How do you tune a bass drum?

Answer 1

A bass drum is tuned the same as any other drum - by adjusting the tension of the heads - tighter makes it higher pitched, looser makes it lower pitched. An even pitch tension all the way around the drum is a good place to start. It is important to stretch the head (or seat it) by tuning it above the pitch you desire and putting firm pressure in the middle of the head. Generally the batter head (the side your pedal is on) is tensioned slightly higher than the resonant head. Bass drums are usually tensioned just above the wrinkle point with an even tension or pitch at each lug (tuning key). A properly tuned bass drum should require practically no dampening (ie: pillow's, blankets, etc.) to achieve a great sound. The bass drum, for most musical styles, should be (the batter head) tuned deeper (lower pitched) by a 3rd, 5th or 8th (octave) below your largest and deepest floor tom. For precise tuning, you could remove the front resonant head and tune the back batter-side drum head. More batter head plies and/or thicker plies and/or more Duct Tape, will give you a deeper pitch. Use a piano or other tuning instrument to get the exact pitch you want. Alway tune a bass drum in a large room with at least 12 feet or more free space in front of the drum. Then, when the batter head is properly tuned, mount and tune the resonant head. No pillows or rugs should be in the bass drum, unless you have to do this for unusual reasons ! Better is to use an outside adjustable muffler near the edge of the batter head. The resonant head should be usually tuned one or more notes deeper than the batter head. It is best to listen at a distance with someone else doing the hitting and tuning. The two heads and the type of shell all cause interactions, and several small adjustments will be needed. Probably even most professional -level drummers don't tune their drums properly. For a precise tom or bass drum note, just use concert toms with no bottom head (or front head on the bass drum) This was popular with some drummers back in the seventies. Try playing your bass drum with no front resonant head ! You might like it for some musical styles. Adding a second or third (same sized or larger) drum-shell to the front of your bass drum (with duct tape to try at first) to make your bass drum a longer size will really add depth and power ! (Usually best with using only one head)