big band , swing , drum tuning

[ScumBum]

I want to tune my drums to sound like the big band , swing , era drums . Whats the approach to achieving this ?

[Chunkaway]

Originally Posted by ScumBum

I want to tune my drums to sound like the big band , swing , era drums . Whats the approach to achieving this ?

Most of those drummers used calf heads and they had them tuned fairly high without muffling. Most of the modern big band guys use coated Ambassadors or Fiberskyns, still tuned fairly high and again, with minimal muffling.

[ScumBum]

Both sides of the drum are tuned high , or just the bottom head ? Someone told me you get that sound from tuning the bottom head really high and the top head pretty low .

[Pawel]

Single ply heads tuned fairly high to obtain presence and cut-through.

Remo Coated Ambassador or Fiberskin FD, Evans Coated G1 or J1

Try resonant head a minor 3rd higher than the batter, as John Riley suggested in a seminar. I find that this tuning gives a great balance and tone.

[biggator6]

Tune them high and let them sing (NO muffling except maybe a bit of felt on the bass drum... maybe).

[Chunkaway]

Originally Posted by ScumBum

Both sides of the drum are tuned high , or just the bottom head ? Someone told me you get that sound from tuning the bottom head really high and the top head pretty low .

Both heads on the high side. The comment about a 3rd higher sounds about right.