I recently watched a video via YouTube, posted by Remo, featuring Russ Miller on tuning techniques (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a3EjAohUzU). In this video, Russ offers some cool advice on drum tuning using one of his PHX toms, and at one point he says that tuning the bottom (resonant) head tighter than the top (batter) head makes the drum "open up and have more length."
However, a jazz and vintage drum expert I know once gave me the following tuning advice, which suggests the opposite about resonance:
So, the latter advice suggests that tom resonance is more open with top tighter than bottom, but Russ claims the reverse in the video: bottom tighter than top = more open, lengthier note.
What do you think? Which is it?
However, a jazz and vintage drum expert I know once gave me the following tuning advice, which suggests the opposite about resonance:
"Tune the top head tighter than the bottom head and you will get a nice open sound that will push out toward the audience. Making the bottom head tighter than the top will not maximize the resonant potential of the drum. Tuning the bottom tighter works fine for close mic'd drums (the sound pushes up instead of out), but most of us play in an open acoustic environment and the sound should push out toward the audience."
So, the latter advice suggests that tom resonance is more open with top tighter than bottom, but Russ claims the reverse in the video: bottom tighter than top = more open, lengthier note.
What do you think? Which is it?