{"id":1747406,"date":"2018-12-14T22:34:57","date_gmt":"2018-12-14T22:34:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/?post_type=articles&p=1747406"},"modified":"2023-08-21T13:21:58","modified_gmt":"2023-08-21T17:21:58","slug":"how-to-change-your-drumheads","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/how-to-change-your-drumheads\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Change Your Drumheads"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Just like guitar strings, drum heads need to be changed from time to time to keep them sounding great. While it\u2019s ultimately up to you when you change your heads, it\u2019s always good to have a fresh set on hand, especially if it tears before a live gig or recording session, so in this article, we\u2019ll talk about how to change and tune drum heads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Prepare the shell<\/a><\/strong><\/li>
  2. Install the drumhead<\/a><\/strong><\/li>
  3. How to tune the drum<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
  4. Drumhead tips<\/a><\/strong><\/li>
  5. Troubleshooting tuning issues<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Prepare the shell<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    TIP: <\/strong>When you\u2019re changing heads, it\u2019s always a good idea to put a couple drops of lubricant on the tension rods. Not only will this make the tuning process smoother, but it will prevent the lug casing and tension rod from stripping. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Before you change your drum heads, there are a few things you need to do first. Having a clean shell sets you up for success when you tune. Make sure you use the cross lug pattern<\/strong> for the entire procedure, as seen in the image below! Just like a car tire, you want even tension on all sides to prevent bent hoops or shells from going out of round. Follow these steps to prepare the drum shell for removing and installing the drum heads. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Remove the drum head and set your hardware to the side.<\/li>
    2. Wipe the bearing edge<\/a> and inside of the shell with a microfiber cloth to remove any dust or wood shavings. This is also a great time to polish the shell as well.<\/li>
    3. Wipe down the drum hoop, again, to remove any dust or wood shavings.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

      Install the drumhead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      With your drum shell, hoop, and tension rods prepared, it\u2019s time to install the drum head. This will take a little bit of time, but your patience will pay off! Follow the steps below to get your drum up to tune.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1. Place the drum head onto the drum shell. Rotate the head back and forth a few times just to make sure it moves freely.<\/li>
      2. Place the hoop on the shell, insert the tension rods into the lugs, then tighten them until they are snug on the hoop \u2013 finger-tight is fine.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
        \"Installing<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

        Installing a drumhead. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

        How to tune the drum<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        When you\u2019re tuning drum heads, you need to seat them before you tune them up to pitch. This helps the head stay conformed to the bearing edge, ensuring that your drum stays in tune. During the seating process, you will hear a cracking sound. This is normal; it\u2019s just the glue in the drumhead releasing. Follow these steps to get the drums up to pitch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Seat the drumhead<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
        1. Go around the drum with two drum keys (keeping them on opposite sides of the drum) and tighten them by one turn until the head no longer has wrinkles and produces a pitch.<\/li>
        2. Lightly press down on the center of the drum head in a quick CPR motion a few times.<\/li>
        3. Tap all sides of the drum head directly in front of the tension rods. If the pitch has gone down on one side, tune that up again and follow the same procedure for the others until it stays in pitch.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Tune the drum to pitch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
          1. Using the cross lug pattern<\/strong> (see image below)<\/em>, turn the tension rods by small increments tapping the edge of the drum head directly in front of the tension rods. Once it\u2019s at the desired pitch, follow the same procedure for the rest of them.<\/li>
          2. Strike the center of the drum a few times and then make fine adjustments as needed.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

            Tuning resonant heads<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

            When you\u2019re tuning resonant heads, there are three ways to tune, all of which provide different results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n