A Drum Tuning "Discovery"

C

Croatian Man

Active Member
Drum Tuning has been an anomaly to me. leaving me perplexed at times. Albeit I'm only a Hobbyist Player of Drums at Home since I resurrected playing in 2019 after 50 Years {1969]. Frustrated by certain things.....Tuning proving to be difficult to me. I would get to certain good places then hear Snare Buzz, etc.

Yesterday I came upon a kind of discovery/revelation, if you will. I have a PDP Concept Maple 7 Drum Kit with 8,10, 12 " rack Toms, 14 & 16 " Floor Toms, 14 X 5.5 Snare and a 22x 18 " Kick drum. As posted here in various threads, some of the hardware on PDP /DW Drums has something to be desired. Some months ago, I saw posts about using nylon washers on the tension rods. I has installed same on a few of the drums' batter heads with not a great difference if any in the sound achieved. The 10" rack Tom has always given me the hardest time to get to my acceptable sound - a nice balance of Dooooo, Doooo with little ringing. I had put Nylon Tension rod washers on months ago. When I was able to tune it close to what I wanted, then it would create horrendous Snare Buzz. Back and forth I went. Yesterday, I decided to install nylon washers on the Reso heads (and on the Batter head of the 12" Rack Tom). With just some tweaks after re-installing the Reso head, tuning the drum, I was able to get a very good sound....and No Snare Buzz ! The 12" Tom sounds better too - although that Tom didn't generate Snare Buzz - it sounds better too. Now, it's time to re-work the 8" Tom, install the nylon washers on the Reso head as well! This may sound Petty (excuse the pun, I play to Petty a lot), but it was "Discovery" to me.

Furthermore, after doing this, playing my other Snare a DW Design Series Nickel over Brass 14 X 6.5 drum is not emitting Snare Buzz any longer as well from that 10: Tom.
 
Can’t say I had that result with nylon washers but glad you got sorted.
 
Croatian Man said:
Drum Tuning has been an anomaly to me. leaving me perplexed at times. Albeit I'm only a Hobbyist Player of Drums at Home since I resurrected playing in 2019 after 50 Years {1969]. Frustrated by certain things.....Tuning proving to be difficult to me. I would get to certain good places then hear Snare Buzz, etc.

Yesterday I came upon a kind of discovery/revelation, if you will. I have a PDP Concept Maple 7 Drum Kit with 8,10, 12 " rack Toms, 14 & 16 " Floor Toms, 14 X 5.5 Snare and a 22x 18 " Kick drum. As posted here in various threads, some of the hardware on PDP /DW Drums has something to be desired. Some months ago, I saw posts about using nylon washers on the tension rods. I has installed same on a few of the drums' batter heads with not a great difference if any in the sound achieved. The 10" rack Tom has always given me the hardest time to get to my acceptable sound - a nice balance of Dooooo, Doooo with little ringing. I had put Nylon Tension rod washers on months ago. When I was able to tune it close to what I wanted, then it would create horrendous Snare Buzz. Back and forth I went. Yesterday, I decided to install nylon washers on the Reso heads (and on the Batter head of the 12" Rack Tom). With just some tweaks after re-installing the Reso head, tuning the drum, I was able to get a very good sound....and No Snare Buzz ! The 12" Tom sounds better too - although that Tom didn't generate Snare Buzz - it sounds better too. Now, it's time to re-work the 8" Tom, install the nylon washers on the Reso head as well! This may sound Petty (excuse the pun, I play to Petty a lot), but it was "Discovery" to me.

Furthermore, after doing this, playing my other Snare a DW Design Series Nickel over Brass 14 X 6.5 drum is not emitting Snare Buzz any longer as well from that 10: Tom.
Click to expand...
Someone correct me if I'm wrong but if you get excessive snare buzz it maybe because your snare wires are too loose..
I only had that problem when I didn't close the strainer all the way and that buzz occurred. Never any other time.
Maybe tune to Dooo, Dooo instead of Dooooo Dooo....
Drum Dial gives you a good starting point if you want to tune a drum correctly:


Maybe you even like what you hear after you use their recommended settings...
 
I don't think the washers had anything to do with the snare buzz - in fact, I'd bet a fair sum on it. It was the tuning you hit upon when you remounted the head.

That's okay, though. You've discovered it is possible. Plus, the nylon washers are still good for the hoops and rods. Win-win!

If the washers have a placebo effect, that's a win-win-win. 😁
 
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Snare buzz happens due to the tuning of a drum is close to that of the snare so the snare buzzes sympatheticly with that drum. One quick fix is to drop the tuning of the 4 tension rodes on either side of the snare wires buy 1/4-1/2 a turn each.
 
It's no secret that 10" toms drive snare drum wires crazy. Mine is positioned to the left of my hihat. This distance away from my snare creates way less snare wire buzz. Even a snare with tighter wires can buzz like crazy.
 
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