Tuning a snare drum is the same as tuning any other drum, but it is complicated by the difference in heads, as the top and bottom heads in the snare are different in thickness. And the degree of their tension relative to each other, as well as the tension of the strings near the bottom head, determines the sound of the drum. And there can be many options here, it all depends on what kind of music is played on the instrument and on the performer's personal preferences.
Instructions
Step 1
Before tuning the drum, you must remove it from the stand and place it on any soft surface, such as a carpet.
Step 2
It is better to start installing the plastic from the bottom. Tighten the bolts by hand, if the plastic is new, then when installing it, press your hand on its center so that it “sits down” properly, as this will help in the future. If the head is properly seated, the head will fit snugly into the rim channel, which in turn will help it fit snugly against the edge of the drum. If, after shrinkage, the plastic began to sound lower, it should be tightened and re-seated. After everything is in place, turn the opposite bolts half a turn in turn, do this until the plastic is smoothed out. Then tighten the bolts so that the plastic starts to sound.
Step 3
At the time of tuning the drum, it is important that the sound is made by the tuned head, that is, it is better to muffle the second one by simply pressing it. Setting it up comes down to tightening the bolts. However, they must be tightened so that the sound is the same height near all the bolts. Tap the plastic with a wrench as you tighten each bolt. An important rule is that if one bolt has a higher sound, for example, then the opposite one will have a lower sound, and vice versa. If you press with your finger while tightening the bolts in the middle of the plastic, the exact section on which the blow was made will sound.
Step 4
The percussion side of the drum is tuned in the same way as the resonant side.
Step 5
Do not forget about the tension force of the plastic. There are only three options for adjusting the top and bottom heads in relation to each other, if you tune them the same way, the sound will be clear and long. If the bottom head is tuned lower than the top head, you get a deep sound with good sustain and stick response. If the resonant side is higher than the percussion side, the drum will produce a shallow "howling" sound with a short sustain.
