The fundamental pitch of most snare drums is 3e to 3a#. Some drummers prefer to set their snare in the same interval relationship as their toms, while others prefer to do it their own way.
If you want to use a different fundamental, you’ll need to adjust the tuning of your snares to match it. For example, if you’re using a 12th-scale tuning, then you can tune your 12ths to be in tune with each other, but you won’t be able to tune them independently.
Table of Contents
Which head should be tighter on a snare drum?
It’s a common mistake to over-tighten snare wire tension and drum center advises tuning your resonant head tighter than your batter head. The sound of the snare drum can be drowned out by this. Goldilocks way, not too tight, not too loose, but a happy medium between tight and loose. 1. Measure the distance from the center of your drum head to the bottom of its head.
If you’re using a standard 12-inch drumhead, you’ll need to measure this distance with a ruler or tape measure. You can also use a digital caliper to make this measurement. (If you don’t have access to one of these tools, a good friend or relative can do it for you.)
If the measurement is less than 1/2 inch, then you’ve got the right amount of tension on the head and you can go ahead and tighten it up a little bit. But if you get a measurement of more than 3/4 inch (or more, if your head is longer than 12 inches), then it may be time to go back and re-tune it.
How tight should my snare be?
The snare-side head should be very tight for most styles. It gives you that nice crack that most of us love, but you also get the added benefit of greater response from the head. But if you’re going to use them, make sure they’re tight enough that you don’t have to worry about them rattling around in your rig.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s take a look at how to set up your kick-drum. The first thing you need to do is figure out how many strings you’ll be using. You’ll need at least two sets of strings for each of your drums.
If you have more than two drums, it’s a good idea to get a second set of drums to play with. This way you can use the same drum set for both your bass drum and your hi-hat. It’s also a great way to keep your kit organized, since you won’t be needing to change out the strings on each drum every time you play a new song.
What dB should snare be at?
The rest of the drum mix should be brought in around the snare’s 0db. It’s a good place to start because the snare is one of the loudest elements in the mix. Next, you’ll want to set the hi-hats at the same level as the drums, but with a little bit of compression applied to them.
This will give them a bit more volume, which will make them easier to hear in your mix. If you’re using a DAW like Logic or Ableton Live, this can be done with the “Compress” button on the right-hand side of your mixer.
You can also do this on your computer by going to the Compressor tab and selecting “Hi-Hats” from the drop-down menu. Once you’ve done that, go ahead and adjust the volume of all the other instruments, including the bass drum, to make sure they’re at a level that’s comfortable for you to listen to.
Why does my snare sound boxy?
Most of a snare’s “boxy” characteristic is present within the tail end of the sample. Reducing the snare’s sustain level can kill two birds with one stone if you want to make your snare punchier. First, you can reduce the amount of sustain you need to get the sound you’re looking for.
Second, the reduced sustain will allow you to add more sustain to the rest of your sound, which will make it sound fuller and more dynamic. The boxy sound is the result of having too much sustain at the top end. This can be caused by a number of factors, but the most common culprit is a low-pass filter.
When a filter is applied to a signal, it cuts off the signal at a certain frequency. The frequency at which the filter cuts is called the cut-off frequency, and the cutoff frequency is often referred to as the “cut-in frequency.” A low pass filter will cut off all frequencies below its cutoff, while a high pass will only cut in at frequencies above it.
Why does my snare ring so much?
That said, the amount of ringing is USUALLY how your snare wire is adjusted. Pulling tighter the snare wires will definitely affect things the most. This can be easy or difficult depending on how much you want to change the sound of your drums. If you don’t have a lot of room in your room, you can use the same technique to adjust the length of the wire.
If you have more room than you think you will need, it’s a good idea to use a wire stripper to remove the excess wire from the ends. This will allow you to get a better idea of how long your wire will be before it needs to be re-adjusted.
Can you over tighten a snare drum?
If it rattles (too much), tighten the adjustment knob on the snare release a little at a time (quarter or half-turns), playing the drum between each adjustment. Never crank up the snares too much. If you have to make the snares tight, you’ll end up with a drum that doesn’t sound as good as it should.
If you don’t like the sound of your drum, try changing the tuning of the cymbals. You can do this by using a tuning fork, or you can use a tuner on your guitar or bass. It’s a good idea to tune your drums before you start playing them, so you know what you’re going to get.
How do you EQ a snare sound?
Rolling off the extreme lows will prevent the snare from interfering with your kick and sub bass. It should take around 80hz to do the trick. The snare will cut through if you add a gentle boost and a high shelf. The final step is to add some mid-range to the mix.
This can be achieved by adding a little bit of reverb to your mix, or by using a compressor. I prefer to use the latter, as I find it gives a more natural feel to my mixes. If you don’t have a good compressor, you can always use a low-pass filter to cut out the high frequencies.
