Bass Drum Adjustments for Best Sound
Perhaps the most important part of a drum set or drummer’s unique sound is the thunderous boom (or not) from his or her kick drum. The kick drum lays the foundation upon which all other drum hits are based. It provides the basest (bassest) part of the rhythmic structure, delineating and driving the syncopation that is set up initially by the high-hat’s 8th or 16th rhythms. Most often, a drummer desires a well-articulated attack with minimal, but sure decay, and utilizing the right tools, beginning with the musician’s ears, a booming bass is sure to be achieved.
Getting the correct sound from your bass begins with tuning of the heads. Uniform tension across the head is key, always turn your drum key the same amount of times at all lugs in order to avoid annoying overtones. As a rule, the bass drum batter head (the head that receives the strike, nearest the drummer) should possess a looser tension than the other heads of the kit. A too loose situation could result in the batter puncturing the skin, so moderately loose, of course. The other side (resonant side) does not need as much attention, but to make sure that the skin is uniformly tightened around the circumference.
An unappealing sound from the bass can often be as simple as improper bass drum pedal placement. To get the best sound from your drum, it needs to be struck in the very center, to allow for maximum air flow throughout the drum and increased reverberation and resonance throughout the bass frequency range.
The last check on achieving the best sound from your bass drum entails muffling. With an empty bass drum, the sound can reverberate too wildly, often stepping on frequencies of fellow musicians, especially the bass player’s. Specifically designed pillows can be placed within the bass drum’s cavity, helping to control the sound waves and increase the punch and bite of the initial attack. A beater patch is also instrumental in achieving just the right amount of muffling on the beater side of your bass drum. Place this adhesive patch right where your pedal strikes the head (in the middle). The benefit is two-fold as the patch increases the skin’s strength and helps wrangle in those unwieldy vibrations from each strike, allowing for more “punch” to your tone. On the resonant side, you could place a head with a ported hole that allows for better and punchier bass response while also allowing easy access for pillow or microphone placement in the studio or on the stage.
Local music stores like Austin’s Strait Music Company stock a wide selection of accessories to help each drummer achieve proper tone from their entire kit, not just the kick drum. Knowledgeable salespersons can point you in the right direction and provide helpful information and options to help find the distinct sound you desire.
About the Author: Clint Strait is a third generation owner and assistant manager of the Strait Music, Austin Music Stores, providing the best selection of drums and cymbals to Austin and the surrounding area for over forty years. For more information please visit www.straitmusic.com.
Getting the correct sound from your bass begins with tuning of the heads. Uniform tension across the head is key, always turn your drum key the same amount of times at all lugs in order to avoid annoying overtones. As a rule, the bass drum batter head (the head that receives the strike, nearest the drummer) should possess a looser tension than the other heads of the kit. A too loose situation could result in the batter puncturing the skin, so moderately loose, of course. The other side (resonant side) does not need as much attention, but to make sure that the skin is uniformly tightened around the circumference.
An unappealing sound from the bass can often be as simple as improper bass drum pedal placement. To get the best sound from your drum, it needs to be struck in the very center, to allow for maximum air flow throughout the drum and increased reverberation and resonance throughout the bass frequency range.
The last check on achieving the best sound from your bass drum entails muffling. With an empty bass drum, the sound can reverberate too wildly, often stepping on frequencies of fellow musicians, especially the bass player’s. Specifically designed pillows can be placed within the bass drum’s cavity, helping to control the sound waves and increase the punch and bite of the initial attack. A beater patch is also instrumental in achieving just the right amount of muffling on the beater side of your bass drum. Place this adhesive patch right where your pedal strikes the head (in the middle). The benefit is two-fold as the patch increases the skin’s strength and helps wrangle in those unwieldy vibrations from each strike, allowing for more “punch” to your tone. On the resonant side, you could place a head with a ported hole that allows for better and punchier bass response while also allowing easy access for pillow or microphone placement in the studio or on the stage.
Local music stores like Austin’s Strait Music Company stock a wide selection of accessories to help each drummer achieve proper tone from their entire kit, not just the kick drum. Knowledgeable salespersons can point you in the right direction and provide helpful information and options to help find the distinct sound you desire.
About the Author: Clint Strait is a third generation owner and assistant manager of the Strait Music, Austin Music Stores, providing the best selection of drums and cymbals to Austin and the surrounding area for over forty years. For more information please visit www.straitmusic.com.
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