx]

i usually tune the pegs decently tight (depending on how you want it to sound)... then to make sure it's even all the way around, i turn off snares and hit between each peg to make sure that the pitch is fairly consistent each time...

or i guess you could just make sure you turn each peg the same amount.

sorry if this was really confusing, i don't really have a good way to explain it without actually showing you in person haha

No, that helped a lot actually. Thank you very much. ^_^

[screamoutmyname]

No, that helped a lot actually. Thank you very much. ^_^

anytime, man.

good luck! =)

[mp3o]

I'd be wary of tuning your lugs to tight on the snare. Some aren't meant for that kind of pressure. You risk cracking the rim or worse...the shell. All depends on the quality of the snare. DW's are usually pretty solid so you should have no worries.

As for how it sounds just tweak until it sounds good with the kit. It also comes down to tuning each lug as close together as possible. Hitting near the lug after the tune will help you do this, just make sure its the same pitch all around (much like the dude above suggested). Also a second part of tuning a lot of people forget is the actual snares on the bottom of your drum.

Also when you tune don't tune clock wise--criss cross. So if you start tuning the first lug say at 1 o'clock position the next you want to tune is the 7 o'clock position. Easier to manage and you are more like to not fuck anything up and get a better sound.

[screamoutmyname]

definitely criss cross... that way the drum-head will stretch evenly.

and adjusting the snares can be a pain, but it pays off... it gives the snare drum a much different sound depending on how tight or loose you make them.

[plickadeedunt]

You also want to have the top head be tighter than the bottom head. And when tuning the drum, make sure you take that advice of getting an even all-around pitch on both the top head AND the bottom head. To get an even better sound out of your snare, put some money into some legit drum heads. The standard ones suck ass.

[thesecrettheatr]

Another trick that I have learned (this goes for all my drum heads) is to tighten my heads more a little tighter than I like them and let them sit that way over night (try your best to make sure the lugs are tightened as evenly as possible). This allows for the head to properly glue itself to the rim of the drum, creating a much crisper and nicer sound.

Cheers,

Chris - The Secret Theatre

[yourprivateeye]

I've always cranked my snare drums at as close to maximum tightness as possible. I love a nice, tight crack from the snare.

I just tune it criss-cross til it gets as tight as it can get without over-tightening it. you can always tell, like feel, if it's over-tightened.

[brandnew741]

Drum Dial it?