I posted this recently on another thread..

"I like to tune to frequencies/notes and messed around with piano keyboards & guitar tuners years ago, with limited success. Nowdays I use either a workshop sweep audio generator or a frequency generator off the web. I like to try out others recommended head tensions and there are no end of combinations out there. I do not have a Tune bot or similar but have used their calculator recommendations on the kit and like many of the combinations.

I generate the frequencies through a large hi fi system and it seems to work better for me with a reasonably loud constant tone to tune to. Audacity software has a generator which I have used, I just select the frequency and set it up for a 5 minute duration and pump it through the speakers.

For any one just learning tuning I'd suggest they do something similar, you will really learn much about the countless combo of sounds from a given drum, and importantly how the reso head relates to the batter etc. "

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For anyone wishing to lock in or mess around with some of those suggested head tensions, on line frequency generator software won't cost you anything, it's worth spending some time on.. IMO. whether you are tuning to the shell's resonant Q or not..

Cheers

It's all about the:

As well... ;)

But for those with bad ears, it can be all about this:

[Attachment: 64668]

Any cylinder such as a drum, organ pipe, fife, or Coke can wants to resonate at a specific fundamental frequency or pitch (plus some harmonics of that pitch). Using a simple frequency calculator such as the one posted here,

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/waves/clocol.html#c1

you can easily determine the resonant frequency of any length drum. The example pictured shows the fundamental resonant frequency of a 1 foot cylinder (such as your 8x12 tom) is 285hz, or about a C# above middle C.

If we hit that resonant frequency while tuning by ear, we instantly recognize it as the "sweet spot". Suddenly the drum sings.

Do I tune my drums this way? Nope. I find that the resonant frequencies of 12" and 13" toms are too low for jazz. Those old jazz masters tensioned their drums to the sound their ears liked, and those pitches weren't necessarily the fundamental tones. So despite all the formulas and technologies, it does indeed come down to ears.

...also, with the drums tuned high, it offers better rebound, but more importantly, it chokes the sustain, so you can hear all of the notes without them blending into the tom's singing resonance. Imagine Buddy Rich playing drum solos on rock-tuned drums--it would be like, "smack! Wub wub wub wub wub..."

[QUOTE=caddywumpus;280566]...also, with the drums tuned high, it offers better rebound, but more importantly, it chokes the sustain, so you can hear all of the notes without them blending into the tom's singing resonance. [QUOTE]

Exactly!! I wonder if some of our jazz idols tuned their drums with rebound in mind rather than pitch. And about choking sustain, isn't that why tone controls and mufflers were installed by all the major manufactures in the first place? What is with this modern penchant for sustain and ringing? I remember when the only drums that rang were badly tuned MIJ toms. They're supposed to be drums, not bells. In my day, we'd put a little piece of duct tape on the edge of the head to stifle any ringing, or place our wallets on our snare drums. Nowadays, new drums lack tone controls and have bearing edges so sharp you could cut your finger on them. BAH! Give me the vintage sound of Clevelands any day!

Now get off of my lawn you kids!

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This is all very interesting. I quite like a drum with sustain. Depending on the style of music I can muffle if necessary.

My reasoning to tune to "notes" is simply because it is repeatable and accurate. Again, the "notes" I tune to are those that the drum head produces while sitting on a padded surface. It doesn't matter what method one uses to tune a drum. It can be tuned to the lowest range to the tightest bop tuning with the heads the same or different. If you get the drum where you like the sound and, assuming the heads are actually in tune with themselves, then all you have to do is set the drum on a surface and discover what "note" each head is tuned to. Why is this helpful? Because you now have a way to replicate that sound immediately. It works like a champ.

You can also hum into the drum head, and it will vibrate like mad when you hum the note it's tuned to (an old timpani trick). You can take that note over to a piano/guitar/phone app and figure out the nearest note from there.