iDrumTune
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A complete educational course

Learn Drum Tuning

A thorough, creative and science-backed drum tuning course from the experts behind the iDrumTune app - taking you from acoustics fundamentals to drum tuning mastery.

Course Overview(click to expand)

Learn Drum Tuning covers everything you need to know about drum sound, drum acoustics and using the iDrumTune drum tuner app, all in one place. Whilst giving examples for you to implement with iDrumTune, the course shows all of the key acoustics theories relating to drumheads and how they apply in drum tuning.

Deciding and setting the pitch of each drum is covered, along with techniques to ensure that the drumhead vibrates evenly and smoothly, we also cover the resonant drumhead in detail and dispel a few folk-law myths along the way. The theory is always connected to creative aspects of drum sound, giving examples of how and why certain tuning setups work well for different musical styles and genres. Different types of drumheads are discussed in detail, allowing you to make the correct choice for your style, along with a discussion of musical timbre and the sonic magic that is brought from different drum shells and setups. The course is interactive, including diagrams, animations, videos and sound examples, and experiments to try for yourself in order to become a drum sound master!

The course explains HOW to tune drums and get great drum sound, but focuses specifically on WHY certain changes to a drum setup influence the sound the way they do – allowing you to develop your hearing and a more critical understanding of drums, so that you can get a great sound quickly and with confidence in any situation. The course content is based on modern academic research by world experts in musical acoustics and percussion instruments, drummers, and music producers, and is presented by Professor Rob Toulson, who is an internationally published expert on drum acoustics, musician, music producer and inventor of the iDrumTune drum tuning system.

Web visitors: create a free account to access lessons 1–5. Full course access on the web (and the complete experience in the iDrumTune app) is for registered app users — get the app, sign in with the same account, and unlock every lesson.

Lessons

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  1. Lesson 1: Why Bother with Drum Tuning?

    Why drum tuning matters and why drums are more challenging to tune than other instruments.

  2. Lesson 2: Drumhead Vibration and the Science of Sound!

    Frequency, Hertz, and the single acoustics theory that underpins all aspects of drum tuning.

  3. Lesson 3: Tuning the Pitch of a Cylindrical Drum

    All cylindrical drums have a fundamental pitch, which is the frequency you hear most prominently. Learn how to land on a value you love.

  4. Lesson 4: Lug Tuning and Equalizing the Drumhead

    Equal tension at every lug allows the head to vibrate evenly. Master the technique behind smooth tones and killing the warble.

  5. Lesson 5: Drum Tuning 101 – Back to Basics

    A simple end-to-end workflow for tuning a drum from scratch. Finger tight, star pattern, fix the pitch, then work on the overtones!

  6. Lesson 6: Tuning the Resonant Drumhead – What, Why, How?

    Why do drums have two heads? Learn what the resonant head really does, and the approach to nailing consistent and musical drum sounds.

  7. Lesson 7: Tuning by Ear

    Articulating sound and developing the listening skills that matter. Start using reference tones to build accuracy and confidence.

  8. Lesson 8: The Wonderful World of Drumheads!

    Coated, clear, 1-ply, 2-ply, edge control, centre dot — the drumhead is where you shape drum sound more than anywhere else.

  9. Lesson 9: Timbre: The Truth about Drum Shell Vibration

    Why two identically-tuned drums still sound subtly different, and why shell vibration is not what some common folk-lore would have you believe.

  10. Lesson 10: Tuning Drums for Different Styles and Genres

    How drum sizes, drumhead choice, and tuning pitch combine to produce a rock, jazz, funk, or fusion sound, plus suggested ranges for each style.

  11. Lesson 11: Core Skills: Snare Drum Tuning

    A step-by-step workflow for tuning a snare from finger-tight to studio-ready, with suggested ranges for different diameter and depth snares.

  12. Lesson 12: Core Skills: Kick Drum Tuning

    Three simple approaches to kick drum tuning: low and loose, tight and toneful, or hybrid. Dive in deep without overcomplicating the physics.

  13. Lesson 13: Core Skills: What Frequencies Should I Tune My Drums To?

    Reference pitches and intervals for every drum in your kit, plus building a bespoke tuning preset for your specific setup.

Bonus Content

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Download the iDrumTune App

iDrumTune helps you understand how the sound of a drum connects with the acoustics and physical setup of the drum. So your learning and hearing development is accelerated by the use of interactive guidance, real-world data and informative feedback – which are the foundations of all high-level education programmes!

iDrumTune Pro app screens showing tuning and course features

The iDrumTune app allows you to access the full iDrumTune training course, with learning progress tracking and contextual feedback to keep you learning - it's much more than an innovative drum tuner app, it's a complete educational ecosystem that will help you learn the lifelong essential skills of drum tuning!

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

The iDrumTune app is a one-time purchase download for iPhone/iPad and Android devices. There is no ongoing subscription cost. You can therefore access the app and associated course content for a low-cost single payment of $12.99 USD (adjusted automatically for other currencies). To learn more about the iDrumTune app visit www.idrumtune.com

Get the Book

Check out our Audio Engineering Society series book too, ‘Drum Sound and Drum Tuning: Bridging Science and Creativity’ by iDrumTune inventor and the world's top expert on drum acoustics, Dr Rob Toulson.

The book includes 212 pages of drum acoustics theory, drum tuning guidance, try for yourself exercises, interviews with top drummers and sound engineers, and assistance for recording and mixing drums to the highest professional level.

Find it on Amazon and all online book stores, as well as at the Routledge/Focal Press publisher page.

Drum Sound and Drum Tuning: Bridging Science and Creativity — book cover