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8. Don't fiddle with the resonant head

When making adjustments at this stage, it should almost always be on the batter head. Drummers often complain of too much ring and put gaffer on the head. Try to think about the 'out front' concept (your audience will hear it differently).

9. Follow the checklist

If you still think it's too much, it usually means one of the following three things:

A. The batter head is too tight
B. You have an inappropriate head for the drum and style
C. You have the wrong snare for the sound you want

10. Return to the wires

Having lower tension either side of the snare wires is effective because it allows the wires to sit better on the head. It also stops them from rattling by being half on and half off. A similar effect can be achieved by tightening the resonant head more than 'normal', pulling the skin down over the snare beds.

Some argue this approach increases sensitivity, but it does over-stretch and unnecessarily distort the already thin head to gain a result that can just as easily be achieved without doing so.

11. Set up the wires (carefully)

Replace the snare wires and make sure they end up dead centre, both across the width of the drum and square to the shell. Attach them initially so that the wires sit slightly nearer the butt end, so when you make the final adjustment with the release lever, the wires will be pulled to centre.

Loosen the snare release mechanism to its loosest working tension and place the lever in the 'on' position. Important because snare wires stretch over time and you'll need to build in some scope for taking up the slack.

12. Play the drum (finally!)

Now play the drum. If it rattles (too much), tighten the adjustment knob on the snare release a little at a time (quarter or half-turns), playing the drum between each adjustment. Never crank up the snares too much. If you have to make the snares really tight, you've probably tuned the drum badly and you'll end up choking the drum.

13. Follow the checklist #2

Two key give-aways to over-tight snares:

A. Tap the centre of the batter side very softly. If there is no clear snare sound, the wires are too tight
B. When putting the release into the 'on' position, a snap of the wires occurs some way before the lever reaches its fully on position. It shouldn't happen before the lever reaches its final position

14. Eliminate buzz

If you have a six-lug drum (such as a 10" snare) you will need to start by applying even tension to all lugs and tuning evenly all round. Complete the method as described above, but if you do experience buzz problems (less likely with smaller snare drums) either when you strike the drum, or in relation to your other drums (this is known as 'sympathetic vibration'), try loosening each pair of lugs either side of the snare wires on the bottom head by a tiny amount (a quarter-turn should do it).

Compensate for tuning of the whole head by tightening the remaining lugs by a similar amount. This should do it. If you still get sympathetic vibration from other drums, you've probably matched the pitch of the snare too closely to another drum (often the smallest tom). So, retune one or both offending drums.

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Liked this? Then try:
8 simple steps to tuning your toms
7 simple steps to tuning your bass drum
The 17 most outrageous drum kits on the internet

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