Sick Drummer Magazine

It seems like everyone here has some good knowledge, and i need some knowledge heh.

When i tune my toms it seems like I'm fishing in the dark at times.

I realize the top head usually is tuned just tight enough to get the wrinkles out, i usually give them like an 1/8th of a turn after that, but im not sure what all the bottom controls. Is it pitch?

I have a problem right now actually with my 12" and 14" toms. When I hit them, I get the tone and then kind of a "wooooaaaoooom" after it(if you've ever had that, hopefully you know what i mean). Anyone know how to fix this?

The bottom heads are also known as the resonant heads, or reso heads, because they control the resonance of the drum. How long the note will last for. That wooooaaaaaoooom is probably coming from the tuning of those heads. Try tuning them a fair bit tighter then your top heads. I currently have my batter heads tuned pretty much exactly how you descirbed, for kinda a meaty low end punch. The easiest way to cut out that noise tho, is to use thicker ply heads. Try some double ply heads like pinstripes on top. You always want a thinner head on the bottom then on the top tho, so try ambassadors on the bottom. Thats quite a commonly used head combo, but generally does the job for metal. If you cant dish out the cash for that, invest in some moongel. Stick a lump of that on each tom and they wont ring out haaalf as much as normal.

Yes moongel is worth the investment of like $9 or something like that. It helps keep your toms from going woooaaaaooom.

Yeah, I think im going to go and buy new bottom heads. Pay day is today! =)

I've also considered the moongel, but i love having resonant toms. They just sound so much more beatiful, i just gotta get that sound out!

i see it as this: the bottom heads control the length of the sound and the top controls the pitch. mine are tuned to be short lenght of sound and all my toms are tuned high.

Try to tune your bottoms skins to get rid of your "woooooaaaooommm" sound.

I have a problem with my snare tuning any help? My snare is too sharp and i would like to tune the pitch down, but each time i try something it just doesn't work.... Please help