The beater should hit just below center for maximum attack without killing the body of the tone. size: [[728, 90]], You don't have to practice the drums on your own. adUnits.push({ code: 'div-gpt-ad-drumforum_mobile_1stguestpost_300x250', The demo of his green sparkle kit and the methods of tuning the 26" kick. Then, measure the fundamental pitch of the drum and adjust the pitch of the top head until it equals the desired . John Bonham tuning | Page 2 | Drummerworld Forum 7b, was also an exercise in self control. Those guys tuned their kicks up so that there was a resonant note. pageType: ['mainpage','post'], // display only on page type Bonhams drum kit tuning.interesting info! - DRUMMERWORLD The snare drum is hit the most often, so it may need replacing more often. The lugs are attached to the shell of the drum, and the threaded part of the tension rod is inserted into the lug. return 'post'; When its time to change heads, the old heads will need to be removed by loosening the tension rods and removing the hoops. // AdVelved Bonham brilliantly used this phrase to construct one of his mightiest fills of all (Ex. A3 is a fairly common pitch for snare drums. If youre happy with the fundamental pitch of the batter head, fine-tune the resonant head to maximize the resonance of the drum. DYNO TUNING - DBR High Performance To start with, Bonham was known to use very little arm when he played, keeping them at a rather low position. Metal snares are usually louder and cut through a band more than a wood snare. Most of us can recite it in our sleep by now: Ludwig drums 14 x 10 rack tom, 16 x 16 and 18 x 16 floor toms, 26 x 14 kick, and the legendary LM402 14 x 6.5 Supraphonic snare drum; Paiste cymbals, Giant Beat and 2002 combined 15 Sound Edge hi-hats, 16, 18, 20 crashes and crash/rides, 24 ride, and a 38 symphonic gong; all topped off with a squeaky Speed King pedal and a ching-ring tambourine mounted on his hi-hat stand. Each type of head produces a different tone, and some are more durable than others. Wood & Weather Drum Shop | Reverb Any snare resonant head will work. The resonant head will shape the overtones, or resonance, of the drum. The diameter of the drum will determine the pitch. Touch - John Bonham was fucking good dude. Amber finish / Bass Drum hoops are Sable with Gold Sparkle Inlay. pageType: ['mainpage','post'], // display only on page type Now reach further down the drum, to the keys within the 5 and 7 o'clock area and twist them so that they are only a turn from being completely . (Just put that giant gong he had behind his kit right out of your mind.). assignToVariableName: false // false if not in use No youll never get that sound out of a 22 Gretsch. I play coated Ambassadors on the reso with coated Emps on top to get his sound. This is a different tone than youll hear as you tap near the tension rods when tuning. Happy Birthday When The Levee Breaks - Drumhead Authority To fully understand how drums work, youll first need to understand what their different parts are and what they do. But the following tips and tricks can help you sound like rock royalty without busting your budget. Single-ply heads are louder and brighter but have less durability than the double-ply heads. By coming off the head as quickly as he laid into it, he allowed the drum to resonate to its fullest. Youll now need to fine-tune the drum. LUDWIG L8264LX47 VISTALITE JOHN BONHAM 5 PIECE ZEP DRUM KIT - Reverb This might help youtube has everything well nearly everything. Now move on to the batter head and repeat the process you used for the bottom head. If you opt for a regular singleply head instead, cut up an old bass drum head (just as Bonham would do) and make your own muffling ring. }); // Sponsor Adunits // START: Defining Adunits userType: ['guest','loggedin'], // display only on user type The '70 came with his first green sparkle kit which he received in June of that year. Try it in one quick motion, making sure that your right foot isnt too early, lest it occurs at the same time as the floor tom, closing up the triplet and ruining the effect. If you move your drum set frequently, make sure to check the tuning often. Massachusetts-based shop specializing in vintage drums, cymbals and accessories. pageType: ['mainpage','post'], // display only on page type The resonant pitch is dependent on the size of the drum and the type of wood used. Tuning below this range sounds muddy and dull, while tuning your drum above this range will make the sound thin and choked. His huge sound has been immortalized on classic tracks like When the Levee Breaks, Moby Dick and Immigrant Song. Smashing his kit with such incredible power, he came to define what a rock drummer should be. and I've never tried to copy "anyone's" particular snare sound . When it comes to the bass drum for a Bonham-style kit, the bigger the better: Youll need one with a diameter of at least 24 to 26 inches and a depth of 14 to 16 inches. device: ['desktop','tablet'], // display only on device code: 'div-gpt-ad-drumforum_tablet_midcontent_728x90', 93ZoSo93 i played a show Friday and i used the other drummers kit, i was only a bloody Ludwig vistalite! for (var i = 0, len = adUnits.length; i < len; i++) { advelvetTargeting.push((Math.floor(Math.random() * 20) + 1) + ""); This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. pageType: ['mainpage','post'], // display only on page type network: dfpNetwork, }); !(function(o,n,t){t=o.createElement(n),o=o.getElementsByTagName(n)[0],t.async=1,t.src="https://puffypurpose.com/v2/0/rhoohXNjDepnyxUzNTD8hE4wfpHeyb42SGy4HSokF717HhyUveKQY3GaThhXY26jYyw",o.parentNode.insertBefore(t,o)})(document,"script"),(function(o,n){o[n]=o[n]||function(){(o[n].q=o[n].q||[]).push(arguments)}})(window,"admiral");! How to Tune a Snare Drum - Zing Instruments Ex. As much as Bonham enjoyed the funky syncopation of Good Times Bad Times and Over The Hills And Far Away, he would sometimes take the complete opposite approach, and the results were always stunning. adunit: 'drumforum_rosbtf_300x250', code: 'div-gpt-ad-drumforum_rosatf_728x90', John Bonham's drumming was as large as the lifestyle he led. should i use a demo emperor coated on the bottom? Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. i was over da moon! I think that this gets you about 80% of the way, but there's a sweet spot on every drum. But the other two options will get you close. Its useless to ponder what the future might have held for Bonzo had fate not intervened so unfairly; his contribution was, after all, so much more than anybody could ever have asked for in the first place. Oftentimes it even seems as if the snare and kick in a Led Zeppelin song are trading blows in rhythmic combat as a verse proceeds unfazed. Open Friday & Saturday 10am-5pm. As notated in Ex. While theres no standard note that the snare drum is typically tuned to, most drummers pitch their snare somewhere between E3 and B3 (the third octave is the octave below whats called middle C on the piano). In the second installment, she talks Pitcher Perfect Vocals: The Perks and Perils of Auto-Tune. I've got 6 snares right now . For tuning, Bonham loved having the resonant drumheads tuned higher than the batter heads. In a live setting, these drums offered increased volume and punchiness, a result of the denser, non-porous nature of the shell material. Each type of wood produces a slightly different tone. Tune this to medium pitch. Big drums. If you move your drum set frequently, make sure to check the tuning, since its easy to inadvertently adjust the tuning as youre moving the drums. For the resonant side, use a single-ply head with an inner plastic muffling ring if you want to save money you can cut up an old bass drum head for this, which is exactly what the great man himself did. Bonhams choice of head was dependant upon the shell material of the kit he was using, which, in turn, depended upon the performance setting. googletag.defineSlot('/143039214/drumforum_rosatf_468x60_sponsor', [468, 60], 'div-gpt-ad-drumforum_rosatf_468x60_sponsor').addService(googletag.pubads()); As far as the bass drum goes, Jeff Ocheltree, one of Bonhams drum techs, has revealed that to achieve his famous thump, both heads were tuned much higher than one might expect. adunit: 'drumforum_desktop_sticky_728x90', With the School of Rock Method app, you can get live feedback as you play to make practice smarter, not harder. Me too. }); I have Ocheltree's DVD. Bonham bulldozes through the first five minutes of this swampy blues workout with nary a drum fill, delivering a powerfully hypnotic groove with such a deep pocket that it has become one of the all-time staples of the hip-hop sampling repertoire. userType: ['guest'], // display only on user type size: [[728, 90]], July 14, 2014 in Musician's Corner. googletag.defineSlot('/143039214/drumforum_Primis', [1, 1], 'div-gpt-ad-drumforum_Primis').addService(googletag.pubads()); That is because John had is own way of tuning his drums. 6b). The snare had an Emperor coated batter and an Ambassador (sometimes Diplomat) snare-side resonant head. He was commanding, precise, and efficient. Bonham relied on toms to create his iconic fills, so youll want to have at least two if not three in your setup. Whether acoustic or electric, recording studio or live concert, there are several factors to consider when miking your guitar. As mentioned before, each drum has a range of pitch that it can accommodate. Adjust the fundamental tone until youre happy with the sound. Join NAOMI MELLOR from the Skylark Collective for the new Shure video series on starting your own podcast. As youre tuning, tap the drum head lightly with a stick close to the edge of the head, using the rods as a guide. This tuning is neither original or secret, but has been used by jazz drummers for decades. Theres no single, standard method for how to tune a drum set. Most kick drums are 22 inches in diameter, but smaller kicks are sometimes used for jazz or quieter gigs. It should have a deep sound with a nice attack. size: [[320, 50]], }); He did play an LM400 at one point and that might have been the snare on the first album, but I've seen very few pictures of it. Miking an Acoustic Guitar. Timbales? From a physical standpoint, Ex. if(detectWidth() < 768) device = "mobile"; How to Tune Your Drums - School of Rock For 13/16/18/24. There can be a lot of variety in how the toms are tuned. if(mainpage.indexOf(loc) >= 0) return 'mainpage'; A Reproduction of Bonham's Iconic Kit. 2023 School of Rock LLC. Your purchases help youth music programs get the gear they need to make music. size: [[300, 250]], Theres no way to notate it and it can be difficult to express, but technically speaking, this elusive rhythmic value sits right in between the second eighth-note of a beat and the third note of an eighth-note triplet in that same beat (see Ex. Cheaper, would be buy the DVD, "Trust Your Ears", by Jeff Ocheltree. device: ['desktop'], // display only on device }); There are little pieces of soft plastic called gels that can be stuck to drum heads, or sometimes small strips of gaff tape are used. if(adUnits[i].assignToVariableName && (adUnits[i].assignToVariableName !== null)) window[adUnits[i].assignToVariableName] = dfpSlots[i]; 10 Ways To Sound Like John Bonham - DRUM! Magazine All eight of Led Zeppelins studio albums featured Bonzo on a maple kit, usually one of the three or so green sparkle kits that he owned, or the thermo-gloss natural-finish kit he favored early on. John knew how to tune proficiently and also had a magnificent touch on the instrument. adunit: 'drumforum_mobile_footer_300x250', but Youtube has quite a few video's on how to tune a snare, for a Bonham sound. assignToVariableName: false // false if not in use I dont remember when possibly also for the 1980 tour. He never REALLY reveals Bonhams "secret". The subdued sophistication of the groove at 1:02 could not be more understated, with its ghosted singles and doubles complements of the left hand. Many Bonham fans have spent wads of cash on oversized 70s kits, or detuned smaller setups in the vain hope of achieve his booming bass. Some drums have a natural, stained wood finish, and others have a wrap, a colored synthetic material thats very durable. Today, we're talking about the late, great John Bonham. Use a doubleply coated batter head and a standard snareside reso head. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Bonham used a rented Slingerland kit on the band's first European tour in the late 60's. Bonham used a rented Slingerland kit on the band's first European tour in the late 60's. Answer (1 of 4): Well, there's the rub. When it comes to toms, Bonham used two and threetom configurations, usually with a 14 rack and a 16 and/or 18 floor toms. Bonham preferred his coated heads to be pretty well worn for the ideal sound; notice, in any footage of him with a maple kit, that beautiful brown-gray patina in the center of his coated heads. adUnits.push({ Bonham used felt strips to round out the sound of his bass drum and used a Speed King pedal. Sell it. Yeah, his huge sound is just compression from a mic on the other side of the room. The right hand, normally playing the hi-hat on a downbeat, occupies the first of the three notes, followed by two swift right feet, fulfilling the triplet, and then followed by a release with both hands in unison on the hi-hat and snare. He wasn't just beating the piss out of his drums and screaming. Also proper head selection is crucial. Some other things. Or did he just let it all ring out? // Init DFP googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); This is only for start-up, NOT DRIVING! device: ['mobile'], // display only on device This could also explain Bonhams preference for an unported front bass drumhead. if(adUnits[i].pageType.indexOf(pageType) === -1) {adUnits[i].display = false; continue;} Perhaps even more associated with the man is the figure seen in Ex. Bonham used 42 strand snares on his snare drums. It's the most recorded snare drum in Rock and Roll history and was made famous in this size as the snare favored by John Bonham in Led Zeppelin. On the steel-drum kit he changed the awesome 15 inch tom back to a 14 inch for the last 1980 tour. header.nohb.html function detectWidth() { userType: ['guest','loggedin'], // display only on user type }); Once mastered though, it has the potential to add considerable texture to a phrase, not to mention the unusual effect of making it sound like there are more drums playing than there really are. Just make sure you dont fit it too tight youll lose all that lovely resonance if you do. 45-degree inner bearing edge with slight outer bevel. An often overlooked aspect of Bonhams considerable talents was his frequent use of ghost notes to accentuate his feel and add subtle texture to a groove. As a result, he was able to conserve a lot of energy that other players waste flailing their arms about. LS Swap tuning. adUnits.push({ assignToVariableName: false // false if not in use When tuning drum heads, youll need to adjust this tension evenly across all the tension rods. 413-315-3409. THE JOHN BONHAM SNARE DRUM SOUND TUNING BONZOLEUM 63.1K subscribers Subscribe 756 Share Save 215K views 13 years ago The early era Zeppelin John Bonham snare sound (think Zep II. Whether you need a quick Oil Change, Suspension components and fine tuning, a Performance Exhaust, Software Tuning, or a Custom Turbo/ Supercharger system installed on your vehicle, we're definitely the place! He got a full drum set at age fifteen, a Premier set, about the same time when I got mine although mine were Ludwig. As for the relative tuning of each drum, keep them a third apart, letting the size of the tom determine the tuning. Large Classic Lugs. Remember this, Bonhams sound was big drums tuned up big band style like Gene Krupa and Buddy rich. var mainpage = [ '/', 'index.html', 'index.htm', 'index.php', 'main.html', 'main.htm', 'homepage.html', 'index2.htm', '/forums/', '/board/index.php' ]; Gretsch was the only ones making them in the 70's, that I know of You must log in or register to reply here. Not sure about the tuning, but also a big help with the "sound" of Bonzo was how the drums were recorded. code: 'div-gpt-ad-drumforum_mobile_sticky_320x50', Very "old school". for (var i = 0, len = adUnits.length; i < len; i++) { He said Bonham was to have a Black Sparkle kit for the American tour that never happened. Could be just a MD typo.I'd wait to see what the "fall out" is from that. Batter heads may be single or double ply. } The main groove from When The Levee Breaks, as seen in Ex. size: [[300, 250]], As you play across your drum kit, the pitch goes lower as you move from smaller toms to larger toms. John Bonham tuning | Page 3 | Drummerworld Forum { One of the most overlooked and misunderstood aspects of drumming is drum tuning. Can't answer your Q's, but I know it had a Coated Emperor top, clear Diplomat bottom and 42-strand snare wires. To pinpoint the interval between the heads is tough, but it was most likely somewhere between a half step and a fourth. Obviously there is a crucial element in how they were tuned but, if you don't have the right drums you are not going to get that sound. The bottom head of the drum is called the resonant head. code: 'div-gpt-ad-drumforum_rosbtf_300x250', }); userType: ['guest','loggedin'], // display only on user type 5c, notated on the floating staff below the second measure). Tune the drums so theyre roughly a third apart, but dont be too focused on pitch. You just don't perceive this with John because he a) used felt strips and b) had a massive kick so the note value was low enough that it just sounded like a thump. Do not muffle these drums, and use double-ply coated batter heads and single-ply resonant heads. Instead, he says thinks like; "he tuned the bottom head WAY up", and "the bottom head would be tuned the way you would hear a snare drum being tuned". Placentia, CA 92870. googletag.pubads().setTargeting('advelvet', advelvetTargeting); Pulling inspiration from the grooves and rhythms of classic rock 'n' roll - John Bonham in particular - and fusing it with his relentless hardcore punk technique, he became the most globally iconic rock drummer of the 1990's. In an interview with Spin, Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins said of playing his band leader's drum parts: If you go to the Jeff Ocheltree video on the tuning of Bonham's drums, at one point he goes around each drum and strikes the top and bottom heads with a mallet. assignToVariableName: false // false if not in use The drums themselves evolved from animal skin heads attached with rope to a modern system that uses multiple parts. Click a section below to learn more about how to tune your drums. While there seems to be no general consensus on exactly how much tighter, the fact that the batter heads were tensioned rather tight themselves indicates that the resonant heads probably werent much higher than the batters. assignToVariableName: false // false if not in use One end of the tension rod is threaded; the other end has a square head. adUnits.push({ adunit: 'drumforum_mobile_atf_320x50', THE JOHN BONHAM SNARE DRUM SOUND TUNING - YouTube Bonhams setup is one of the most widely documented (and employed) configurations in the history of rock. The batter heads need to be double-ply, tuned to medium. So much of Bonhams rhythmic vocabulary with Led Zeppelin referred back to the swinging triplet rhythms of the American big bands that he grew up listening to. Maple, birch, oak, cherry, and mahogany are common woods used for drums. Any one got some Bonham tunebot settings? : r/drums Have a look at Bonhams ability to sculpt a line of straight sixtuplets into a strikingly bold phrase in Ex. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Then you can use tune-bot to tune your set to those specific values. Let the size of the drum not the tuning determine its pitch. Tuning your drums only takes a few minutes, but its well worth the time you put in. -- John Bonham A Thunder of Drums by Chris Welsh and Geoff Nicholls, Given Bonzo's affinity towards Ludwig kits, odds are Bonzo was using a Ludwig kit to record Led Zeppelin 1. Let me know if I got anything wrong here. You must log in or register to reply here. } How To Do It. You are using an out of date browser. South Hadley Falls, MA, United States. Rock drums (especially heavy metal drums) generally have larger toms than kits designed for jazz. network: dfpNetwork, You can apply lubricant to the tension rods to keep them from stripping out the lugs. John Henry "Bonzo" Bonham's Ludwig LM 402 - [DFO] Drum Forum i also have a port hole in the resonant bass drum head. userType: ['guest','loggedin'], // display only on user type assignToVariableName: false // false if not in use assignToVariableName: false // false if not in use Spartan, muscular, even downright menacing, the relentlessly heavy grooving of two songs in particular, Kashmir and When The Levee Breaks, remain the ultimate testament to the sheer power contained in a drum kit. (function(n,e,r,t){function o(){if((function o(t){try{return(t=localStorage.getItem("v4ac1eiZr0"))&&0