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Should you be tuning your drums to notes?
Or is a certain pitch a nonsense idea for drummers?
To be honest, every drummer will have her or his own opinion about the topic.
I do as well:
Why I Don’t Tune My Drums To Certain Notes
Tuning drums to certain notes doesn’t make sense most of the time, in my opinion.
That’s simply because different songs will be played in different keys.
See the problem?
You would have to retune your drum kit for each new piece of music you’re going to play.
Sure, that’s something you can do while recording or in orchestral settings.
In fact, I really think this might sound incredible depending on the song!
But what if you’re
- playing a gig,
- jamming with others,
- or practicing a bunch of songs?
That’s where the problems start.
After all, time is limited.
So no, I don’t recommend tuning drums to notes on a daily basis.
You can do so, of course.
But it just doesn’t really make sense for most drummers or situations.
No Certain Notes Required: How To Tune Your Drums Instead
Personally, I tune my drums so that they fit each other perfectly.
I prefer a higher tuning in general, but this also depends on the kind of music I’m playing.
In rock drumming, for example, drums can be tuned lower.
On the other hand, pop or funk styles will demand a higher pitch most of the time.
In the end, however, the sound of your drum kit will be a personal choice.
There are no hard rules here.
For me, it’s about creating an overall harmonious drum sound.
It has to feel good for the music and the style you’re going to play.
How You Can Learn To Tune Your Drums Properly
Back in my youth, I took part in a drumming workshop where I learned to tune my kit.
If you’re taking drum lessons, ask your teacher for help and practical advice as well.
Make sure that he or she shows you how to tune the drums step by step.
It’s always a great idea to tune your set with somebody who already knows what’s required.
But what if you’re not able to ask a pro drummer for help?
Then you’ll find lots and lots of drum tuning tutorials online, for example on
- YouTube,
- TikTok, or
- drumming blogs.
Also, many drumming books include a section on how to tune your kit properly.
Good luck with finding your personal drum sound.
And remember:
You don’t need to tune drums to notes.
But if you want to, you can do so of course.
Let me know how you prefer tuning your drum kit! 🙂
Manu
