Tuning....Secrets

[Old Pit Guy]

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[DSOP]

Too many variables to have one approach. Slack tuning won't work with a multi (more than 4) tom setup. You generally want at least a minor third between toms, which means your smallest tom will be extremely tight, and your largest drum will be quite slack. Then there's the size of your stick, the style of playing (big notes or lots of small ones), and weight of the head.

Different tensions will get you playing differently, using different muscles, more or less finger and rebound, etc. It's always fun to experiment. I don't think you should ever assume that you've "found the secret".

[circh bustom]

So i tried this out last night at an outdoor gig and was extremely happy with the results. I was using clear double plys and of course i still used the lug tapping. I am now considering not selling my DWs. As for the Black Beauty, last night was the best sounding outside snare sound i have ever gotten. It was so loose that any further and the lugs would have been loose. Had a crack that i couldnt believe.

[circh bustom]

Second part of the article is up. Not as in depth as the first part, but a good read. Focused mainly on Carter's snare. AlsoI must reiterate, I am having fantastic results with the advice from this article with both indoor and outdoor gigs. The latter of which always posed problems for me.
Last Thursday at an outdoor gig, i was using the slack heads on the BB. I wasnt feeling it all thru the first two sets. A guitarist friend of mine was in attendance about 30-40 feet away from my unmic'ed kit. First thing out of his mouth was "holy crap that snare is huge and tight" From my perspective the snares seemed to buzz and the 2 and the 4 had a "pong" sound to them. From where he was it was one of the best sounding snares he had heard. Later that night another drummer also made positive comments about the drum and the tuning asking me what I was doing. I find around here in my area, most, not all, club drummers are really cranking their snare heads and have recently been surprised when they have felt or heard mine. As for this tuning at an inside gig? Its thunderous and I do not have large drums. One thing i should mention that really struck a chord with me was TBW mentioned how light both Manu and Carter hit the drums so I ve been doing that with this tuning. Ive never been a basher but especially at outdoor gigs I tend to unfortunately hit harder. Ive been using an especially lighter touch with the snare barely expending any energy and its been fantastic.