Zeus Mutation
Senior Member
Hi everyone!
I recently bought a new kit and a tune-bot studio. This has sent me on a quest to better understand my drum tone. The advertisement about having control like a string player is pretty close. I find myself experimenting with head type and various top & bottom tensions. Now I have questions... wondering what everyone else thinks?
My question begins regarding a 14" floor tom. In reading the article here: https://www.moderndrummer.com/artic...u-want-from-your-drums-part-2-drumset-tuning/
A 14" floor toms lowest note is 75Hz That's a second octave D# (sharp). Range being 75-110Hz D#-A2 (second octave).
Tuning a 14" Floor tom to an E2 is approximately 82Hz
Do you think the shell's natural timbre would adversely affect the tone if it were to be different from that E of 82Hz? In other words, Would the drum size matter if it could be tuned to a E2 regardless?
Now, here is why I'm off the rails. What I hate most about the feel of drums is what I call a loose batter that has a thwack type ripple before the articulation of attack or resonance is heard. This usually has me tensioning to a certain "feel" of my batter head. Then I adjust my resonant to achieve the overall fundamental note I seek.
The issue for me, although that works pretty well. I want to tune both heads the same for max res. I tested 3 ways and I just prefer full and open... and this now has me asking about specific frequencies.
So, this is where I am... My 14" Floor is a DW Collectors. Therefore the timbre note is listed. It's a Bb (B flat). Hmm... Okay, so with the tune-bot and a lot of patience I explored this drums Bb marking. The lowest octave Bb I could get to sound sweet was at 116Hz, again a second octave Bb. Which is 5 steps/semi-tones or a "perfect fourth' away from the note I want to max out the resonance at (E2 82Hz).
Do you think a 14" floor tom with a note closer to that desired E would make a sonic difference?
Would you guess every 14" tom of the same general materials tuned to an E2 of 82Hz sounds the same?
Now my sickness has me expanding...
A 16" Floor tom being listed with a range of 65 - 95Hz or C2 - F#2.
My "tension" concern, that thwack sound, can simply get more tension on the head and still achieve the E2 note. Does the 14 tuned to the same note have the same head tension? I'll have to experiment with that tomorrow...
I'm probably over thinking this but, wondering if starting with shells naturally closer to the note & octave you want to tune to sounds better than a drum tuned to a note "within its general size range" of notes?
Thanks for reading. I'll appreciate the feedback.
I recently bought a new kit and a tune-bot studio. This has sent me on a quest to better understand my drum tone. The advertisement about having control like a string player is pretty close. I find myself experimenting with head type and various top & bottom tensions. Now I have questions... wondering what everyone else thinks?
My question begins regarding a 14" floor tom. In reading the article here: https://www.moderndrummer.com/artic...u-want-from-your-drums-part-2-drumset-tuning/
A 14" floor toms lowest note is 75Hz That's a second octave D# (sharp). Range being 75-110Hz D#-A2 (second octave).
Tuning a 14" Floor tom to an E2 is approximately 82Hz
Do you think the shell's natural timbre would adversely affect the tone if it were to be different from that E of 82Hz? In other words, Would the drum size matter if it could be tuned to a E2 regardless?
Now, here is why I'm off the rails. What I hate most about the feel of drums is what I call a loose batter that has a thwack type ripple before the articulation of attack or resonance is heard. This usually has me tensioning to a certain "feel" of my batter head. Then I adjust my resonant to achieve the overall fundamental note I seek.
The issue for me, although that works pretty well. I want to tune both heads the same for max res. I tested 3 ways and I just prefer full and open... and this now has me asking about specific frequencies.
So, this is where I am... My 14" Floor is a DW Collectors. Therefore the timbre note is listed. It's a Bb (B flat). Hmm... Okay, so with the tune-bot and a lot of patience I explored this drums Bb marking. The lowest octave Bb I could get to sound sweet was at 116Hz, again a second octave Bb. Which is 5 steps/semi-tones or a "perfect fourth' away from the note I want to max out the resonance at (E2 82Hz).
Do you think a 14" floor tom with a note closer to that desired E would make a sonic difference?
Would you guess every 14" tom of the same general materials tuned to an E2 of 82Hz sounds the same?
Now my sickness has me expanding...
A 16" Floor tom being listed with a range of 65 - 95Hz or C2 - F#2.
My "tension" concern, that thwack sound, can simply get more tension on the head and still achieve the E2 note. Does the 14 tuned to the same note have the same head tension? I'll have to experiment with that tomorrow...
I'm probably over thinking this but, wondering if starting with shells naturally closer to the note & octave you want to tune to sounds better than a drum tuned to a note "within its general size range" of notes?
Thanks for reading. I'll appreciate the feedback.