Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
  • Guitars
  • Amps
  • Pedals
  • Drums
  • Synths
  • Software
  • Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Recording
  • Buyer’s guides
  • Live
  • DJ
  • Advice
  • Acoustic
  • Bass
  • About us
  • More
    • Reviews
Magazines
  • Computer Music
  • Electronic Musician
  • Future Music
  • Keyboard Magazine
  • Guitarist (opens in new tab)
  • Guitar Techniques (opens in new tab)
  • Total Guitar (opens in new tab)
  • Bass Player (opens in new tab)
More
  • Best free lo-fi plugins
  • Top EQ plugins
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Free music samples
  • Best free music-making software

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  1. Home
  2. News

The Workshop: How to change your snare wires

By Tom Bradley
published 4 January 2017

In 10 easy steps!

  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
1. Choose your wires

1. Choose your wires

It is easy to take for granted the constant work that our snare wires 
do in order to create that unique sound at the centre of our kits.

Not only can they become stretched or damaged over time but with many different materials and sizes available, there is actually a whole world of customisation that we can delve into in order to tweak our sound, using different materials than the usual steel, and numbers of wires from the common 20-strand wires you’ll find in most snare drums.

There's a whole world of customisation that we can delve into.

Naturally, the more wires you have, the more snare response you will get.Your drum will most likely have 20-strand wires, though varieties range from 16 up to 42-strand.

Different materials are also available, and this will also contribute somewhat to the sound. Here we are replacing our 13", 20-strand steel wires with massive 42-strand wires.

Page 1 of 10
Page 1 of 10
2. Turn the snare off

2. Turn the snare off

First turn the snare strainer to an off position.

This will take all the tension out of the wires and make the following steps easier. When you have done this, turn the drum upside down.

Page 2 of 10
Page 2 of 10
3. Loosen the straps

3. Loosen the straps

Using your drum key, loosen off the bolts that attach the straps to the strainer and butt plate.

Page 3 of 10
Page 3 of 10
4. Remove the wires

4. Remove the wires

Lift the wires away from the reso head of the drum.

If the wires have been over-tightened, you may find that the head is dented or damaged and you may want to consider a replacement.

Page 4 of 10
Page 4 of 10
5. Switch the straps

5. Switch the straps

Your new wires may have been supplied with straps.

If so, simply thread them through the slot in the end-plate of the wires. If they were not, just remove the ones from your old wires and slot them into the new ones.

Page 5 of 10
Page 5 of 10
6. Insert the new wires

6. Insert the new wires

First off, make sure they are the right way up otherwise they won’t work
as intended. Now, slide the straps back through the clamps on either side of the drum.

Page 6 of 10
Page 6 of 10
7. Position the new wires

7. Position the new wires

Once the straps have been slotted through the clamps on the strainer and butt end, pull down on either side to get them nice and central on the drum.

Page 7 of 10
Page 7 of 10
8. Secure the butt-end side

8. Secure the butt-end side

Release the strainer side whilst holding the strap dead in place on the butt-end side.

Now, with your free hand, tighten up the bolts with your drum key, securing the strap in place.

Page 8 of 10
Page 8 of 10
9. Secure the strainer side

9. Secure the strainer side

Still with the snare off, adjust the strainer to a medium setting then tighten up the clamp whilst pulling on the straps – just like the previous step.

Page 9 of 10
Page 9 of 10
10. Adjust the strainer setting

10. Adjust the strainer setting

The strainer is set to a medium setting so you should have plenty of adjustability with your wires.

We find that there can often be some trial and error here. A good set-up should allow you to loosen the wires all the way off or set them super-tight.

Page 10 of 10
Page 10 of 10
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
Tom Bradley
Tom Bradley
Social Links Navigation

Tom is a professional drummer with a long history of performing live anywhere from local venues to 200,000 capacity festivals. Tom is a private drum tutor, in addition to teaching at the BIMM Institute in Birmingham. He is also a regular contributor to MusicRadar, with a particular passion for all things electronic and hybrid drumming.

  1. The HeadCat
    1
    Classic interview: Lemmy talks rockabilly and picks his 10 essential songs playlist
  2. 2
    Chompi is a super-cute sampler that was inspired by the Casio SK-1 and looks like a kid-friendly OP-1
  3. 3
    Rick Beato breaks down Nuno Bettencourt’s jaw-dropping solo from new Extreme single Rise, and yes, it is still impossible to play
  4. 4
    Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen assaulted by teenager outside Florida hotel
  5. 5
    "With this record, I hope that people can feel my soul and my spirit because, in those solos, that’s what I’m really giving you" – Malina Moye on her new album and the 10 that changed her life
  1. The HeadCat
    1
    Classic interview: Lemmy talks rockabilly and picks his 10 essential songs playlist
  2. 2
    Chompi is a super-cute sampler that was inspired by the Casio SK-1 and looks like a kid-friendly OP-1
  3. 3
    Ry Cooder's top 3 tips for slide guitar success: "Get you some control"
  4. 4
    20 Radiohead guitar chords you need to know
  5. 5
    Kiviak Instruments is drip-feeding us information on its WoFi sampling keyboard

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab).

  • About Us (opens in new tab)
  • Terms and conditions (opens in new tab)
  • Privacy policy (opens in new tab)
  • Cookies policy (opens in new tab)
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers (opens in new tab)

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.