Drum Tuning System - Mike Michalkow Options

[Jared Falk]

This is the *official* discussion thread for the Drum Tuning System.

Drum Tuning System « click this link to learn more about the Drum Tuning System at Drum-Tuning.com.

Use the "Add Reply" button above to post your questions or comments.

[Poco Askew]

I already did a review of the Drum Tuning System (which I won shortly after joining FDL). I copied it here since this looks like where it belongs.

Drum Tuning System review
I figure the best way to review the DTS is to tell you what it covers. Like all RRM "Systems" it is well done - nicely produced and uses multiple camera angles whenever they help explain something or make a procedure more clear. If you view everything, it is over four hours long.

Basic Tuning Guide
After a brief introduction, Mike covers the tools and materials you should have available and use. He then goes over the correct names of drum parts and pieces. Next comes kit maintenance. Mike shows cleaning and/or polishing wood and metal shells, chrome hardware, and cymbals. The final part of this section is setting up and adjusting single/double bass drum pedals.

The rest of the disc is the real "meat". On to changing heads on each drum; snare, bass, and toms (removal, installation and seating). Then bass tuning, snare tuning (heads and snare wires), tom tuning (hi, mid, low/floor). There are lots of tips and techniques to make maintenance and tuning easier, as well as muffling/dampening techniques.

Drum Tuning Tips
This disc covers tuning for various music generas and kit config's for those styles. It covers rock, latin and jazz music. Then Mike talks about tuning for the studio and working with the sound engineer. The next section is tuning troubleshooting (overtones, wrinkles in heads, etc.). Finally, Mike discusses muffling techniques. The last part of this disc is bonus material (3 drum solos and 2 jam tracks).

Are there any negatives? Not really. Mike recommends WD-40 as a lubricant. I think many of you know what I think of the stuff. The only other thing I can think of is I would like to have seen some coverage for tuning drums to specific pitches (fourths and/or fifths, for example), and a discussion on the effects of tuning the reso heads tighter or looser than the batter heads. I may be the only one that cares about that stuff.

If you are new to drums, or can't do a tuning on your drums that make them sound the way you like, then DTS is for you. If you don't know how to change/seat heads or pick the products that will work best for you, this will fix you up. There is excellent info that should be part of every drummer's knowledge base.

I hope this helps.

This post has been edited by Poco Askew: Dec 24 2008, 09:18 AM

[T-Trav]

The DTS was a great tool for me to have during the first time that I tuned my snare drum. Being new to drumming and having never played a drum much less tuned a drum, I was really nervous when it came time to tune my snare. After watching the DTS advertisement in the drum shop, I had a somewhat reassuring feeling and felt that by ordering it, I would learn to tune my drums and learn how to hear when a drum is in tune.

All of my fears were relieved when I tried to tune my snare with the DTS for the first time. Mike takes you through a step-by-step process in breaking down, cleaning, and rebuilding(for lack of a better word) and tuning the drums. Mike gives you an in depth view of his opinions and tips when it comes to tuning. And like Poco said above, he also breaks down the different genres tuning and tips on how to get your drums sounding like the music that you want to play.

After trying to tune my snare for the first time, I was able to tune my reso head to the point of almost tune. Unfortunately, I had to take my snare to my drum teacher due to my snare wires being somewhat off from me switching the heads. My teacher had to only slightly tweak the tuning. He was really impressed with the way I tuned the reso head for my first try.

I am greatly impressed with the DTS. I would recommend it to ANY drummer that is questioning their tuning techniques or is unsure how to tune their drums. My only recommendation to Mike or RRM is to maybe include a section in the lesson on how to reattach and realign the snare wires that way there is no extra resonation. Other than that it is a great, great DVD and teaching instrument.

[cjs033]

The DTS was a great tool for me to have during the first time that I tuned my snare drum. Being new to drumming and having never played a drum much less tuned a drum, I was really nervous when it came time to tune my snare. After watching the DTS advertisement in the drum shop, I had a somewhat reassuring feeling and felt that by ordering it, I would learn to tune my drums and learn how to hear when a drum is in tune.

All of my fears were relieved when I tried to tune my snare with the DTS for the first time. Mike takes you through a step-by-step process in breaking down, cleaning, and rebuilding(for lack of a better word) and tuning the drums. Mike gives you an in depth view of his opinions and tips when it comes to tuning. And like Poco said above, he also breaks down the different genres tuning and tips on how to get your drums sounding like the music that you want to play.

After trying to tune my snare for the first time, I was able to tune my reso head to the point of almost tune. Unfortunately, I had to take my snare to my drum teacher due to my snare wires being somewhat off from me switching the heads. My teacher had to only slightly tweak the tuning. He was really impressed with the way I tuned the reso head for my first try.

I am greatly impressed with the DTS. I would recommend it to ANY drummer that is questioning their tuning techniques or is unsure how to tune their drums. My only recommendation to Mike or RRM is to maybe include a section in the lesson on how to reattach and realign the snare wires that way there is no extra resonation. Other than that it is a great, great DVD and teaching instrument.

I must be going crazy...I thought I saw this package available for $27.00 just yesterday...now it's $47.00...is that correct? Did the price go up or is there a special discount for FDL members who have already purchased the rock drumming system?

Thanks

[Gilligan]

Hi Guys!

I first wish to congratulate you on a great product. I've had the Drum tuning system DVD's lying around for some time and had not bothered looking at it since I was using a e-drum for the past six months - no-tuning required .

Last week, I finally took the plunge and purchased a used Yamaha Rydeen 5-piece fusion kit. After setting it up, I realized that some tuning was in order... the mid-tom had a lower pitch than the floor tom, doh!. This being my first accoustic set, and my first tuning experience, I really appreciated the "tuning for dummies" approach of the DVD. I was able to confidently perform a complete overhaul, remove all the heads (they had been fitted and played upside down) cleaned and wiped everything, reassembled and tuned every drum. Wow, I couldn't believe how easy it was. I'm sure the set could sound better, but I was easily capable of bringing it to an "acceptable" tuning level.

I do have one question, Mike gives general tuning ideas for rock, latin, and jazz. How about a Blues setup? Can you provide me with general and/or specific guidelines for tuning my kit for playing blues?

Thanks!

[pearl0863]

Hi Guys!

I first wish to congratulate you on a great product. I've had the Drum tuning system DVD's lying around for some time and had not bothered looking at it since I was using a e-drum for the past six months - no-tuning required .

Last week, I finally took the plunge and purchased a used Yamaha Rydeen 5-piece fusion kit. After setting it up, I realized that some tuning was in order... the mid-tom had a lower pitch than the floor tom, doh!. This being my first accoustic set, and my first tuning experience, I really appreciated the "tuning for dummies" approach of the DVD. I was able to confidently perform a complete overhaul, remove all the heads (they had been fitted and played upside down) cleaned and wiped everything, reassembled and tuned every drum. Wow, I couldn't believe how easy it was. I'm sure the set could sound better, but I was easily capable of bringing it to an "acceptable" tuning level.

I do have one question, Mike gives general tuning ideas for rock, latin, and jazz. How about a Blues setup? Can you provide me with general and/or specific guidelines for tuning my kit for playing blues?

Thanks!

IMO Gilligan I would think that the rock tuning would be the same that you would use for blues. I may be wrong on this but rock and blues are so closely intertwined that I think that would be the case.

[Jared Falk]

IMO Gilligan I would think that the rock tuning would be the same that you would use for blues. I may be wrong on this but rock and blues are so closely intertwined that I think that would be the case.

I would agree with this and tune blues as though you were playing rock. Unless you were playing a very acoustic sort of blues/jazz..then I would recommend doing a hybrid tuning between jazz and rock. Hope that makes sense

[Drumlugs]

I already did a review of the Drum Tuning System (which I won shortly after joining FDL). I copied it here since this looks like where it belongs.

Drum Tuning System review
I figure the best way to review the DTS is to tell you what it covers. Like all RRM "Systems" it is well done - nicely produced and uses multiple camera angles whenever they help explain something or make a procedure more clear. If you view everything, it is over four hours long.

Basic Tuning Guide
After a brief introduction, Mike covers the tools and materials you should have available and use. He then goes over the correct names of drum parts and pieces. Next comes kit maintenance. Mike shows cleaning and/or polishing wood and metal shells, chrome hardware, and cymbals. The final part of this section is setting up and adjusting single/double bass drum pedals.

The rest of the disc is the real "meat". On to changing heads on each drum; snare, bass, and toms (removal, installation and seating). Then bass tuning, snare tuning (heads and snare wires), tom tuning (hi, mid, low/floor). There are lots of tips and techniques to make maintenance and tuning easier, as well as muffling/dampening techniques.

Drum Tuning Tips
This disc covers tuning for various music generas and kit config's for those styles. It covers rock, latin and jazz music. Then Mike talks about tuning for the studio and working with the sound engineer. The next section is tuning troubleshooting (overtones, wrinkles in heads, etc.). Finally, Mike discusses muffling techniques. The last part of this disc is bonus material (3 drum solos and 2 jam tracks).

Are there any negatives? Not really. Mike recommends WD-40 as a lubricant. I think many of you know what I think of the stuff. The only other thing I can think of is I would like to have seen some coverage for tuning drums to specific pitches (fourths and/or fifths, for example), and a discussion on the effects of tuning the reso heads tighter or looser than the batter heads. I may be the only one that cares about that stuff.

If you are new to drums, or can't do a tuning on your drums that make them sound the way you like, then DTS is for you. If you don't know how to change/seat heads or pick the products that will work best for you, this will fix you up. There is excellent info that should be part of every drummer's knowledge base.

I hope this helps.

I have this dvd and it is realy good and educational but I wish it was in a format that would work my laptop computer. They should burn them in a way that it works on both dvd players and computer/ laptop players. This way I can take my laptop out to my drums and go over the video and my kit at the same time. At the moment I have to watch it on the dvd player then go out to my drums and then by the time I get there I have forgotten some of the important aspects of the drum tuning. Is there any way around that.

[Poco Askew]

I have this dvd and it is realy good and educational but I wish it was in a format that would work my laptop computer. They should burn them in a way that it works on both dvd players and computer/ laptop players. This way I can take my laptop out to my drums and go over the video and my kit at the same time. At the moment I have to watch it on the dvd player then go out to my drums and then by the time I get there I have forgotten some of the important aspects of the drum tuning. Is there any way around that.

Odd. They play OK on both my desktop and notebook computers.

[Jared Falk]

I have this dvd and it is realy good and educational but I wish it was in a format that would work my laptop computer. They should burn them in a way that it works on both dvd players and computer/ laptop players. This way I can take my laptop out to my drums and go over the video and my kit at the same time. At the moment I have to watch it on the dvd player then go out to my drums and then by the time I get there I have forgotten some of the important aspects of the drum tuning. Is there any way around that.

They do work on all laptop computer DVD drives...It must be on your end as they are all tested on many different types of players.

[Drumlugs]

They do work on all laptop computer DVD drives...It must be on your end as they are all tested on many different types of players.

Hi Jared I got the problem fixed I had to get another driver for the dvd player on the laptop and now it works fine. I realy enjoy Mike's drum tunning except for the base drum tuning. He uses alot of muffling in his bass drum but that is ok if you have the mike hole to put the muffling in. My problem is I have no mic hole and wish he had a bit on muffling a drum bass without the mike hole I hope you understand what I mean as I can't be taking the front skin off everytime to put something inside. If you can suggest something fine. I also heard from other drummers on your site not to muffle ( head without mike hole) a bass drum as it sounds better without it. Confused what do you think?

[Reptilefreak94]

Hi Jared I got the problem fixed I had to get another driver for the dvd player on the laptop and now it works fine. I realy enjoy Mike's drum tunning except for the base drum tuning. He uses alot of muffling in his bass drum but that is ok if you have the mike hole to put the muffling in. My problem is I have no mic hole and wish he had a bit on muffling a drum bass without the mike hole I hope you understand what I mean as I can't be taking the front skin off everytime to put something inside. If you can suggest something fine. I also heard from other drummers on your site not to muffle ( head without mike hole) a bass drum as it sounds better without it. Confused what do you think?

Yeah, I have problems trying to tune my bass drum too; i cant get the nice thud sound, instead mine just sounds cheap and hollow and I've tried using a pillow in the middle for muffling but that hasn't helped.

[Drumlugs]

Yeah, I have problems trying to tune my bass drum too; i cant get the nice thud sound, instead mine just sounds cheap and hollow and I've tried using a pillow in the middle for muffling but that hasn't helped.

Do you have a hole in the front of your head. When I had a hole in mine it sounded great with a pillow inside I got that nice thud out of it. But since putting a whole head it sounds really loud and not as good. I don't really want to take the head off and put a pillow inside and find out it sounds better without it and then I have to take it out and re-tune the drum evrytime. I wish one of our experts would reply to our questions about this probem. Any other time they are right there with comments when you realy don't need them.

[Poco Askew]

I wish one of our experts would reply to our questions about this probem. Any other time they are right there with comments when you realy don't need them.

Yeah, I have problems trying to tune my bass drum too; i cant get the nice thud sound, instead mine just sounds cheap and hollow and I've tried using a pillow in the middle for muffling but that hasn't helped.

The reason this is difficult to give accurate advice is the same as tuning any drum. There are so many variables that it usually takes some experimentation. The things to consider: personal sound preference, tuning, head types, the room, dampening (both the head(s) themselves and internal).

I feel the SKII has an awesome thud to it. It is dampened. If you don't want to keep trying different internal muffling techniques, try heavily dampening your batter head. Is it more like what you want? If so, fine tune with less (or more?) dampening. Same for the reso head. These can be done quickly and easily w/o pulling a head and w/o retuning. The method used to dampen can be laying a towel or blanket against the head, or even holding it temporarily, while you test it out. And there's always tape for less dampening, or to hold heavier dampening materials

How tight are your heads? I tune mine just above the wrinkle point.

This post has been edited by Poco Askew: Nov 25 2009, 07:38 AM

[Jared Falk]

Do you have a hole in the front of your head. When I had a hole in mine it sounded great with a pillow inside I got that nice thud out of it. But since putting a whole head it sounds really loud and not as good. I don't really want to take the head off and put a pillow inside and find out it sounds better without it and then I have to take it out and re-tune the drum evrytime. I wish one of our experts would reply to our questions about this probem. Any other time they are right there with comments when you realy don't need them.

Sorry to leave you hangin.

Without actually hearing your drum it's tough to make a judgment call on exactly how you should tune that drum. For me, I always show up to a gig or session with a hole in my bass drum. This makes it WAY easier on the engineer for micing up the drum to make it sound its best.

The drum will resonate more without the hole in the head, however, I've never had any comments about a bad sounding bass drum because there was a hole in the head. In all my drums, I have a hole in the head, then just a light bed sheet along the bottom of the drum.

If you don't want to take the head off everytime, then just cut a hole in it..simple as that.

[Reptilefreak94]

Drumlugs: thanks for replying - Yeah i thought of putting a hole in the front head but was never really sure if I should and what diameter etc

Poco Askew: thanks for replying - Ok yeah mine is in a small bedroom and is right up against the wall. What stuff do you use for muffling?
Mine are pretty tight except I've tried them looser and it didn't change it much.


Does the hole you cut in the head have to be in a certain area of the skin - like middle or bottom right etc and does it have to be a certain diameter?

Thanks
Riley

[Poco Askew]

Poco Askew: thanks for replying - Ok yeah mine is in a small bedroom and is right up against the wall. What stuff do you use for muffling?
Mine are pretty tight except I've tried them looser and it didn't change it much.

Does the hole you cut in the head have to be in a certain area of the skin - like middle or bottom right etc and does it have to be a certain diameter?

Thanks
Riley

I don't use any muffling for my kick. The SKII and Regulator heads do it all. In my room (about 12'x12'), I have carpet on the floor and a heavy rug that hangs covering a good portion of one wall. Your kick will sound different if pulled out from the wall - especially to someone else in front listening to you.

As to the hole, look at some of the heads with holes already in them. Some are offset, some are centered. The sizes range from about 5" to 7".

I'm still of the opinion, if you aren't mic'ing the drum, you can get along w/o a hole. It does make it slower to change internal dampening, but if you don't move your kit, you probably won't want to change it once you get it where you like it. And after you've had that reso head off a few times, tuning it will be no biggie. Besides, I would concentrate more on tuning and external dampening.

This post has been edited by Poco Askew: Nov 26 2009, 06:33 AM

[Drumlugs]

Sorry to leave you hangin.

Without actually hearing your drum it's tough to make a judgment call on exactly how you should tune that drum. For me, I always show up to a gig or session with a hole in my bass drum. This makes it WAY easier on the engineer for micing up the drum to make it sound its best.

The drum will resonate more without the hole in the head, however, I've never had any comments about a bad sounding bass drum because there was a hole in the head. In all my drums, I have a hole in the head, then just a light bed sheet along the bottom of the drum.

If you don't want to take the head off everytime, then just cut a hole in it..simple as that.

That's ok Jared we know you are a busy man with Xmas coming and all but I do appreciate your reply. The problem is that all dvd tuning bass drums have holes in them. I never had that problem before I changed my head to no hole. Will play around with it and try the advise from the other members thanks all

This post has been edited by Drumlugs: Nov 26 2009, 09:40 AM

[Drumlugs]

The reason this is difficult to give accurate advice is the same as tuning any drum. There are so many variables that it usually takes some experimentation. The things to consider: personal sound preference, tuning, head types, the room, dampening (both the head(s) themselves and internal).

I feel the SKII has an awesome thud to it. It is dampened. If you don't want to keep trying different internal muffling techniques, try heavily dampening your batter head. Is it more like what you want? If so, fine tune with less (or more?) dampening. Same for the reso head. These can be done quickly and easily w/o pulling a head and w/o retuning. The method used to dampen can be laying a towel or blanket against the head, or even holding it temporarily, while you test it out. And there's always tape for less dampening, or to hold heavier dampening materials

How tight are your heads? I tune mine just above the wrinkle point.

My heads are tuned the same way the batter just over the wrinkle point by a 1/4 turn and the reso about 1 full turn over the wrinkle. Does that sound right to you.

[Jared Falk]

That's ok Jared we know you are a busy man with Xmas coming and all but I do appreciate your reply. The problem is that all dvd tuning bass drums have holes in them. I never had that problem before I changed my head to no hole. Will play around with it and try the advise from the other members thanks all

If all videos and dvds demonstrate "how to tune a bass drum" with a hole in it, then maybe you should cut a hole in it. That is one of the things that drummers are doing to improve their bass drum sound, and make it easier to tune.

If you are set on tuning your bass drum without a hole in it, then the same techniques are applied if you had a hole in it. You will just have to take the head off all the time to adjust the muffling, or when you have to re-tune from gig to gig.

I always cut a hole in my drum and put Bass Drum O's in there. Just do a Google search for Bass Drum O's and you'll see what I mean