We caught up with drum tuning expert Ben Alldred from Evans Drumheads to get his top tips on tuning your snare drums and making sure you pick the right heads! Watch the full youtube video here:
🎯 Snare Tuning Breakdown:
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Start by fully loosening all tension rods Loosen them in a diagonal pattern to evenly release tension. this ensures a level head fitting on the drum.
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Finger-tighten rods first After choosing your head, bring each rod snug with your fingers in a diagonal again to make sure we keep tension around the drum, just until seated evenly
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Use a drum key with measured turns For the batter head apply about 1½ full turns from finger-tight. Opt for smaller quarter or half turns for better control. Monitor for smooth, wrinkle-free surface; stop if wrinkles appear.
- Tap-test around the head Tap about an inch from each lug to detect pitch differences. Adjust any outliers so every spot matches a crucial step for balanced tension. Ben recommends using a soft mallet for this step.
- Tune and test the resonant (bottom) head Repeat the above process, but tune this head slightly higher than the batter for better snap and controlled sustain Ieal for studio-style sound.
Choose the right heads:
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Single-ply (e.g. Evans UV1, G1): warmer, more open tone.
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Double-ply (e.g. Evans G2, UV2): tighter, fatter sound for heavier genres
- The UV1 reverse dot and other Reverse dot models are a great all rounder.
- The new Evans UV heads are a printed technology making them more durable.
Select snare wire count/reaction:
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30 to 42 wires will give a brighter, fuller sound.
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16 wires will often be drier, tighter response.
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Steel will offer sharp tones, brass/bronze will give a warmer tone
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