Metal Tuning

[darknessdude16]

Hi all, first off I know that there are already a million threads on tuning but there aren't any specifically based on what im asking?

What im asking is nothing new but I need help in achieving it.

I realise that all drum sounds partly due to how they are mic'd and the equalised and mixed afterwards but how are the tuned in the first place?

I'm trying to tune my kit to sound like metal kits do, the typical thuddy-ness of the toms and such, im happy with my snare sound but its the toms and kick that really grind my gears.

With the kick im after: quick thud, not many overtones or resonance, almost the 'clicky' sound that alot of metal drummers achieve but not so much as to make it sound like my bass skin is made from tin.

With the toms im after: Also the quick thud kind of sound, also not with alot of resonance. Very distinctive tonal differences.

I'm familiar with normal tuning is just how do I go about acheieving what im after? If anyone can be bothered to explain to me in full the way they tune their drums to sound like what im after? Or any links to videos would be perfect

Thanks in advance, Adam x

[Drum-Head]

For the tuning, most of the time toms are equipped with double ply heads, tuned medium to low. For the kick, double ply heads also, plastic/wood beaters can help for the attack. If you're ready to maybe break some beaters you could get a patch for the kick with metal on it like the Gilbraltar "Click Pad."

That and good tuning is about the closest you are going to get to the sound you want. All the sounds you hear in today's metal recordings are heavily processed with a lot of compression and gating and/or triggered. You can not achieve those kind of sounds on an acoustic kit.

[Wavelength]

Tune the kick drum's resonant head to its lowest clean pitch. Do the same for the batter head, but detune it down to the point where it starts to growl a bit. Muffle both heads slightly -- since the heads are tuned to the lower regions of their tuning range, they aren't going to sing forever anyway. I like to use a towel that's folded into a triangle and rolled (base first) so that the tip of the triangle is against the floor of the drum and facing away from the head it is muffling. Apply a beater pad on the batter head and use a hard beater -- wood or plastic.

For toms, use a single ply resonant and a double ply batter. You can tune the heads way below their clean pitch range to get a low, short and punchy sound, but try to keep the resonant head's pitch at least a minor third higher than the batter's pitch. You shouldn't need to use any muffling if you tune the heads correctly.

[mhanon13]

man, just go to SamAsh or Guitarcenter and ask the guys there, they know a lot about tuning, and specially what kind of drum heads you need for the style you play...

try the Super Kick II from Aquarian for the kick bass and get some hydraulic drum heads for your toms, they sound very fat, thick and no resonance at all...

laterz!

[Drum-Head]

man, just go to SamAsh or Guitarcenter and ask the guys there, they know a lot about tuning, and specially what kind of drum heads you need for the style you play...

That's not the best advice considering where he lives...

[dizkneelande]

man, just go to SamAsh or Guitarcenter and ask the guys there, they know a lot about tuning, and specially what kind of drum heads you need for the style you play...

try the Super Kick II from Aquarian for the kick bass and get some hydraulic drum heads for your toms, they sound very fat, thick and no resonance at all...

laterz!

that depends on the store actually. some of the guys who work in the drum department at the gc in memphis have never even played drums.

[mhanon13]

well, sorry, I did not see he was located in UK, anyway, there must be a drum store in UK, and maybe the sellers are drummers as well, sorry to hear that about Memphis, I live in Miami, and in both GC and SA, all of them are drummers and know a lot about everything about drums, so, when I got a question about hardware part (tuning, sticks, brands, hardware, cymbals), they have always answered accurately!

just make sure the sellers are drummers as well, since they work there, they have tryed about everything, so they can answer better than us! :)

good luck buddy!

[el_frenko]

there must be a drum store in UK

nope, over here we have to build our own drums from fallen logs and rubber bands.

as for metal sound, try skins with internal dampening eg. Remo Pinstripes/ Evans EC2 for toms, Remo Powerstroke 3/ Evans Emad for kick.