Plenty of threads on this.
http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100198
http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96419
I would assume your band thinks you have troubles tuning your drums. The above links will take you to two of the most popular. However
I would train my ear to do this and not spend money on a tuner. 60 -100 dollars will buy a lot of heads.
The "Necessity of Drum Dials/Tension Watches"... has been zero for many decades . Didn't you notice? How were the drummers from previous times getting along without all that modern crap? 1) Experience (in tuning), 2) Good ears.I think it's fair to say that they absolutely are not necessary, and most drummers do not actually use them.
It is arguable that they are even capable of tuning a drum. I have a Tension Watch and do use it, but basically only for initially tensioning a new head. I don't use it for actually tuning the head.
Thanks so much for the help guys! I am going to talk to my bandmates today about how I admittedly am not as into tone as I am into what I play
I don't think this is necessarily acceptable. What if a guitar player came up to you and said the same thing, or a bass player, regarding their tuning or tone?
Tuning is important and especially in the case with drums, tone is only achieved with proper tuning.
Work at it a little bit and try to get your tuning down, if you need to use a drum dial so be it, but please do practice your tuning..there's no such thing as a good drummer that's "just into what he plays and not into his tuning".
They are not necessary, but they are a great aid to tuning, especially if you are inexperienced or want to experiment with a new tuning.
Once you get used to the sound and feel of the head when the tuning is to your liking, you will probably then be able to tune quickly without one.
They are particularly useful for achieving an even tension quickly if you need a head change mid gig.
Don't let anyone tell you that you are dumb if you use one, it is your choice, each to there own.
The band may be asking you to re tune if the sort of music they play clashes with your current tuning. ie Jazz or Funk with JAW tuning may not be to there liking.
Also a kit sounds different out front. Get someone else to play it while you stand where an audience would be.
Drum Dials are a pretty good tool, and will help you tune consistently. But your band mates are stupid for suggesting that you need a $2000+ kit. Even modern beginner kits are quite capable of sounding fine. Most people who complain about how "junky" a kit is never want to really fix it up, but would rather just buy a new one. Tuning is not magic, but if your kit is like many other "junky" kits I've seen and played you really need new drum heads. They go a long way in making a set sound great.
Also, if you know any experienced drummers, have them look and listen to your set. Its very hard to hear your drums in your recording.
Out of curiosity, what kind of drums and cymbals do you have?
How necessary are drum dials/tension watches? Do the majority of drummers use them when tuning their drums. i've been drumming for a while and only just joined a band who for the first time is asking me to use them.
Tuning is something that every drummer does in their own way.
Oh, By the way, buying a 2000 dollar kit won't make much difference in your sound.
Head selection and tuning are about 90% of what a drumkit sounds like despite what some people may say.
Tuning is something that every drummer does in their own way.
Oh, By the way, buying a 2000 dollar kit won't make much difference in your sound.
Head selection and tuning are about 90% of what a drumkit sounds like despite what some people may say.
I use a Drum Dial. I use it to get the drum close to where I want it and then I fine tune by using both my ears and my sense of touch to feel the tension of each lug.
I am a tight tuner, I am the opposite of what you have described yourself to be.
I tune my resonant head to a higher pitch than my batter head or I tune it to sound equal in pitch depending on the music that I am playing. Either way, my drums always wind up on the tight side of the tuning tension spectrum. On a Drum dial that is in the mid to upper 70's area on the gauge for toms.
Do you need a Drum Dial?
NO!
It is it a useful tool to those who like to use it and feel that they get favorable results from using one?
Yes!
If you try a Drum tuning device and feel that it doesn't help you is there something wrong with you?
NO!
Drum tensioning devices are subjective to the user as is everything in playing music.
This video is a must to watch and understand. http://youtu.be/kM19VkXXJp4