# Boy, tuning drums is a pain in my butt. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 8, 2009, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-tuning-drums-is-a-pain-in-my-butt/499067 "2009-06-08T03:17:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-tuning-drums-is-a-pain-in-my-butt/499067/1 "2009-06-08T03:17:44Z")
So a few months ago, I got an old set of Pearl drums from a buddy of mine. They were sitting around his place not getting used, so they were essentially free. They’re on more or less permanent loan. I expect I’ll just buy them at some point. Anyhow, they were in crappy shape, but they were something to bang on. I just got the bass drum and a rack tom at first, so I didn’t feel any need to put a whole lot of work into them. That changed last week. I was helping him clean out his garage in preparation for a big move, and every time I turned around, it was, "Hmmm…here’s a floor tom for that old set. Why don’t you take this? “Oh, and here’s the other rack tom!” “Look! Another floor tom. You’ll need this!” “Here’s a china cymbal! Oooh, and a splash!” “Get this heavy ride and snare stand while you’re at it.” So now I have a set that would make Neil Peart whimper, and I decided to put some TLC into them. Bought a bunch of new heads (Geesh. $$$) and hoops (somebody had mislaid virtually all the resonant hoops), and all kinds of lug hardware, etc. Been teaching myself how to replace heads and tune drums, and wow, it’s a PITA. I had everything all replaced a week or so ago, and every time I play, I make some kind of tuning adjustment. This tom’s too high. This one’s too floppy. The kick’s too muffled. Now it’s too bright. Now it rings like a damn bell. When the heck does it ever stop? ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-tuning-drums-is-a-pain-in-my-butt/499067/2 "2009-06-08T03:27:01Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > When the heck does it ever stop? Bad thing happen if drums stop… ---
**Author:** ![I-VI-ii-V](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c89c15/32.png) [@I-VI-ii-V](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I-VI-ii-V)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-tuning-drums-is-a-pain-in-my-butt/499067/3 "2009-06-08T03:36:53Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Bad thing happen if drums stop… bass solo! ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-tuning-drums-is-a-pain-in-my-butt/499067/4 "2009-06-08T03:42:20Z")
> [@I-VI-ii-V](#): > > bass solo! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-tuning-drums-is-a-pain-in-my-butt/499067/5 "2009-06-08T11:54:47Z")
Ogre, drums are such a pain. You should target Charlie Watts or someone for the target kit instead of Peart for simplicity’s sake… Drums are fun, but I always ended up working out my drum jones on guitar, a la Townshend and the like… ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-tuning-drums-is-a-pain-in-my-butt/499067/6 "2009-06-08T12:41:41Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > Boy, tuning drums is a pain in my butt. That should be your Native American name: **Boy Tuning Drums**. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boy-tuning-drums-is-a-pain-in-my-butt/499067/7 "2009-06-08T12:47:34Z")
Ah - but it was all ‘essentially free’!