Bass drum pitch

**CELTWORKS** · 15-10-09, 09:12 PM

Hi All; Just wondering how you set up the pitch on your bass drum for competition. I am sure there are a few different ways to do this and would appreciate some guidance from all you experienced bass drummers.
Cheers
David

**Piper06** · 15-10-09, 10:11 PM

Since I am the band tuning reference most of the time, our Bass drummer/ human metronome tunes with my drones.

**Mike Cole** · 16-10-09, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CELTWORKS

Hi All; Just wondering how you set up the pitch on your bass drum for competition. I am sure there are a few different ways to do this and would appreciate some guidance from all you experienced bass drummers.
Cheers
David

To the bass drone, my friend...it's a zen thing for me! Ddddddddddrummmmmmm!
Cheers!

**KAILY** · 16-10-09, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CELTWORKS

Hi All; Just wondering how you set up the pitch on your bass drum for competition. I am sure there are a few different ways to do this and would appreciate some guidance from all you experienced bass drummers.
Cheers
David

Set to the bass drone, there are meter settings you can use for all bass section drums, I am sure I gave Robbie a list of the settings?
Kaily

**Robbie.Crow** · 16-10-09, 03:02 PM

And i am sure that robbie will have promptly lost them after he printed them off... You've seen my organisation skills :P

**KAILY** · 16-10-09, 08:38 PM

These are the settings I use:

bass drum: B flat or A sharp
( set to piper`s bass drone which will probably be one of these two settings)

18" baritone drum: C flat or D sharp

16" tenor drum: F flat or F sharp

Alto drum: tune to just above 16" tenor drum pitch.

Kaily

**myhairybass** · 20-10-09, 01:54 PM

if you has bigger sizes is there a way to work out the pitch? my brother is looking at buying a marching band bass drum which is.... wait forret... 30 inches diameter!!!!! is tat genna be a G or even a F??? what pitch is we genna gotfor that??????!?!?!?!? is that genna be too low for the drone?

**Pete Walen** · 20-10-09, 02:20 PM

A 30 inch diameter drum - my, my, my...

If I was intentionally looking for a drum of that diameter, the only reason I can think of would pe to tune it below the "normal" tuning - so probably a third or fourth below the bass drone. So, if you think in "concert" terms, the F or G below the drone's Bb. Or, if you think in "bagpipe" terms, the E of F below the drone's A.

With the usual disclaimer in place ("Depending on heads, dampening, mallet selection and technique...") I see no reason why that should not be achievable.

Personally, having experimented a bit, it is not my cup of tea. I know some bands like the earth-shuddering sound that may result from that. Not me.

**KAILY** · 23-10-09, 05:45 PM

I only use my tuning meter as a rough guide for setting each drum. I prefer setting my whole drum corps sound by the "ear" method.

I stand back from the corps and if a drum sounds a bit out of balance with the other drums I will adjust the pitch until I have a nice balanced sound which is in complete harmony with the sound of the pipes.
No matter what size of a drum you are tuning remember your drums should be tuned and played in such a way as to compliment the complete band sound.

If your drums are not in harmony with the pipers sound or are played in such a way as to be too dominant the adjudicators at competitions will not be long pointing this out to you.
Kaily

**Stig** · 26-10-09, 08:28 PM

I have always used the shell pitch to determine tuning. If you tap the shell of the drum with the heads off or just loose, you can hear the sound of teh wood and what the natural tone is. the drum will be the most responsive when tuned to its natural note.

15-10-09, 09:12 PM	#1
CELTWORKS Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: AURORA Posts: 8 Casino cash: $291 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 3 Posts	Bass drum pitch Hi All; Just wondering how you set up the pitch on your bass drum for competition. I am sure there are a few different ways to do this and would appreciate some guidance from all you experienced bass drummers. Cheers David

15-10-09, 10:11 PM	#2
Piper06 Super V.I.P. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Age: 59 Posts: 5,238 Casino cash: $10072 Country: Thanks: 482 Thanked 743 Times in 550 Posts	Since I am the band tuning reference most of the time, our Bass drummer/ human metronome tunes with my drones. __________________ Some people are like Slinkys, not worth anything but funny as hell when they fall down the stairs. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. My Countdown Counting down to: Retirement????? 143 days 1 hours 34 minutes

16-10-09, 08:38 PM	#6
KAILY PBF Drumming Advisor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Fallin Stirling Posts: 1,146 Casino cash: $2429 Country: Thanks: 703 Thanked 716 Times in 410 Posts	bass drum pitch These are the settings I use: bass drum: B flat or A sharp ( set to piper`s bass drone which will probably be one of these two settings) 18" baritone drum: C flat or D sharp 16" tenor drum: F flat or F sharp Alto drum: tune to just above 16" tenor drum pitch. Kaily __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

20-10-09, 02:20 PM	#8
Pete Walen Drummer Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,989 Casino cash: $5 Country: Thanks: 154 Thanked 657 Times in 404 Posts	A 30 inch diameter drum - my, my, my... If I was intentionally looking for a drum of that diameter, the only reason I can think of would pe to tune it below the "normal" tuning - so probably a third or fourth below the bass drone. So, if you think in "concert" terms, the F or G below the drone's Bb. Or, if you think in "bagpipe" terms, the E of F below the drone's A. With the usual disclaimer in place ("Depending on heads, dampening, mallet selection and technique...") I see no reason why that should not be achievable. Personally, having experimented a bit, it is not my cup of tea. I know some bands like the earth-shuddering sound that may result from that. Not me. __________________ Pete - Pith Helmet Legion Highlanders of the Mystic Shrine Legion Pipes and Drums Bag Pipe Band (Gr 9) Good Drumming: Pure Magic

23-10-09, 05:45 PM	#9
KAILY PBF Drumming Advisor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Fallin Stirling Posts: 1,146 Casino cash: $2429 Country: Thanks: 703 Thanked 716 Times in 410 Posts	I only use my tuning meter as a rough guide for setting each drum. I prefer setting my whole drum corps sound by the "ear" method. I stand back from the corps and if a drum sounds a bit out of balance with the other drums I will adjust the pitch until I have a nice balanced sound which is in complete harmony with the sound of the pipes. No matter what size of a drum you are tuning remember your drums should be tuned and played in such a way as to compliment the complete band sound. If your drums are not in harmony with the pipers sound or are played in such a way as to be too dominant the adjudicators at competitions will not be long pointing this out to you. Kaily __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

16-10-09, 03:02 PM	#5
Robbie.Crow Wobbly™ Jedi Master Yoda Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Central Scotland Age: 21 Posts: 12,157 Casino cash: $20838 Country: Thanks: 906 Thanked 2,280 Times in 1,353 Posts	And i am sure that robbie will have promptly lost them after he printed them off... You've seen my organisation skills :P

20-10-09, 01:54 PM	#7
myhairybass V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: NI Posts: 21 Casino cash: $287 Country: Thanks: 4 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	if you has bigger sizes is there a way to work out the pitch? my brother is looking at buying a marching band bass drum which is.... wait forret... 30 inches diameter!!!!! is tat genna be a G or even a F??? what pitch is we genna gotfor that??????!?!?!?!? is that genna be too low for the drone?

26-10-09, 08:28 PM	#10
Stig Super V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Drums have rum in them!!! Posts: 755 Casino cash: $2112 Country: Thanks: 77 Thanked 108 Times in 80 Posts	I have always used the shell pitch to determine tuning. If you tap the shell of the drum with the heads off or just loose, you can hear the sound of teh wood and what the natural tone is. the drum will be the most responsive when tuned to its natural note. __________________ Rope tension drums kick A$$!!!

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Rocky Mountain Pipe Band and the fastest Bass Drum in the world	Reid	General Drumming Room	11	20-11-11 04:21 PM
LFFPB Bass Drum	NMCustoms	NM Custom Drums	10	20-07-09 07:57 PM
bass drum scores	Francisco	Bass & Tenor Area	8	15-06-07 09:46 AM
Observations in Changes in Sound from a bass drum workshop...	Pete Walen	The Speakeasy	1	06-11-06 06:21 PM
Bad Bass Drum	tartaniac	General Drumming Room	4	20-06-06 10:08 PM