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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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.
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Snare drum also known as the side drum is a tubular drum. It is made out of wood or metal with skins and heads stretched over the top and bottom openings. It has a set of snares or the cords stretched over the bottom head. The bottom drumhead is called the resonance or snare head, as it provides resonance against the top drumhead.

How does a snare drum work? When the top head is struck with a drumstick or any other form of beater, including brushes or rutes, there is a sudden increase in pressure within the instrument which causes the snares to vibrate against the bottom head and produces a short, distinctive, snap-like sound. This effect can also be disengaged whenever it is not needed.

Originally snare drums were used as military instruments. They originated from Europe in the 15th century and 16th century where it emerged as a military instrument. Today this combination of its sound can still be found in modern European folk music. They were commonly called tabor and were used in marching bands in the Swiss military. Today, snare drums are commonly used in contemporary western music.

Snare drum comes in many different sizes, which ultimately changes the sound that the drum produces. The snare drums used in a pipe band, a musical ensemble consisting of pipers and drummers are unique which comes with a second set of snares on the bottom (internal) side of the top (batter) head. Some of the military side drums have this feature as well.

Here are a few types of snare drums:

1. Old Marching Snare or the Field Drum: This is the diagonally hung snare seen in war reenactments. The heads are made of animal skin, and a rope strung back and forth between eyelets held on to each rim.

2. New Marching Snare: This is similar to any other snare drum concept, but the difference is in the execution of these drums. They are known for their crispness and loudness. They are generally mounted on the front of body of a person like a table on a metal shoulder harness that extends down the chest. The stick used on these drums is also thicker and beefier.

3. Metal snare: Metal snares are what are commonly seen in drum set. They have a piercing and loud tone, which are suitable for pop music. The head is also synthetic or imitation animal skin like the other kind of drum snares.

4. Piccolo Snare: They are smaller snare drums. They have a higher more piercing sound than the Metal snare. They also have a loud tone, which is suitable for pop music. Its size is between 10 and 13 inches in diameter and around 3 inches deep. The construction is similar to that of a metal snare.

5. Wood Snare: this type of snare drum has the clearer and the most distinctive tone. Their sounds are well associated with jazz, blues and classical music settings. They produce a more softer and subtle sound. Even the wood used in making these types is soft wood.

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:
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