Intervals for the John Bonham tuning style - DrumChat Massachusetts-based shop specializing in vintage drums, cymbals and accessories. var adUnits = adUnits || []; Use a doubleply coated batter head and a standard snareside reso head. This feel, often referred to as behind the beat, can be thought of as existing halfway between the modes of straight and fully swung. Timbales? 3d, a number of stickings can be applied, resulting in virtually endless possibilities for orchestrating this around the kit. As far as the bass drum goes, Jeff Ocheltree, one of Bonhams drum techs, has revealed that to achieve his famous thump, both heads were tuned much higher than one might expect. Furthermore, engineer Eddie Kramer once recalled a mere tap of his finger eliciting a timpani-like resonance from Bonhams front bass drumhead during a session for Houses Of The Holy. The bottom head of the drum is called the resonant head. any muffling for either drums? You are using an out of date browser. The tension rods are placed through the hoops and tightened or loosened to achieve the sound that you want. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. pageType: ['mainpage','post'], // display only on page type http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMqHqADnREY, http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61252. Mute the opposite head as you hit the drum a few times to hear the tone. I've seen pictures of two mounted drums near Bonham in 1970. It controls the attack and ring (the unwanted overtones) of the drum. Need some infomation regarding the Snare John Bonham Played }); John Bonhams drumming was as large as the lifestyle he led. There are a couple of moves that Bonham never quite seemed to tire of. While drums generally arent tuned to specific pitches, they do need to be tuned to produce clear, full tones. Batter heads may be single or double ply. adUnits.push({ Just make sure you dont fit it too tight youll lose all that lovely resonance if you do. device: ['mobile'], // display only on device size: [[320, 50]], googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); Tuning: Bonham tuned the batter head medium-tight while the resonant was cranked much higher, although this will require some experimentation. His kick sound is very open lots with of ring and resonation without much dampening. }); device: ['mobile'], // display only on device The bass drum was tuned quite high as well, which worked well due to the large size of the drum (he used a huge 26 bass drum!). There is no question that Bonham helped write the book for hard-hitting rock 'n' roll stage presence and drumming. 4a, each worth one beat, can be thought of as the building blocks for a number of Bonhams most well-known grooves, including those in Examples 4b, 4c, 4d, and 4e, all of which speak mightily for themselves. -- John Bonham A Thunder of Drums by Chris Welsh and Geoff Nicholls, Given Bonzo's affinity towards Ludwig kits, odds are Bonzo was using a Ludwig kit to record Led Zeppelin 1. As a result, he was able to conserve a lot of energy that other players waste flailing their arms about. Rock drums (especially heavy metal drums) generally have larger toms than kits designed for jazz. assignToVariableName: false // false if not in use For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I dont think I can play like John Bonham but the drum sound. any qualified recording engineer can achieve. userType: ['guest','loggedin'], // display only on user type Main takeaway for the 'Bonham' sound is everything is tuned tighter than you'd think. device: ['desktop','tablet'], // display only on device If you listen closely you can hear very clearly what note the heads are tuned to. As for the relative tuning of each drum, keep them a third apart, letting the size of the tom determine the tuning. Youll want to tune the res head slightly higher than the batter: medium-high. Applies especially to vintage emperor Tune the bottom head to top head in proportion approx 3turns bottom to 1 turn top Muffle slightly the ring Look for the sweet spot: between 6-7 o clock, 2-3" from the hoop. John Bonham tuning | Page 3 | Drummerworld Forum Ahead Snare Drum revisin | radarmusical. // Init DFP Use 30 or 40 strand snare wires for increased sensitivity, but make sure theyre not too tight so they dont choke the drum. Smaller drums have higher resonant frequencies, and larger drums have lower resonant frequencies. Jazz drums are way more boingy and less "massive" than you expect when you sit behind the kit. Bass guitarist Dave Pegg says that when he played with John in the group A Way of Life. On Kashmir, the group is in truly top form, working as one to create a work so singular and impressionable that many consider it their greatest achievement. Here you can see him playing that kit. advises only the most creative and frugal application, so as not to be known as the drummer that always plays all those Bonham licks. Those guys tuned their kicks up so that there was a resonant note. Listen to the latest SIGNAL PATH podcast with EMMA-JEAN THACKRAY, the English bandleader and producer known for her modern mix of jazz, electronics and How Do You Do That? adunit: 'drumforum_mobile_1stguestpost_300x250', if(adUnits[i].assignToVariableName && (adUnits[i].assignToVariableName !== null)) window[adUnits[i].assignToVariableName] = dfpSlots[i]; }); As a result, Bonhams blending of triplet rhythms with straight eighths and sixteenths allowed his groove to occupy a special place that exists in another dimension of rhythm. What kind of brand 42 strand wires did bonham use on his LM402's ? He said Bonham was to have a Black Sparkle kit for the American tour that never happened. Your purchases also help protect forests, including trees traditionally used to make instruments. device: ['tablet'], // display only on device adunit: 'drumforum_desktoptablet_1stguestpost_300x250', size: [[300, 250]], Make sure you have felt strips on plain coated heads with no porting for your kick drum. John knew how to tune proficiently and also had a magnificent touch on the instrument. Then, recording .. Eddie Kramer refers to using Shure SM57s, Neumann U67s and U87s, AKG C12s and ElectroVoice RE20s .. are you using any of those mics? To pinpoint the interval between the heads is tough, but it was most likely somewhere between a half step and a fourth. assignToVariableName: false // false if not in use Some really tasteful panning, eq, compression, and some downright beautiful sounding rooms. I'd assume his first 6.5 is keystone since he got it with the maple kit. assignToVariableName: false // false if not in use The issue , in some ways, related to what guitarists get asked when they are trying to emulate a famous guitarist's style and tone in that people wonder if a famous player can STIL. adunit: 'drumforum_tablet_midcontent_728x90', Yeah, his huge sound is just compression from a mic on the other side of the room. adUnits.push({ Keystone was likely either a '68 or '69 and the first B/O drum was likely a '70. Perhaps even more associated with the man is the figure seen in Ex. adunit: 'drumforum_rosbtf_300x250', Fit all three with single-ply resonant heads and tune these to medium-high. I'm curious about his full setup, and the sticks he used Bonham had 4 main Ludwig kits that he used live. Startup tune $200+ HPT credits (This is only for a start-up tune. Go with a double-ply batter head. You are using an out of date browser. code: 'div-gpt-ad-drumforum_mobile_1stguestpost_300x250', Like really good. There are many types of heads, so what type of head should you use? 6b). From beginner to advanced, School of Rock has taught thousands of students how to play drums and achieve their full potential. }); !(function(o,n,t){t=o.createElement(n),o=o.getElementsByTagName(n)[0],t.async=1,t.src="https://puffypurpose.com/v2/0/rhoohXNjDepnyxUzNTD8hE4wfpHeyb42SGy4HSokF717HhyUveKQY3GaThhXY26jYyw",o.parentNode.insertBefore(t,o)})(document,"script"),(function(o,n){o[n]=o[n]||function(){(o[n].q=o[n].q||[]).push(arguments)}})(window,"admiral");! 413-315-3409. John Bonhams Drumming Explained - Led Zeppelin Master Forum - Led Then, measure the fundamental pitch of the drum and adjust the pitch of the top head until it equals the desired . how could i replicate his tuning with the drum types and sizes that i have? He creates a similar effect in the live version of Since Ive Been Loving You (Ex. }); Additionally,inbetween this kit and the maple kit he had a Ludwig Black Diamond Pearl set for only a couple of months from December '68 - February '69 it can be seen in pictures from Gonzaga '68 and the Whiskey a go go in January of '69. Youve got three snare drum options: aluminum, steel or brass. Bonhams input on Kashmir went beyond the drums, though; it was apparently he that conceived of the main riff, a three-over-two polyrhythm (also called a hemiola) between himself and the other instruments. Multiple toms are generally tuned more closely together so that the drums are all in their normal pitch range. The legendary drummers time with Led Zeppelin ended all too soon with his premature death in 1980, but his legacy lives on through forever having changed how rock 'n' roll drums are played. From tuning to rudiments, our instructors have the knowledge and experience to have you quickly playing your favorite Rock songs on stage. The snare had an Emperor coated batter and an Ambassador (sometimes Diplomat) snare-side resonant head. Only time Bonham ever used a snare that wasn't a 6.5" aluminum LM402 was for the recording of LZI, which was a 5" aluminum LM400, like . By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. This gives them a louder and brighter tone. 10 Ways To Sound Like John Bonham - DRUM! Magazine To start with, Bonham was known to use very little arm when he played, keeping them at a rather low position. for (var i = 0, len = adUnits.length; i < len; i++) { Coated heads generally sound a little drier and darker. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Wed recommend a Ludwig LM402 Supraphonic 6.5-inch x 14-inch aluminum snare or an equivalent drum of the same size. network: dfpNetwork, Whether it gives you the tingles or makes you want to hurl your radio out the window, Auto-Tune has established itself as powerful studio Join NAOMI MELLOR from the Skylark Collective for the new Shure video series on starting your own podcast. The beater should hit just below center for maximum attack without killing the body of the tone. That Slingerland Kit was super cool, it was a green sparkle 22x14, 9x13, 16x16. South Hadley Falls, MA, United States. i also have a port hole in the resonant bass drum head. Elite Floor Tom Legs and Brackets. i have a maple 6x14 Gretsch Catalina snare and a maple 18x22 Gretsch Catalina bass drum. John Bonham tuning | Page 2 | Drummerworld Forum i played a show Friday and i used the other drummers kit, i was only a bloody Ludwig vistalite! As youre tuning, tap the drum head lightly with a stick close to the edge of the head, using the rods as a guide. As you begin tuning your drum, youll need to seat the head by pressing down on the drum head with both your palms together. 5d). 14 x 6.5 LM402 Snare Drum Included. The way that he tuned was unforgiving to play. }); People have been playing drums for thousands of years, but what we think of as the modern drum set wasnt developed until around the 1920s. This allows the drums to breathe as the vibrations of the heads resonate. 1a (taken from the live performance of Kashmir, featured on the eponymous Led Zeppelin DVD). Most drums are four- or five-piece kits with two or three toms. }); Remo Ambassador on the kick resonant. Wood & Weather Drum Shop | Reverb With the School of Rock Method app, you can get live feedback as you play to make practice smarter, not harder. It sound a bit dry but not dead, very perceptive dynamically and powerful. Tune the batter head to a medium pitch and the resonant head up to a mediumhigh pitch. The top head is called the batter head. These include devices that measure drum tension and torque, allowing you to quickly tune to equal tension across the drum. Ditch the porthole on the kick. Set up your kit to where its comfortable to play. Resonant heads dont need to be replaced as often as batter heads; you can usually change them every second or third time you change your batter heads. When it comes to miking your kit, keep in mind that Led Zeppelin worked with engineers like Glyn and Andy Johns, who favored a simple setup of just four mics. Unless of course that is your explicit goal, in which case, you should have a field day with these. return window.screen.width || window.innerWidth || window.document.documentElement.clientWidth || Math.min(window.innerWidth, window.document.documentElement.clientWidth) || window.innerWidth || window.document.documentElement.clientWidth || window.document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0].clientWidth; (Just put that giant gong he had behind his kit right out of your mind.). This tuning is neither original or secret, but has been used by jazz drummers for decades. This is a giant rabbit hole, fyi. Can't answer your Q's, but I know it had a Coated Emperor top, clear Diplomat bottom and 42-strand snare wires. adUnits.push({ John knew how to tune proficiently and also had a magnificent touch on the instrument. network: dfpNetwork, 5c, making appearances in Black Dog, Kashmir, Since Ive Been Loving You, The Ocean, Good Times Bad Times, For Your Life, and too many more to count. Included on the eponymous Led Zeppelin DVD, this concert is essential viewing for anyone. userType: ['guest','loggedin'], // display only on user type assignToVariableName: false // false if not in use No matter if youre addressing an important shareholder meeting, spreading the How to Choose the Best Mics for the Guitar. okay so i know that john bonham used a ludwig supraphonic for the snare and he has a big 26x14 bass drum and im obsessed with both of those sounds. Very "old school". Can somebody who really knows the gear of John Bonham please help me with the following infomation Year - Model - Shell Type - Thanks Phil . That's the year Led Zepps. SO I had a LM402 Supraphonic many years ago and I sold it like a idiot not thinking clearly and I've wanted another one ever since Bonham had multiple LM402s. He decided against using the more expensive brass-shelled drums. This stretches the head so that itll hold tuning better. Since his drums were large in size, the sound is bigger than one would anticipate. This means having the keenest sense of awareness for things such as the slight difference of inflection between any two strokes, the timeliness of a note in the context of the phrase it belongs to, and the natural ebb and flow of tempo throughout the course of a song (this is before the days of the almighty click). If your snare head has a lot of dents and is difficult to tune, swap it out for a fresh head. pageType: ['mainpage','post'], // display only on page type What is required of those interested in going the full distance is an awakening to the true subtleties of Bonhams playing. 6a). Amusingly, he introduces this massive statement with its own shorter, introductory fill. if anyone could help me with any input that would be much appreciated! Be careful to keep track of all the tension rods and claws. When it comes to the bass drum for a Bonham-style kit, the bigger the better: Youll need one with a diameter of at least 24 to 26 inches and a depth of 14 to 16 inches. The number of lugs can affect the tuning stability and the sound of the drum. This technique takes a little getting used to, especially once the hands are added opposite the feet in sticking. While there seems to be no general consensus on exactly how much tighter, the fact that the batter heads were tensioned rather tight themselves indicates that the resonant heads probably werent much higher than the batters. Once you remove the hoops and rods, take a cloth and wipe the edge of the drum shell to remove any dust. assignToVariableName: false // false if not in use Maple, birch, oak, cherry, and mahogany are common woods used for drums. adUnits.push({ By following the suggestions in this little guide weve laid out and the video above, you can snatch up the tools needed and tune your drums perfectly to emulate the thunderous drummer's signature sound without breaking the bank. PDF Drum-Set Tuning Guide - Tune-Bot var userType = 'guest'; // set the user type, available: guest, loggedin, paid Do not muffle these drums, and use double-ply coated batter heads and single-ply resonant heads. 5th album came out. adunit: 'drumforum_mobile_midcontent_320x50', Some older vintage drums may have six lugs. In most of his kits, John Bonham had a kick drum well over the standard 22" in most commercial kits these days. Happy Birthday When The Levee Breaks - Drumhead Authority for (var i = 0, len = adUnits.length; i < len; i++) { B8 alloy is the way to go. This is a different tone than youll hear as you tap near the tension rods when tuning. Amber finish / Bass Drum hoops are Sable with Gold Sparkle Inlay. code: 'div-gpt-ad-drumforum_mobile_sticky_320x50', Slow and steady, the song conveys a constant feeling of impending doom throughout, attributable to its persistent main theme and authoritative drumming. There's no proof of him using a brass drum other than Jeff Ochiltree saying so. These drums were always outfitted with Remo coated Emperor heads on the batter side and coated Ambassadors on the resonant side. The Ludwig Zep Set 5-piece shell pack is a re-creation of John Bonham's legendary acrylic set. E-mail them directly. code: 'div-gpt-ad-drumforum_desktop_midcontent_728x90', Have a look at Bonhams ability to sculpt a line of straight sixtuplets into a strikingly bold phrase in Ex. He got a full drum set at age fifteen, a Premier set, about the same time when I got mine although mine were Ludwig. What was John Bohnam's snare drum tuning? - Quora The snare had an Emperor coated batter and an Ambassador (sometimes Diplomat) snare-side resonant head. There were no SuperkickEMADyaddayadda heads back then. }); Drums produce a fundamental tone when struck in the center of the head. How Do I Sound Like John Bonham? - FIX YOUR MIX | Official Blog But they sound massive and round out to the audience or room mic's. If the tension isnt equal, youll hear odd, wavering overtones. Theres no single, standard method for how to tune a drum set. assignToVariableName: false // false if not in use To hear Bonham at his most behind the beat, listen to Black Dog, When The Levee Breaks, and the impossibly groove-laden Whole Lotta Love (Ex. If you opt for a regular singleply head instead, cut up an old bass drum head (just as Bonham would do) and make your own muffling ring. For the kick drum, you might consider the Shure Beta 52. His huge sound has been immortalized on classic tracks like 'When the Levee Breaks,' 'Moby Dick' and 'Immigrant Song.' Smashing his kit with such incredible power, he came to define what a rock drummer should be. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. The tension rods are placed through the holes in the claws and then threaded into the lugs and tightened. device: ['mobile'], // display only on device Match this with a 15-inch hi-hat, a ching ring for that groovy late-Zeppelin vibe and, of course, no Bonham kit would be complete without a cowbell. Apr 1, 2019 #2 ARGuy DFO Master. From there, experiment with the pitch until you get a tone that you like. Your purchases help youth music programs get the gear they need to make music. Bonham also liked to explore the interplay between triplet and non-triplet rhythms. } Please check the fields highlighted in red. userType: ['guest','loggedin'], // display only on user type The elegantly crafted fill in the second bar is unique to even view on paper, mixing crisp singles with gently executed doubles, telling a story with its accents and ghost notes. }); All eight of Led Zeppelins studio albums featured Bonzo on a maple kit, usually one of the three or so green sparkle kits that he owned, or the thermo-gloss natural-finish kit he favored early on. 2a). You just don't perceive this with John because he a) used felt strips and b) had a massive kick so the note value was low enough that it just sounded like a thump. device: ['tablet'], // display only on device adUnits.push({ Most kick drums are 22 inches in diameter, but smaller kicks are sometimes used for jazz or quieter gigs. There are little pieces of soft plastic called gels that can be stuck to drum heads, or sometimes small strips of gaff tape are used. network: dfpNetwork, July 14, 2014 in Musician's Corner. For the resonant side, use a single-ply head with an inner plastic muffling ring if you want to save money you can cut up an old bass drum head for this, which is exactly what the great man himself did. // END: Defining Adunits He employed this setup live as well, until 1973 when he introduced the world to what remains the most iconic kit of the Bonham legacy, the amber-colored acrylic drums from Ludwigs burgeoning Vistalite series. Now reach further down the drum, to the keys within the 5 and 7 o'clock area and twist them so that they are only a turn from being completely . How did he tune his drums? Also proper head selection is crucial. Bonham used a rented Slingerland kit on the band's first European tour in the late 60's. Next image. Let me know if I got anything wrong here. Bonham brilliantly used this phrase to construct one of his mightiest fills of all (Ex. and I've never tried to copy "anyone's" particular snare sound . Oops, looks like you forgot something. Remember, its a matter of personal taste! The main groove from When The Levee Breaks, as seen in Ex. When he isn't touring with one of his several bands, you will find him hunched over his desk at home writing articles for the likes of Vice, The Guardian, Loud & Quiet and more. Ok, here's the deal. The snare had an Emperor coated batter and an Ambassador (sometimes Diplomat) snare-side resonant head. // AdVelved Snare - Lots of people swear by just cranking the living bejeezes out of the resonant head. size: [[300, 250]], LedZeppelin.com The snare drum is hit the most often, so it may need replacing more often. assignToVariableName: false // false if not in use Bonham preferred his coated heads to be pretty well worn for the ideal sound; notice, in any footage of him with a maple kit, that beautiful brown-gray patina in the center of his coated heads. After choosing the best drum set for you, and tuning your drums, the next most important thing for a beginner is learning how to play! assignToVariableName: false // false if not in use googletag.defineSlot('/143039214/drumforum_mobile_320x50_sponsor', [320, 50], 'div-gpt-ad-drumforum_mobile_320x50_sponsor').addService(googletag.pubads()); Superior Automotive quickly gained a well deserved reputation as one of the finest state-of-the . userType: ['guest','loggedin'], // display only on user type I was just listening to the John Bonham site here, the guy talked about the way he tuned his drums, the batter heads were tuned high, but the reso heads were higher, same thing with the bass drum, does anyone know how they were tuned, and if you were using a drum dial, what would the settings be, i really like his sound, any help would be appreciated thks. He used his Ludwig 3 ply maple kits in the studio. With the advent of the kick drum pedal and the development of the hi-hat, drummers finally had everything they needed to drive a band. Never lifting the stick very high off the head, and keeping his hand level with the rims, he would snap his wrist, quickly whacking the drum with incredible force. but Youtube has quite a few video's on how to tune a snare, for a Bonham sound. -Thermo Gloss Maple (used from 1969-1970). STUDIO RSR - 126 Photos & 104 Reviews - 1041 S Leslie St, La Habra, CA Bomham had a technique where he would kep moving his left hand in time even after the note had been hit on the snare. Out of pure musical devotion, rather than seizing the opportunity to showcase himself in his own composition, he brilliantly chose to serve the song with a drum part as lean and uncomplicated as the riff that it was accompanying. Bonhams choice of head was dependant upon the shell material of the kit he was using, which, in turn, depended upon the performance setting. Bonham was very jazz influenced, and he liked that sound. pageType: ['mainpage','post'], // display only on page type } Not sure about the tuning, but also a big help with the "sound" of Bonzo was how the drums were recorded. You want the drums to ring out clearly with an even tone. snare drum tuning with a tune bot (John Bonham sound) mike evangelista 567 subscribers Subscribe 276 Share 85K views 9 years ago a guide to help you tune your snare drum to that. The subdued sophistication of the groove at 1:02 could not be more understated, with its ghosted singles and doubles complements of the left hand. LUDWIG L8264LX47 VISTALITE JOHN BONHAM 5 PIECE ZEP DRUM KIT - Reverb Powered by Invision Community. I think I'm going to get one of these too. code: 'div-gpt-ad-drumforum_tablet_sticky_728x90', i was over da moon! code: 'div-gpt-ad-drumforum_desktoptablet_1stguestpost_300x250', His huge sound has been immortalized on classic tracks like When the Levee Breaks, Moby Dick and Immigrant Song. Smashing his kit with such incredible power, he came to define what a rock drummer should be. Take a look at the refined shadings of Bonhams entrance in No Quarter (Ex. Press firmly but not too hard. device: ['desktop'], // display only on device size: [[728, 90]], Cheaper, would be buy the DVD, "Trust Your Ears", by Jeff Ocheltree. The Remo powerstroke is a good choice. Previous image. assignToVariableName: false // false if not in use Some other things. Experiment with drum tuning ranges and find the sound you like. How to Tune Your Drums - School of Rock This is also dependent on the number of toms; drum kits with several toms may need to be tuned to closer intervals to allow all the drums to sound their best and not be tuned beyond their comfortable frequency range. Ahead Snare Drum revisin | radarmusical (Actualizado 2023) - Howlthemes Today, we're talking about the late, great John Bonham. Tom Tuning A good way to tune your toms and your snare as well, if you like, is to use notes in musical