Drum Dial

How Drum Dial Works

Drum Dial helps you tune your drums. Simply place the Drum Dial next to a tension rod, and the dial will give you a reading. The trick is to move the Drum Dial from rod to rod, adjusting the tension until the readings are the same for all the rods. Of course, you’ll need an idea of how tight the drum should be tuned. If you’re unsure, you can use the included guide from Drum Dial, which you can also find below the video.

What it does for you

• It gives you the head’s pressure at each individual lug and provides a tympanic reading on a scale from 0 to 100.
• The included distance bracket makes it easier for you to achieve correct positioning on the drum.
• You get two adjustable memory locks with the analog version.
• You can quickly tune many drums in a short amount of time.
• Allows you to tune your drums in noisy environments - eg. backstage.

Which model to choose?

A common question to ask yourself is: What’s the difference between an analogue and a digital Drum Dial?

The short answer is that the analog is more precise, and the digital is faster. However, there are a few other differences: 

• The digital has a built-in light (and it uses batteries), and that makes it very suitable e.g. behind the stage
• The digital will be delivered in a hard transportation box with a built-in moulded foam and a calibration plate to calibrate the Drum Dial  
• The analog is more precise with its old-fashioned clock face. On the other hand, you have to be more thorough when reading the measurement 
• The measurement in the digital is faster to read

Free DrumDial Guide

Here you can download a chart  that shows recommended tunings for different drums in the drum set. 

Myths about tuners for drums

Some drummers mistakenly believe that the turning hardness in the tension rods can be used to tune a drum. Some companies have even developed torque wrench drum keys. Needless to say, this doesn't work. Instead, you need to measure the tightness of the drum head and not of the tension rods.   

The Drum Dial measures the tightness of the drum head. This is quite handy, cause actually then you don't need to hit the drum until in the end of the drum tuning process. 

How does the DrumDial work? 

You put the DrumDial close to one of the tension rods (or lugs), and then the pointer will give you a measurement. Now the trick is to move the DrumDial from one tension rod to another and adjust the tension rods until the measurement in the DrumDial is the same for all the tension rods. Of course you need to know how much you can tune the drum. If you don't know this, you can use the Drum Dial guide, which you find here below: 

Soft Bag for your Drum Dial

If you want to move your tuner around without worrying about damage, consider getting a Drum Dial Soft Case. It’s an affordable and practical solution that makes it easy to transport your measuring device. This soft case features moulded foam, ensuring your tuner stays safe and secure while you’re on the move.

Remember, if you purchase the digital Drum Dial, you’ll receive a sturdy plastic case included in the price. However, that case is significantly larger. So, if you’re looking for a smaller and more convenient option, the soft case is also perfectly suitable for the digital Drum Dial.

Remember to use Bearing Edge Conditioner

DrumDial also offers another product: Bearing Edge Conditioner. This acts like a lip balm - but for drums. 

Once the drumhead is removed and you’ve cleaned the drum’s edge, apply a layer of Bearing Edge Conditioner (BEC). This ensures that the drumhead glides smoothly over the edge when you later tune the drum.

Is there anything worse than a drum that moves in large “jumps” while you’re trying to fine-tune it?

With BEC, the drumhead slides seamlessly over the drum’s edge, making the tuning process both easier and more enjoyable.

You can find the Bearing Edge Conditioner here.

About DrumDial

DrumDial is an American company that has made tuners for drums (or drum tuners) for many years. 

The special thing about a DrumDial is that it doesn't use electricity and that it doesn't listen to the drum head. Instead, it uses good old-fashioned mechanics that works.