How do I tune my toms low?

How to tune toms, in 8 simple steps

1. Seat the heads. Once again, we’re going to begin by seating the heads, a process that is arguably more important on toms than on any other drum type.
2. De-wrinkle.
3. Tension in half-turns.
4. Loosen up.
5. Start at the bottom.
6. Match your heads.
7. Make it sing.
8. Turn to the top.

What should I tune my toms to?

Toms are usually tuned a fourth apart (the first two notes of “Here Comes the Bride”). This is also dependent on the number of toms; drum kits with several toms may need to be tuned to closer intervals to allow all the drums to sound their best and not be tuned beyond their comfortable frequency range.

Why do my toms sound so bad?

Holding your finger down in the middle of the head to help deaden some of the overtones helps. If you tune all your toms that way and they still sound bad then get new heads (I like Evans G2 clear) and try tuning again. Tune the batter head tight and the resonate head very loose.

What is the standard tuning for drums?

The thin, sensitive bottom (resonant) head is generally tuned higher than the batter head, to deaden the tendency for lengthy, ringing resonance. The resonant head on a 14-inch snare drum is tuned to a range of 330–391 Hz (E4 to G4), depending on the overall tuning of the drum kit.

Why are tom drums called toms?

Native american ceremonial drums were referred to as tom toms because of the sound they produced. that name stuck for non-snare drums. In the early 20th century imported drums from China without snares were called China Toms. Originally part of the trap set they began being mounted on bass drums early in the century.

Should resonant heads be tighter?

To a certain point, the tighter the reso head, the more resonance the drum will have. But after that certain point, the drum becomes choked and doesn’t sound too good. If you want to minimize sustain, detune your reso head until you find the sound you want.

Should I compress toms?

Toms don’t really need a lot of compression in order for them to sit well in a mix. But that will all depend on the dynamic range of the toms. A slow attack time of about 10ms and a medium to long release time will work well. A ratio of 4:1 or less is good and a gain reduction of about -4dB.

How loud should toms be in a mix?

It should be loud enough that the low frequencies are rich and powerful, but not so loud that it masks the bottom-end of the snare drum. Then, start bringing in the toms. These can be almost as loud as the snare if they’re used sparingly, but if they’re heavily featured they should sit a little further back in the mix.

What’s the best way to tune your Toms?

Take your new head and place on the drum, refit hoop and tension all rods to finger tight. Press firmly in the middle (vary the amount of hand you use depending on the drum size) and look out for those wrinkles. RECOMMENDED VIDEOS FOR YOU… 2. De-wrinkle

What’s the best tuning range for a tom drum?

Following that, I then batter head a minor 3rd lower than resonant, so if the reso is C#, the batter would be tuned to a A#. The ideal tuning range for each drum in isolation:

What does a tom tom on a drum kit do?

Drum toms are the support players that add that something extra to your kit that makes it sound your own. What is a Tom-Tom and How Does a Tom-Tom Drum Sound? As stated, tom-toms are the support drums you add to your kit.

Which is better a smaller tom or larger Tom?

Sound-wise, a general rule of thumb is that smaller toms give a higher-pitched, more staccato response, while larger toms focus more on the low-end with more resonance (of course, tuning and shell type gives room for play with this rule). For more, see our article on the history and evolution of the tom-tom drum.