Q&A for How to Set Up a Drum Kit

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What would you say is the best way to practice when you know you can't use your actual drums, due to noise or space issues?

Bart Robley
Drummer, Drum Teacher, and Author
Bart Robley is a Drummer, Drum Teacher, and Author based in Ontario, California. Bart has been sharing his expertise in drumming knowledge through teaching for over 30 years. He makes his teachings globally accessible by offering lessons in an online format. Bart has authored three instructional books and created three instructional DVDs. He received a Bronze Telly Award in 2009 for his DVD "School Of Hard Rocks. Additionally, Bart has been the drummer for the Sam Morrison Band for over 25 years.

Bart Robley

Drummer, Drum Teacher, and Author

Expert Answer

If you have a room where you can set up a drum set, you can just put super pads on top of the drums. Same thing with the bass drum. There's a bass drum pad that sits into the bass drum with clips that hold the pad in place. They pretty much cut down on about 90% of the sound. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced player, you can also use a piece of wood with a piece of neoprene rubber or sponge rubber on it.

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Question

Do ride and crash cymbals have different stands? If so, what is the difference?

Community Answer

Yes and no. They can both be used on the same stands, but ride cymbal stands often have a boom arm on the stand, which allows the cymbal to stretch out over the bass drum.

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Question

How do I fix a snare drum pedal?

Community Answer

Did you mean bass-drum pedal? If so, then it all depends on what is broken/needs to be replaced. Take it into your local music shop.

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Question

How do I adjust a Hi-Hat pedal?

Community Answer

Raise the top of the Hi-Hat a little bit (two fingers maybe), turn the screw, and press the pedal.

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Question

Can I over tighten the drum heads when replacing them?

Community Answer

Yes you can, there is a tool -- I believe that it is called a drum screw or a head screw or something like that.

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Question

Where do I install the springs?

Community Answer

The springs should go under the snare drum. The springs should be about the length of the diameter of the snare.

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Question

How should I tune bass drums if one is smaller than the other?

Mapley

Community Answer

The smaller one should be tightened a little bit more, on the head and the bottom, than the larger one (which would make it higher pitched).

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Question

What do I do if the floor Tom doesn’t have fittings for legs? Bought a used set for my 7 year old son but there aren't fittings for the legs. Is there a stand that could be used?

Isabella Musso

Community Answer

You can purchase the legs from a music store and get the fittings installed professionally. You can also purchase a stand that would have the legs already attached.

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Question

How do I dude a vibrating snare?

Rudy Toth

Community Answer

Somewhere on your snare drum there's a muffle pad that you turn with your fingers to dampen down the vibrations.

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Question

Where does the rubber strip with adhesive go?

Community Answer

That is meant to go on the head of your snare drum, at the 12 o'clock position.

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Question

What is the rubber strip with adhesive used for that came with my Ludwig accent?

Johnjohnvball17

Top Answerer

Usually that would be for the rim of the kick drum where the kick pedal attaches to help protect the rim from damage.

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