I just give up on tuning...

[80's Rocker]

I got my new steel sensitone elite and and I really like the tone of it! I just can't seem to tune my snare drums though...I don't have that big of a problem tuning my bass and toms but when I try to tune my snare it's like it's impossible.


No matter what I do it just sounds bad out of tune and the absolute worst part is the overbearingly loud harmonic that won't go away for anything, even when I dampen it I hear more of the harmonic than the actual snares. I have watched tons of videos and tried to get help but nothing works....

Anybody have any tips on getting a good snare tuning?

[quicksticks]

You kind of contradicted yourself. You said you like the tone, but it sounds bad. Anyway, tighten your heads. I use a drum dial and set the top head to 90 and the bottom to 85. Of course the lugs on each side of the snare bed will be a little lower. With the top head tightened, there should be almost no overtone, just a nice clean crack.

[80's Rocker]

I tried that and it just made the harmonic sound higher pitched...that's the real thing giving me trouble. It doesn't sound like a normal overtone ring.

[Cheez_Whiz]

Is the snare "new" or "new to you"? If the latter, perhaps you have a warped hoop or shell? Also, what heads are on the drum?

[80's Rocker]

The snare is brand new, it has a Remo Coated Ambassador on it.

[bighairbigdrums]

Take off the Ambo and put an Evans HD Dry on it or a coated PS3.

[44Ronin]

Take off the Ambo and put an Evans HD Dry on it or a coated PS3.

and say goodbye to tone

[dudewuttheheck]

and say goodbye to tone

agreed. Go for a cs black dot or a vintage amb if the regular amb isn't to your liking.

[Rhythm Devil]

I tried that and it just made the harmonic sound higher pitched...that's the real thing giving me trouble. It doesn't sound like a normal overtone ring.

Sometimes it's easier to start from scratch. Remove the the head, re-seat (spin it), finger tighten, get the lugs even, take them all up in baby steps, evening them out slightly as you go. Go until it's in your range. If you go too high, back each lug off evenly in baby steps. I like my batter head lower than the reso by approximately 1 semi tone (as in, any 2 keys next to each other on a piano). Be patient and thoughtful and never surrender! haha. Hope this helps and good luck.

[dudewuttheheck]

Sometimes it's easier to start from scratch. Remove the the head, re-seat (spin it), finger tighten, get the lugs even, take them all up in baby steps, evening them out slightly as you go. Go until it's in your range. If you go too high, back each lug off evenly in baby steps. I like my batter head lower than the reso by approximately 1 semi tone (as in, any 2 keys next to each other on a piano). Be patient and thoughtful and never surrender! haha. Hope this helps and good luck.

good advice. Sometimes it is good to just take a fresh start.

[XtomX]

Yeah play around with different heads, maybe even two plies if you don't like harmonics. My favorite Remo was the powerstroke 3. But if Evans go with the genera hd (NOT DRY). Both those heads have good tone without too much ring.

[XtomX]

And always make sure your head is seated correctly. Don't just put it on and tighten. Push it down hard! Make it pop! Just don't break it haha.

[gabebennett1]

sometimes the snare wires will buzz in a really strange and unpleasant way if they're not set up just right, could that be what you're talking about? that's what i thought of when you said dampening it doesn't work

[marknu1]

I was thinking along similar lines to Gabe. Over-tightened snare wires can make a drum sound incredibly horrible.

[motleyh]

Honestly, tuning takes practice. You not only have to figure out what settings you like; you also have to train your ears. I'd suggest taking the drum to a good drum/music store and ask them to tune it while explaining to you how they go about it and what to look/listen for. Or do the same thing with a drummer whose snare sounds you like -- maybe in exchange for a beverage.

And don't be afraid of the harmonics -- a snare is an instrument that sounds very different to the listener than to the player. A lot of what you're hearing is not so apparent a few feet away, and is part of how a snare gets through the sound of a band. In fact, before you do anything else, get someone to play your drum while you step back 10 or 15 feet and listen to what it really sounds like. You might like it a lot better.