feedback - IN-TUNE Get your drums in tune with the song.

It is very usefull to tune the bass drum to the tonic of a song

2011-03-13T09:57:03Z

As an audio software engineer, I would venture to say that it's very usefull to tune the *bass drum* to the tonic of a song (or as close as you can get). This makes much sense, as it helps to emphasize the key on the 'downbeat'. But I also think a tuned snare would emphasize it on the off-beats, which could be strange.

Anyway, this technique is used in lots of R&B and HIP-HOP and it can be an effective tool.

Also, in general, for most styles, I think that unless the native tuning of a drum is causing some weird 'sympathetic resonance', one should just stick to keeping them tuned well, as opposed to 'in tune' tempered, harmonically. Though, I really appreciate that none of the IN-TUNE Hits sounds are tempered with and they are just organized by different pitches. This is a bliss!

it is very important to tune the snare as well as the kick drum and the toms

2011-03-13T09:47:37Z

As a drummer, I think it is very important to tune the snare as well as the kick drum and the toms.

Let the song dictate what the snare needs. The pitch has everything to do with the feel of the song. Your video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=behK0UE2Eoc shows that pretty well, but you could really make it better since your library has much greater potential.

Just an added note: As far as the playing goes, if you listen to a lot of the old 60's recordings from Stax (Sam & Dave, Booker T. & The M.G.'s, Eddie Floyd) you will notice a famous technique drummer Al Jackson discovered. He slightly delayed the snare notes to give the song a kind of shuffling feel, like the music wanted to speed up but the drum kept it in line.