Q&A for How to Tune a Snare Drum

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Question

What should a snare drum be tuned to?

Matt Khoury
Veteran Drummer
Matt Khoury is a seasoned drummer with over 25 years of experience. He started playing in high-school band and at church, which expanded into opportunities to play with bands in front of thousands of people across the United States.

Matt Khoury

Veteran Drummer

Expert Answer

A snare drum can be tuned to an infinitesimal frequency. There’s definitely a sweet spot, but ultimately, you just have to like the sound that comes out of the drums.

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Question

I use a drum dial to get proper tension evenly all the way around. I hear the bottom head should be tighter than the top head. Is this true?

Community Answer

If you tune the bottom head higher than the top head, then the snares will become more responsive to the hit on the top head.

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Question

I hear the snares when I strike any of my toms. How do I eliminate the snare sound?

Community Answer

There's really no way to completely eliminate overtone sounds in a snare drum, but you can make them less profound by buying dampening material and applying it to your snare. You can also fold toilet paper or medical gauze and tape it to the sides of the snare skin.

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Question

Can I have a loose snare drum head and still perform a roll with the snare on?

Thequestioner555

Community Answer

It is possible, but it becomes much more difficult as the head gets looser. It's similar to trying to do a drum roll on a pillow.

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