Tuning your drum set is one of the most important maintenance activities as a drummer. Even before the drummer starts playing or recording he has to ensure that the drum is well tuned and ready to sound good. A general drum kit consists of bass drum, cymbal, snare, hi-hats and toms.

So while tuning your drum set, you can start by tuning the snare drums.

Tune the top head at the very start. Turn each lug clockwise to increase the tension of the head and to increase the drum pitch. You can also, tune one lug and then tune the lug on its opposite side preferably 180 degrees away. The drums are bound to sound better when you do not tune these lugs in a circular sequence. However, be careful not to tune it too high, as the heads tend to break easily.

While tuning your drum set test the pitch of each lug when finished by lightly playing about one inch away from the lug with a drumstick Also, make sure while tuning your drum set that all lugs have equal pitch. At this point your drum should be tuned.

The next step in tuning your drum set is by tuning the toms.

You can start by tuning the bottom head of each tom-tom. You can then use the same tuning sequence as the snare technique for tuning each lug and then its opposite. After tuning the bottom move to the head. The head is where the pitch is located. Thus, it is very important that you have an idea of what pitch you want. Tune it to the pitch you want.

After you have got the right pitch, check each lug pitch so that it matches the others in the same manners as the snare drums.

After tuning your toms, the next step in tuning your drum set is the bass drums.

Start by tuning the head at first. It is advisable not to spend too much time tuning, as the head does not have much impact on the sound of the drum. After you have spend time tuning the head, you can start tuning the lug of the back head in the same manner as you tune the toms and snare. You should make sure your drum is tuned neither too high nor too low. Bass drum sounds really depend on the style of music you’re playing and how much impact the drum has with the group you play with.

When tuning your drum set, you must initially imagine the tones you want to hear, it is then important that you must discover how to tweak those exact tones from each drum. While tuning your drum set look closely at your snare drum and try to decide exactly what factors most affect the tonal quality.

Notice the square headed screws around the top and bottom rims of the drum. They are known as tension rods or tension screws. They screw into the lugs, which are usually mounted permanently on the sides of the shell of the drum. You may tighten or loosen these screws with a tool called a drum key.

A drum key can be purchased at any music store for a dollar or two. Adjustments to the tension screws with a drum key will affect the tension on the drumhead, which will raise or lower the pitch of the drum.

However, tuning your drum set depends more on your ear and the tone you want.

About the Author: Victor Epand is an expert consultant for guitars, drums, and synthesizers. You can find the best marketplace for guitars, drums, and synthesizers at these 3 sites: guitars,drums, drum sets, drum tuning, and synthesizers, keyboards.
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Buying a good drum kit is one of the most essential concerns for a drummer. A few tips on buying drum kits will however make this task easy.

Tips on buying drum kits 1
Know the parts of the instruments. The major step when buying a drum kit is to know the combination. Not all drummers have the same combination. So if you are a drummer who prefers to use various percussions, be prepared to invest in a kit that will cost you differently from other kits.

Tips on buying drum kits 2
Buy the stands. A simple kit for beginners will consist of cymbal and cymbal stands. As a purchaser, make sure that the stands have wing nuts for the tops. Also, complete your set with a foot pedal for bass drum along with hi-hat stand and hi-hat clutch for hi-hat cymbals. But most importantly you should purchase a drum key along with the general kit. The drum key will help you to tune your drums with ease.

Tips on buying drum kits 3
Old is gold. While buying drum sets, it is always advisable to buy your kit from reputable dealers. Also make sure you have a guarantee on your drum set. A guaranteed drum set usually has more longevity.

Tips on buying drum kits 4
Affordability. Brand name cymbals can often be expensive for the pocket. However, cymbals in packs of 2 to 4 can make the purchase inexpensive. One can always upgrade them later but make sure that both top and bottom heads are on the drums. Make sure none of the tuning lugs on the drums are missing.

Tips on buying drum kits 5
Prepare a checklist. Before you get into a store, prepare a checklist. Besides being sure about cymbal stands and nut’s presence, a few more things should also be checked. Be sure that laminate or exterior drum finish is in good condition. The hardware should appear comparatively sturdy and all the locking mechanisms should be secure. Double check to see that the drumheads are in a relatively good shape. It is very important as the entire sound depends on it. Also, replacing them at once can be a very expensive task.

Tips on buying drum kits 6
Go for a second hand. It is sometimes more safer to buy a drum kit from an older player who takes better care of his equipment. If you are still not confident about the idea, ask an experienced drummer to accompany you.

Tips on buying drum kits 7
Trust your gut instinct. It is very important to trust your gut feeling and also, your sense of hearing. If it does not sound nice to you then you probably should not buy it. There is no point in investing in a kit that does not sound right.

Tips on buying drum kits 8
Budget. It is very important to set your budget before you get started. Do not set it too low, as it may take you longer to find something that you are looking for.

However, whatever drums kit you are buying, check the pedal response, cymbal quality and hardware quality and it is always advisable to stick to brands while buying instruments.

About the Author: Victor Epand is an expert consultant for guitars, drums, and synthesizers. You can find the best marketplace for guitars, drums, and synthesizers at these 3 sites: guitars, drums, drum kits, and synthesizers, keyboards.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as a cowbell, wood block, chimes or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single drummer. The 5 piece drum kit represents one of the best available drum sets for the beginners.

Different manufacturers include different components in a 5 piece drum kit. Some manufacturer would suggest that a full sized 5 piece drum kit will include cymbals, bass drum pedal, throne, double-braced hardware, drum key. Whereas, other manufacturers would like to include Bass drum, Snare drum, Floor tom, Hi-Hat, Crash cymbal, and Ride cymbal in a 5 piece drum kit.

Most entry-level drum kits are made of basswood, poplar, or Philippine mahogany, which is cheaper wood that does not produce a high quality sound. It is perfect for a young teenager just starting out. Higher-end drums use more expensive wood such as birch or maple, which produce a rich, more resonant tone.

A brief history

Drums were the original musical instrument, dating back to at least 6000 B.C. Rhythm and melody are the two primary features in any piece of music, and drums function as a purely rhythmical medium unlike any other instrument. The modern drum set did not exist until the 19th century, with the addition of pedals to allow a percussionist to manipulate cymbals or drums with his feet.

Different components of a 5 piece drum kit

Though a variety of combinations are available in a 5 piece drum kit in the market, we would be discussing a standardized drum kit which normally includes a bass drum, a snare drum, a tom drum, a hi hat, a crash cymbal and a ride cymbal.

Bass drum
A bass drum is a large drum that produces a note of low definite or indefinite pitch. There are three general classifications of bass drums: the concert bass drum, the kick drum, and the pitched bass drum.

Snare drum
The snare drum or side drum is a tubular drum made of wood or metal with skins, or heads, stretched over the top and bottom openings, and with a set of cords stretched across the bottom head.

Floor Tom
A floor tom is a double-headed tom-tom drum which usually stands on the floor on three legs. They can also be fixed to a cymbal stand with a drum clamp.

Hi hat
Hi hat is a core element in the drum set because it is used as the primary time keeper. It is actually a pair of cymbals mounted on a specialized stand. A hi-hat is a type of cymbal and stand used as a typical part of a drum kit by percussionists in jazz, rock and roll, and other forms of contemporary popular music.

Crash cymbal
Crash cymbal is a type of cymbal that produces a loud, sharp crashing sound and is used mainly for occasional accents. They can be mounted on a stand and played with a drum stick.

Ride cymbal
A ride cymbal is a type of cymbal that is a standard part of most drum kits. Its function is to maintain a rhythm, rather than to provide accents. The main ride cymbal is normally the largest cymbal in a drum kit.

About the Author: Victor Epand is an expert consultant for guitars, drums, and synthesizers. You can find the best marketplace for guitars, drums, and synthesizers at these 3 sites: guitars, bass guitar gears , drums, drum sets,5 piece drum kits, and synthesizers, keyboards.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com