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Drum Kit Tuning and Maintenance


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In this course you’ll be learning how to setup, tune and maintain a drum kit. If you’ve just bought your first kit and want to get it set up, or if you have a kit that isn’t sounding the way it used to and needs some work, you’ve come to the right place!

And once you have it sounding at its best, there are some top tips on stick choice, controlling the sound, and protecting your hearing.

Course Information

Difficulty: Beginner

With an hour and a half of video lessons, by the end of this course you’ll have all the info you need to:

  • Setup your kit correctly so it is easy to play.
  • How to tune and reskin your kick, snare and toms.
  • How to fix part of your kit if you have any issues.
  • Getting seating position that is comfortable and relaxed.
  • And how to keep it all looking and sounding it’s best.

What you’ll need

You’ll need a drum key, various sizes of Alun key, and a multitool is also handy.

You’ll also need a “drum mat” – a mat, rug, or bit of carpet to put the drums on – to stop everything slipping and moving as you play them.

More about the course teacher

Tim Brooks is a session musician, producer, and plays in several bands with wide ranging styles, from function bands to rock (as you can see in the video below). He’s played alongside Mark Richardson (Feeder) and Ace (Skunk Anancie), and played live on stage with Chad Smith (Red hot chili peppers). One of his bands “Cabbalah” also worked alongside Motown producer, John Mills (Diana Ross, Eagles, etc.), for two years.

You can hear more about Tim on this podcast.

Tim is also passionate about teaching, and brings his 20 years of teaching experience to MusicEL.


To join us and have access to more courses click the button below.
If you are already a member login here.

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Course Instructor

Tim Brooks Tim Brooks Author

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Course Syllabus

  • Introduction and requirements (5 mins)
    • Intro to the course and the drum kit (3 mins)
    • Tools required (1 min)
    • What you\’ll learn in this course (1 min)
  • Tuning your drums (40 mins)
    • Intro to tuning (1 min)
    • Tom skinning and tuning (18 mins)
    • The other toms (1 min)
    • The kick drum (5 mins)
    • The snare drum (9 mins)
  • Setting up your drum kit (20 mins)
    • The drum mat (2 mins)
    • Kick setup (2 mins)
    • Kick pedal setup (5 mins)
    • HiHat stand (2 mins)
    • Throne and seating position (3 mins)
    • Snare setup (2 mins)
    • Rack toms setup (2 mins)
    • Floor tom setup (1 min)
  • HiHats, cymbals and stands (15 mins)
    • Intro, and Stands (5 mins)
    • HiHats and Cymbal placement (8 mins)
    • Final adjustments (2 mins)
  • Tips, sticks, and maintenance (15 mins)
    • Intro (1 min)
    • Muting and control (4 mins)
    • Hearing protection (2 mins)
    • Stick choice (2 mins)
    • Drum maintenance (6 mins)
    • Summing up (1 min)
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