For Anal Drum Tuners

[kenshireen1]

Of which I am one.
I use a Drum Dial, Iphone Pro Tuner, and my pitch perfect ears
I have been experimenting on my 196X supraphonic.

I know how to seat a head and tune a drum.
I am trying to understand why when I use the DD and tap two lugs (one reads 85 and the one next to it 89). The Iphone Tuner reads G# on both (around 197 hz).
My ears read the same. My question is how can the DD read different numbers when the pitch was the same. I hit the drum about the lug about one inch the edge with the same pressure.

 

[robthetimekeeper]

I usually just use my hand.

 

[K.O.]

I usually just use my hand.

Me too...but I am curious as to how it's done. I'm guessing rigorous muscle control.

 

[green glass drum]

What is that old blues line?.......My key won't fit no more.

 

[Philaiy9]

I experienced the same thing so I don't use one anymore. I think it has to do with a drum head not being perfectly centered on the bearing edge. Doesn't seem to matter for sound.

 

[DamnSingerAlsoDrums]

Not sure I want to know what an anal drum is... Much less how to tune it.

 

[Hop]

I am trying to understand why when I use the DD and tap two lugs (one reads 85 and the one next to it 89). The Iphone Tuner reads G# on both (around 197 hz).
My ears read the same. My question is how can the DD read different numbers when the pitch was the same. I hit the drum about the lug about one inch the edge with the same pressure.

Maybe one of the instruments are inaccurate. If the DD is responding to tension input changes, can probably rule it out. I'd then look at the iPhone and inquire about the sensitivity range of the microphone and how accurate/sensitive the scale is for the iPhone app that you're using. It may be that the app doesn't have the granular scale needed to differentiate between the sound of the two lugs. I have no idea a "4" difference equates to in potential differences with a more 'fine' purpose made/sophisticated instrument. It may or may not be significant. If it affects the reading from a more sophisticate sensing device, then it would really point to the iPhone app not having the accuracy you're needing.

I saw a vid on DD and they use some more sophisticate equipment... maybe they have done research into what those subtle tension difference can produce on their equipment?
See the 5:30 mark:

 

[Freewill3]

The first thing that comes to mind is, are one of the lugs in question near the snare bed or throw off/butt side?

 

[Elvis]

Of which I am one.
I use a Drum Dial, Iphone Pro Tuner, and my pitch perfect ears
I have been experimenting on my 196X supraphonic.

I know how to seat a head and tune a drum.
I am trying to understand why when I use the DD and tap two lugs (one reads 85 and the one next to it 89). The Iphone Tuner reads G# on both (around 197 hz).
My ears read the same. My question is how can the DD read different numbers when the pitch was the same. I hit the drum about the lug about one inch the edge with the same pressure.

I'm going to preface this with JMHO....

Things like a Drum Dial are nice if you need to change a head between sets during a gig and you have to get the tension in the same "ballpark" quickly.
Otherwise, just tension the drum 'til you get a good sound and don't worry about the rest.
Just play.

...off my soapbox.

 

[JimmySticks]

I find that I have to go round and round a drum numerous times to get all the lugs at the same numbers with a DD. Honestly, it doesn't seem to sound better than when the numbers are off just a bit. But yeah, I'm anal, so I go round and round until all the numbers match!

 

[JazzDrumGuy]

???? Uh, you can keep it......

 

[swarfrat]

DD vs pitch Measuring devices:

Measuring pitch by deflection is kind of like measuring vision by how much a patient is squinting. It's not that they're completely unrelated, but it's by no means a direct equivalent.

Regardless of the reason, or how many turns or the torque on a rod or the stiffness of the head or distance from the bearing edge: the pitch is what you're trying to control. Unless you're changing heads while the baby sleeps (btdt - hated to noise making time on mundane things like head swaps), just measure the thing you're trying to control in the first place.

 

[Seb77]

The drum dail might be right? A drumhead pitch depends on the tension of adjacent lugs as well as the one opposite the head. The resultant might be a certain tone (the lowest one?), but the overtones might still be off.
With a Supra, it's unlikely the bearing edge is uneven, but maybe the shell is slightly out of round? Many factors; in the end intuition, tactile feel and ear probably work better than a measuring device.

 

[Deafmoon]

I've never owned a drum tuner in my 51 years of drumming. I tune to a pitch and then the intervals between drums. If I want a a major 3rd or a 4th or 5th between one drum versus another, I tune it that way. But you do have to know solfeggio or have some piano in your studies.

 

[Tigerdrummer]

Of which I am one.
I use a Drum Dial, Iphone Pro Tuner, and my pitch perfect ears
I have been experimenting on my 196X supraphonic.

I know how to seat a head and tune a drum.
I am trying to understand why when I use the DD and tap two lugs (one reads 85 and the one next to it 89). The Iphone Tuner reads G# on both (around 197 hz).
My ears read the same. My question is how can the DD read different numbers when the pitch was the same. I hit the drum about the lug about one inch the edge with the same pressure.

I have seen there are so many drum tuning videos. What I need is a video saying which drum tuning video to use.

 

[multijd]

I’ve had trouble using the DD for accurate pitch tuning. My ear gets me to an “in tune” drum the Dd might get an even tension but not even tuning.

 

[Buffalo_drummer]

Of which I am one.
I use a Drum Dial, Iphone Pro Tuner, and my pitch perfect ears
I have been experimenting on my 196X supraphonic.

I know how to seat a head and tune a drum.
I am trying to understand why when I use the DD and tap two lugs (one reads 85 and the one next to it 89). The Iphone Tuner reads G# on both (around 197 hz).
My ears read the same. My question is how can the DD read different numbers when the pitch was the same. I hit the drum about the lug about one inch the edge with the same pressure.

The DD is measuring surface tension and that has nothing to do with pitch. Different tensions can yield the same pitch, which is what you're seeing. It's best to use the DD first to get started then fine tune with an electronic tuner to achieve the desired pitch.

 

[kenshireen1]

The first thing that comes to mind is, are one of the lugs in question near the snare bed or throw off/butt side?

I am only testing the batter head. Why would the lugs on the reso have any impact if it is the same for the DD reading and the frequency reading

 

[kenshireen1]

DD vs pitch Measuring devices:

Measuring pitch by deflection is kind of like measuring vision by how much a patient is squinting. It's not that they're completely unrelated, but it's by no means a direct equivalent.

Regardless of the reason, or how many turns or the torque on a rod or the stiffness of the head or distance from the bearing edge: the pitch is what you're trying to control. Unless you're changing heads while the baby sleeps (btdt - hated to noise making time on mundane things like head swaps), just measure the thing you're trying to control in the first place.

Measure with what device

 

[jptrickster]

It's probably inconsistency within the head itself. I doubt the plastic material/coating have such rigorous tolerances. Its a drum head not a heart valve.