Drum Heads
New drum heads are essential to a good sound. If you practice and play your snare drum a lot, you should change the batter head and the snare head once a year for best sound. (The batter head is the top head of the drum, the one you hit when you play. The snare head is on the bottom of the drum, it is the one that makes contact with the snares).
Snare Strainer (the pieces of twisted metal that stretches across the underside of the drum)
This is often an overlooked part of a snare drum, but it is largely responsible for the snare drum's sound. The main problem with the snare strainer is that it applies pressure unevenly to the wires, so some will stretch more than others. This uneven wear can cause problems such as snare "buzz" or "dead" snares. When in doubt, ask about having it changed.
Preparation for Changing Drum Heads
One at a time, remove the old heads and snare. Clean the hoop and drum edges, removing dust and any build-up. Cleaning and polishing should be done now, as there are no tension rods, hoops, or snare in the way. Do not use liquids because your drum is wooden.
Fit New heads
Place the new head onto the drum and spin it around the edge to ensure clean contact. Tighten the tension rods until they make contact with the hoop. Do not tune it yet.
Batter Head Tuning
Put the snare flat on the floor. This deadens the snare (bottom) head, allowing you to isolate the batter (top) head.
Following the order in the diagram below, take your drum key and begin tightening each lug 1 complete turn. Then continue using a quarter turn at a time until the pitch is a medium- to high-sound AND is the same all the way around the drumhead. Tap around the circumference of the head listening for high and low spots, and correct accordingly.
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