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(🎧 encouraged) (Read below)
5 Different Ways to Dampen a Snare Drum!
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One thing I’ve learned over the years is that you don’t always need to retune a snare drum to get a different sound.

Sometimes, you just need to change what you’re putting on it!

In this video, I’m using five different @bigfatsnaredrum products on the exact same, already well-tuned snare drum to show just how much you can change its sound without touching a single tension rod.

Here’s what I’m using, in order:

* 14” Round Sound Felt Ring with Magnet Straps
* The Original – LITE
* 14” BFSD Textile Tone Control Mute RED Bandana
* “The Puck” Drum Dampener
* Pet Sounds - Corgi

Each one brings something different to the table. Depending on the design and how it interacts with the drumhead, you can subtly control the overtones while keeping the snare open and lively, or create a more focused sound with a noticeable change in attack and sustain.

That’s what I love about experimenting with dampening. You can take a snare that’s already tuned exactly how you like it and get multiple sounds out of it just by changing what you put on the head.

As a backline and drum tech, I’m always looking for ways to get the sound I need without making unnecessary adjustments. Sometimes, the solution isn’t turning a tension rod or swapping out a drumhead. It’s using the right tool to shape the sound that’s already there.

There isn’t one “best” dampening option. It all depends on the sound you’re going for and what the situation calls for.

So if you had this snare in front of you, which setup are you reaching for first?

Or are you the type of drummer who prefers to leave the snare completely wide open?

Let’s hear it! 🥁👇

Love y’all! Okay. Byeeeee 🥁🤓❤️✌🏻
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#testabeatdrums #bigfatsnaredrum #snaredrum #dampening #drumtech
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(🎧 encouraged) (Read below)
5 Different Ways to Use EVANS EQ PODS on a Snare Drum!
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One thing I’ve learned over the years is that dampening is one of the simplest ways to change the sound of a snare drum without changing the drum itself.

As a backline and drum tech, I’m always experimenting with different ways to control overtones and shape the response of a drum. One of the tools I like using for this is @evansdrumheads EQ PODS.

What I love about experimenting with dampeners is how much the placement and number of gels can influence the sound. Sometimes a little control is all you need to tame an overtone while keeping the drum open and lively. Other times, adding more dampening can help shorten the sustain and give the drum a more focused sound.

And that’s the fun part!

You can get a variety of sounds out of the same snare just by experimenting with different dampening combinations. You don’t necessarily need another snare or a different set of heads to find a sound that works for you.

There isn’t one “right” way to use EQ PODS. The key is understanding how each adjustment affects the drum and finding the balance that works for your playing and the sound you’re after.

Which method are you trying first? And how do you usually approach dampening your snare?

I’m excited to hear what y’all come up with!

Love y’all! Okay. Byeeeee 🥁🤓❤️✌🏻
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#testabeatdrums #evansdrumheads #snaredrum #dampening #drumtech
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(🎧 encouraged) (Read below)
Tech Tip: How to easily position your snare drum on a snare stand the same every time. 
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When it comes to drums, it’s often the little things that can make setup a whole lot easier.

One of those things is getting your snare drum positioned exactly where you want it.

If you’re constantly setting up and tearing down your kit, you know how easy it is to spend a few extra minutes getting everything back into the right spot.

And even if you’re not tearing down every night, swapping between different snare drums can mean adjusting your stand all over again.

One simple solution I use is gaffer tape.

Once you have your snare positioned exactly where you like it, place a small piece of gaffer tape on one of the rubber sleeves on your snare stand basket.

Then, place another small piece of tape on the shell of your snare, lining it up with the mark on the basket.

That’s it!

Now, whenever you put that snare back on the stand, simply line up the two marks and you’re right back where you started.

It’s a small detail, but it can save you from constantly fidgeting with your snare position every time you set up.

And if you have multiple snare drums that you rotate through, you can use the same idea to create a consistent starting point for each one.

This is one of those little tricks that takes about 30 seconds to set up and can save you a lot of time down the road.

What do you guys think? Do you have a specific way you position your snare drum, or do you just eyeball it every time? Have you tried using a reference mark like this?

Leave a comment and let’s talk about it!

Stay creative, and have a great rest of the week. Love you, guys!! Okay. Byeeeee. 🥁🤓👊🏻❤️🙏🏻
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#testabeatdrums #doityourself #tipsandtricks #drumhacks #techtips
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(🎧 encouraged) (Read below)
4 Different Ways to Use Gaffer Tape on a Snare Drum!
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One thing I’ve learned over the years is that gaffer tape is one of those tools you can never really have too much of.

As a backline and drum tech, I use it for all kinds of things, but one of my favorite uses is shaping the sound of a snare drum.

In this video, I’m using the exact same roll of @gafferpower Gaffer Tape — Fluoro Orange 2” × 30yd to create four completely different dampening options on the same snare drum.

Same drum. Same tuning. Same heads. Same snare wires. The only thing changing is how I’m using the tape.

A small change in the size, placement, or amount of tape can completely change how a snare responds. Some methods simply tame an overtone, while others noticeably change the attack, sustain, and overall feel of the drum.

That’s what I love about gaffer tape. It’s not just something I keep in my tech bag for emergencies, it can be another tool for shaping the sound of the drum.

And you don’t necessarily need another snare or another piece of gear to find a different sound. Sometimes the answer is already sitting in your tech bag.

There isn’t one “right” way to use gaffer tape on a snare. Just like tuning and drum head selection, it’s another tool for experimentation and finding the sound you’re looking for.

The more time I spend working with drums, the more I appreciate simple tools that can do more than one job. Gaffer tape is definitely one of them.

Which method are you trying first? Or do you have another way you use gaffer tape on a snare that I should try?

I can’t wait to hear what y’all come up with!

Love y’all! Okay. Byeeeee 🥁🤓❤️✌🏻
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#testabeatdrums #gaffertape #snaredrum #dampening #drumtech
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(🎧 encouraged) (Read below)
5 unique Ways to Dampen A Snare Drum!
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One thing I’ve learned over the years is that you don’t always need another snare drum to get a different sound.

Sometimes, you just need to change how you’re shaping the sound.

In this video, I’m using the same snare drum and showing five different ways to approach dampening. The drum stays the same, the only thing changing is the dampener.

Here’s what I’m using:

• Printer paper
• Paper towel
• @drum.bones Medium Dampener
• @toonetowels 
• @gafferpower Gaffer Tape

What I love about experimenting with dampeners is how much a small change can reshape the voice of a drum.

Some lightly control the overtones while keeping the drum open and lively. Others shorten the sustain, change the attack, or give the drum a much more focused sound.

And that’s the fun part.

Dampening isn’t just about fixing a snare drum that has “too many overtones.” It’s another way of shaping the sound and bringing out a particular character from the drum.

The size, weight, material, and placement of a dampener can all change the result. Sometimes a little control is all you need. Other times, you can completely transform the feel of the drum.

There isn’t one “right” dampener. They’re just different tools for different sounds.

The more time I spend working with snare drums, the more I realize how much versatility is hiding in a single drum.

Which one are you reaching for first? Or do you have another favorite dampening method that deserves a spot on the list?

Love y’all! Okay. Byeeeee 🥁🤓❤️✌🏻
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#testabeatdrums #phat #snaredrum #dampening #drumtech
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(🎧 encouraged) (Read below)
Get That Sound: Finding the Sweet Spot!
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The @docsweeneydrums 14” x 6.5” Elm PURE is a really interesting snare drum. Its steam-bent Elm shell, 5/16” thickness, and 45° round-over bearing edges give this drum a unique foundation.

For this tuning, I wanted something present, warm, and controlled, while still allowing the character of the Elm shell to come through.

Here’s the setup:

🥁 @docsweeneydrums 14” x 6.5” Elm PURE
🥁 @evansdrumheads Heavyweight Dry
🥁 Evans Snare Side 300

Frequencies:
• Snare Side: 375 Hz
• Batter Side: 305 Hz
• Fundamental: 195 Hz

For me, the foundation starts with the snare-side head and wires. I want the head tight enough to stay responsive without choking the drum. From there, the batter head helps shape the overall feel and voice of the drum.

I start by evenly finger-tightening each tension rod as much as possible using the Evans Pull Cord Drum Key, then make small quarter-turn adjustments around the drum. This gives me a consistent starting point and helps me keep track of the tension as I work toward the sweet spot.

One thing I really enjoy about drums like this is how much the shell construction influences the way the drum responds to tuning. Frequencies are a great reference, but they aren’t the final answer. My ears ultimately decide where the drum wants to live.

The Evans Heavyweight Dry helps keep the attack focused and the sustain controlled while still allowing the Elm shell to speak.

The result is a drum that feels present without being overly aggressive, controlled without feeling dead, and warm without losing articulation.

What do you hear?

Too tight, too loose, or just right?

Would you change anything about this snare sound? Let me know in the comments, I always enjoy hearing how other drummers approach tuning!

Love you, guys!! Okay, byeeeee! 🥁🤓❤️
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#testabeatdrums #snaretuning #process #snaredrum #drums
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(🎧 encouraged) (Read below)
5 Snare Drums I Reach for Consistently!
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One thing I’ve learned over the years is that every snare drum has a sweet spot.

It’s easy to think a snare drum should sound great at every tuning, but I’ve found that’s rarely the case. Most snare drums will sound good across a wide range, but there’s usually a specific tuning where the shell, hardware, and overall design really come alive.

Whether I’m tuning drums for content, working as a backline tech, preparing a kit for a show, or just sitting down to play, these are the five snare drums I find myself reaching for again and again.

* @rogersdrums 14” × 6.5” Aluminum SuperTen Snare Drum
* @pearl_drums BR-5514 Sensitone Custom Alloy 14” × 5.5” Bronze Snare Drum
* @docsweeneydrums 14” × 6” Focus Series (FS) Snare Drum
* @ludwigdrumshą 14” × 8” Raw Copperphonic Snare Drum
* @kelleydrums 14” × 6” Maple Sunrise Snare Drum

Every one of these snare drums can sound great in different tuning ranges, but I don’t tune them all the same. Each one has a range where I think it performs at its absolute best. Some excel with a higher, articulate crack, while others really come alive with a deeper, warmer tone.

That’s one of my favorite things about snare drums. Learning where each one naturally wants to live helps you get the most out of the instrument instead of trying to force it to sound like something it’s isn’t.

The more snare drums I get to work on, the more I appreciate the little details. Shell material, shell depth, bearing edges, hoops, and hardware all play a role in how a drum responds and where it shines.

There isn’t one “perfect” snare drum. There are just different tools for different sounds, and these are five that I know I can rely on time and time again.

If you own multiple snare drums, do you keep each one in a specific tuning range, or do you constantly experiment with different tunings? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Love y’all! Okay. Byeeeee 🥁🤓❤️✌🏻
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#testabeatdrums #snaredrum #drums #drummer #mygoto
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