Tips for Changing Drumhead

For great sound quality and better performance it is necessary that you replace your old drumhead with a new one, from time to time. But when is it the right time to change your drumheads?
To know this you will need to take it off and have a good look at it and search for digs or tears. If you keep on using really old or torn heads, the sound will be very dull and unclear and thereGs a chance that they might just break in between a performance. So, if you find your drum head in such a state, I suggest you change it immediately. Also, if you have a gig or a recording coming up, make it a point to use fresh drumheads so that the sound is crisp and clear.
Changing a drumhead will certainly improve the sound of your drum but haphazardly screwing down a new one is of no good. Here are some steps to help you out with the same:
1. Removing the old head
When removing a drumhead, make sure that you do not start by removing just one tension rod while leaving the rest under tension. This may cause some irreparable damage to the drum hoops. It is a good idea to loosen all the tension rods about ? to 1 turn at a time alternatively, all around the drum so that the head gradually becomes loose and can be removed. This is a skilful way to remove the drumhead and prevents warping or cracking.

2. Checking the bearing edge and counter-hoops
The rounded or angle cut edge of the drum shell is known as the bearing edge of the drum on which the drum head is pulled over. The various drum companies all agree that the bearing edge must be close to a perfect circle and a plane as far as possible.
- Once you have removed the drumhead, use an accurate ruler to measure across the edge of the drum, from one tension casing to the other one which is 180 across.
- Take measurement for each casing around the drum. They should all roughly be equal. If not then your drum is probably out of shape.
- Next, take your drum shell and lay it down on a flat surface. If u can see any areas where light shows through where the bearing edge touches the flat surface then your drumsG bearing edge is damaged or imperfect.
- If your drumGs counter hoops rock back and forth on the surface then they are probably warped. Though a slight amount of warping can be compensated by tuning the drum but a large amount cannot be. You can try to correct the warpage by applying pressure on the affected areas. But be very careful as you might worsen the problem.
- Counter hoops should be close to a perfect circle. A new, quality drumhead should easily fit into place. Not all drumheads are perfect rounds either. If there is a little difference then you can manually squeeze it into place. But do this with extreme care to avoid any damage.
- However, if your counter-hoop is very badly bent or warped and cannot be manually repaired, then the only option is to buy a new one.
3. Positioning the new drumhead
- Place the new drumhead on the drum, and then place the counter hoop above it.
- Next, take a look on the inside edge of the counter hoop. The metal crimp rings of the drumhead should appear equally centered inside the counter hoop. Try to get the drumhead centered over the drums' bearing edge and the counter hoop centered over the drumhead.
- The tension rod holes should be positioned directly above the threaded inserts in the tension casings.
- Next, start screwing each tension rod all around the rim of the drum, just a few turns at a time. Once you make sure everything is properly centered start tightening all the tension rods. Tightening should only be till their heads touch the counter hoop and no farther. DonGt go past it as this can bring the counter hoop and drum head in an unlevelled state.
- Use drum key to make an additional ? turns to each tension rod. Continue to apply ? turns till the drumhead is tight enough to deliver a note. Make sure there are no wrinkles on the drumhead. Tap different areas to see if there is a clear sound.
- Place your drum on the floor and use the palm of your hand to press the drumhead firmly in the middle of the drumhead. This is known as Hseating of the drum headI. Find any more wrinkles and repeat the seating process at least 2-3 times.
4. Tuning the drumhead:
-Tap around the drum to hear the sound. Tighten or loosen the tension rods perhaps by ? or ? a turn.
- Remember that if you tighten or loosen on end then you probably have to do the opposite on the nearby area. For example, if you tighten one tension rod by 1/2 turn, you will have to loosen the tension rods on each side of that rod 1/4 turn so that the drum remains roughly at the same pitch.
- The process is long, tiresome and frustrating at times. But keep the trial and error process going on. You can even ask for help from experts, take drum tuning lessons online or elsewhere, refer books and instruction manuals, etc.