Whether you play electronic or acoustic drums, sooner or later you’ll want to invest in some drumming headphones.
If you’re drumming with an electronic drum kit, you want to hear the authentic sound of the kit without the sound of your sticks slapping the pads. You can also practice quietly without disturbing your housemates.
Acoustic drummers can use headphones to protect their ears while practicing…and play along with a backing track without needing the volume of an AC/DC concert.
But choosing a new pair of cans is a daunting task. Below are the top five drumming headphones available to help you choose the best pair to suit your playing.
OUR TOP PICK
There are so many features loaded into the Tune-Bot Studio TBS-001 that it is pretty tough to know where to begin.
This tuner is insanely accurate. In fact, we reckon that the accuracy of this tuner is nigh on unbeatable. With its digital readout, you will be able to see the exact pitch the drum you are tuning is at.
The real highlight, however, is the inclusion of saved settings. Now, most mechanical drum tuners are not going to have saved settings on them. You’ll need to write them down or just remember them. However, the Tune-Bot is set apart from the pack by allowing you to save the settings for up to 5 different drumkits with 10 drums each. So, if you regularly play different types of music, you can easily retune your drums to suit.
There is even an app for the Tune-Bot. This will give you a ton of handy information about what pitch you need to get your drums at for the drum sounds you want to copy.
Pros:
- Accurate
- The digital display can be read easily.
- Companion app
- Ability to save a ton of settings
Cons:
- Batteries can drain quickly
BEST VALUE
At first glance, this just looks like an oversized drum key. But it is much more than that. It measures the torque of the tension rods… in simple terms, this means how much each screw has been tightened.
You’ll recognize the Evans brand name, as they are a leading manufacturer of drumheads. As you would expect, they know a thing or two about getting the best sound from a correctly tuned drum.
With this product, you can set the required torque, and then go about tightening your tension rods as normal. When the torque has been reached, the handle will release.
As with manual tuning, it is best to use a cross lug tuning sequence. Start with a low torque and then build up the tension in increments.
The Evans torque key has a magnetic head so that it will not slip while you are using it. There is also a knurled nut on the top which allows for fast spinning of the key. This is the equivalent of getting ‘finger tight’ before using a manual key, and can save time if you have to change drumheads.
A problem may occur if you have an older drum kit where the tension rods have become crusty with age. This will affect the torque reading. To prevent this issue, ensure that your tension rods are clean and well-greased. You can use a slide grease that is intended for brass instruments.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Can set required torque
- Easy to store in gig bag or drumstick bag
- Budget friendly option
Cons:
- May not work with crusty tension rods
GOOD CHOICE
We have an analog (mechanical) drum tuner for you here.
DrumDial is a company that has been around for a while. While they do have a couple of digital options in their range, we have absolutely fallen in love with the DrumDial. Not only does it look fantastic, but it is insanely accurate for an analog piece of kit.
The DrumDial drum tuner will measure the tension on the drumhead. All you need to do is place it on the drumhead, tune the screws, and the DrumDial drum tuner will give you an instant readout.
Because the DrumDial is going to be measuring the drumhead tension rather than the tension rod torque, you get a much more accurate readout of the pitch of the drums.
Of course, since this is an analog piece of kit, you are going to need to remember the settings yourself. However, we are sure that you won't have too many issues with that, right?
Pros:
- Fast to read
- Very accurate
- Quick to use
- No batteries!
Cons:
- Can't save the settings with analog
RUNNER UP
The TAMA Tension Watch TW100 is not all that different from the DrumDial offering. In fact, it does pretty much the same job. It is also an analog piece of kit, after all. To be honest, the big difference for you will be the price and the look that you want.
In order to use this, you just need to place it close to the tuning lugs, make your adjustments, and the Tension Watch will tell you exactly what tension your drum kit is at. It is dead simple, and the readouts are fast.
As before, this is going to be astonishingly accurate. However, some people are not really fans of reading the dial. We know that it may cause a bit of an issue for beginners. Most of those people tend to prefer digital readouts instead.
Pros:
- Accurate
- Looks good
- Doesn't require batteries
- Fast readouts
Cons:
- Dial can be tricky to read.
RUNNER UP
Next up on our best drum tuner list, we have the DrumDial digital tuner. As you can probably guess, this is pretty much the same as the previous DrumDial. The major difference here is that you are going to be getting those digital readouts as opposed to having to read the dial. We reckon that this is going to be a lot easier for drumming newbies.
The advantage of the DrumDial Digital Drum Tuner over the analog version is just how easy it is to calibrate. Obviously, if you want the tuner to remain accurate, you are going to need to calibrate it every so often. The analog tuner will have you jumping through hoops. With this one, just place it on a flat surface and hit the calibrate button. It is dead simple.
The only major downside to the DrumDial digital drum tuner is that there isn't a light on the display. This can make it difficult to read if you are tuning your drum before a gig. However, this is likely to change soon. DrumDial has been shipping out some units with a light switch.
Pros:
- Easy to read digital display
- Fast to calibrate
- Accurate readouts
- Reads drumhead tension
Cons:
- No light on the display
RUNNER UP
Last, but certainly not least, we have another option from Tune-Bot. This tuner has been designed to be easy to use wether you are a gig environment, the studio or practice room. This means that it doesn't have many features, but it is small enough to whip out if you sense that your drums are getting a bit out of sync tuning-wise.
The Tune-Bot will clip easily to your drum. In fact, it should be able to clip to any drums. It is surprisingly versatile.
There are two handy modes built into the Tune-Bot.
- Absolute mode allows you to get an instant readout for the pitch in Hz. To make things easier, this will also tell you what note it is close to.
- Difference mode can allow you to ensure that the pitch is the same at each of the tuning lugs.
In difference mode, you will be pleased to know that it does a tremendous job of filtering out most noise and overtones. In fact, it won't pay attention to anything 20% above or below the pitch of your drums. This means that you don't have to worry about getting false readings.
Pros:
- Fast and accurate read-outs
- Easy to read the display
- Multiple modes to ensure tuning accuracy
- Backlit to read in dark environments
Cons:
- Can't save settings
Buying Guide for Best Drum Tuners
Thinking of buying a drum tuner but confused by the different products on offer? We have put together a short list of factors that you should consider before making an investment. These will help make sure that you buy the product that is best suited to your needs.
Digital or analog
The first drum tuners available were analog. These products use a dial to measure tension in the drumhead or tension lug.
These have the advantage of being easy-to-use and do not require batteries. Who wants to turn up to a gig or practice only to find that their batteries are dead?
Analog models will suit drummers who appreciate a quality engineered piece of equipment.
Digital models were introduced in 2012, which offer a number of benefits. These include measurement of the actual sound frequency rather than tension. The LCD display is also easy to read even in a gloomy gig environment.
Saved settings
If you are a gigging or professional drummer, you’re likely to want a consistent sound between performances. This is where saved settings can be a lifesaver. Once you have decided on your ideal sound of each drum, it can be saved for later use. This makes it much quicker to tune your whole drum set in future.
Measurement type
Some drum tuners measure the actual sound frequency (note) produced when striking the drum. Whereas others measure the tension of the drumhead or even the tension rod.
Whilst both of these methods can be effective for tuning a drum, using the actual frequency can give a more consistent result over time.
Do I need a drum tuner?
The short answer is no, you can tune your drums by ear. However, this process does take time to learn and is not as accurate as using a drum tuner.
Do I need to tune the bottom (resonant) head?
It is just as important to tune the resonant head as the top (batter) head of a drum. If you are tuning your snare drum, it is most common to tune the resonant head to a higher frequency than the batter head. Many drummers also tune their toms to a higher frequency, but this is a matter for personal preference. If you have a drum tuner, it is quite easy to test out different frequencies and see which you like best.
Why tune drums?
Drums need to be tuned so that they sound pleasing, both as individual drums and as a set. Without tuning there can be unpleasant resonance and overtones which detract from the music being played.
Final Thoughts on Tuning Drums
There is nothing more embarrassing for a drummer. You get up after playing with your band and somebody walks over and says “Your drums sound awful“. It’s often not the quality of your playing or even quality of your drum kit… it’s how the drums are tuned.
By tuning your drums properly, you can make your kit sound like the bands that you regularly listen to. Want to make this process even easier? Use a drum tuner to get a consistent sound for your kit.
Whether you choose a digital or analog tuner, you’ll be able to save time and get the best sound out of your kit. Even seasoned drummers have issues with tuning, so don’t be afraid to try one of these products.