Kick Low Tuning
Tune your drums to Kick Low — C2, F2
About Kick Low Tuning
Kick Low tuning drops the batter head to C2 and the resonant head to F2, delivering a thunderous, sub-heavy bass drum sound that occupies the deepest registers of human hearing. At these frequencies the kick drum produces a physical sensation as much as an audible sound, and each hit pushes air with authority. The low fundamental cuts below most other instruments in a mix, giving the rhythm section an unmistakable weight and presence.
This tuning is the standard for metal, hard rock, EDM-influenced drumming, and any genre that demands extreme low-end impact. Metal drummers like Tomas Haake of Meshuggah and Chris Adler of Lamb of God tune their kicks deep to create the chest-thumping foundation that defines modern heavy music. In electronic-influenced live performance, a low kick tuning ensures the acoustic drum matches the subsonic impact of programmed kick samples.
Playing a low-tuned kick drum requires adjustments to both technique and setup. The looser batter head has a slower response time, which means your pedal technique needs to be precise to avoid double-bouncing or burying the beater. Use a firm, controlled stroke and let the beater rebound cleanly. A harder beater surface helps articulate the attack at these low frequencies, where the fundamental can easily overwhelm the transient if the beater does not make a crisp contact.
Head Notes
Recommended Drum Heads
The Evans EMAD2 is a two-ply bass drum head with the same externally mounted dampening rings as the EMAD, but the additional ply provides more focus and control at very low tunings where a single-ply head can become too flabby and undefined. The extra ply keeps the fundamental tight even at the low tension required for C2. The EQ3 Resonant with its built-in dampening ring controls the extended sustain that naturally occurs when the resonant head is tuned this low.
How to Tune to Kick Low
- 1.Seat the batter head carefully, ensuring the hoop sits evenly all the way around. At very low tunings, even minor seating issues cause wrinkles and dead spots. Finger-tighten all tension rods and press the center of the head to stretch the collar.
- 2.Bring the head up just past wrinkle-free, then continue with very small increments (quarter turns) until the head reaches C2. This is a very low pitch and the head will feel quite slack. Use a tuner or reference tone to verify the pitch.
- 3.Check the pitch at each lug by tapping about one inch from the lug. At this low tension, the head is especially susceptible to uneven tensioning, which causes a wobbly, unfocused pitch. Take your time and work around the head multiple times.
- 4.Tune the resonant head to F2. Even though this is a low pitch, the resonant head should feel noticeably tighter than the batter. The perfect fourth interval between C2 and F2 keeps the drum sounding focused rather than completely open and boomy.
- 5.Test the drum with your bass drum pedal at various dynamics. At low tunings, the drum may sound very different at soft and loud dynamics. Adjust the EMAD2 dampening rings and consider whether a beater patch is needed to add definition to the attack.
Sound Tips for Kick Low
Two-Ply Heads
Single-ply batter heads at this low tension can sound flabby and unfocused because there is not enough film tension to maintain a clean vibration. Two-ply heads like the EMAD2, Remo Powerstroke P3, or Aquarian Super-Kick provide the structure needed for a tight, defined sound even at extremely low tunings.
Beater Surface
Use a hard plastic or wood beater to get a defined attack at low tunings. Felt beaters at this pitch tend to produce a soft, thumpy sound that lacks the transient clarity needed to cut through heavy music. A hard beater combined with a beater patch gives you the click and snap that help the kick translate through a PA system.
Drum Size
Larger bass drums (22 to 24 inches) handle low tunings more naturally than smaller drums (18 or 20 inches). The larger shell volume reinforces the low fundamental and prevents the drum from sounding thin or strained. If you regularly play at this pitch, a 22x18 or 24x14 kick drum is ideal.
Resonant Head Tension
Even though the resonant head is tuned to F2, resist the temptation to detune it further to match the batter. Keeping the resonant head a perfect fourth above the batter maintains pitch definition and punch. If both heads are tuned to the same very low pitch, the drum loses focus and becomes an indistinct boom.