Snare Buzz Problem

Guitaro · Newbie Alert Joined: 01 Sep 2003 Posts: 3

Hey I go ta realyl cheap drumset, and the snare is awful. THe snare buzzes and does nto work at all like it is supposed to as if its loose or something. I don't realyl know how to desrcibe it since I know nothign about drums, btu cna anyone tell me if there's a way to fix this?

Zildjian! · Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 7:41 pm Post subject:

Probably the problem is due to one of two things:

1. The snare is broken -- replace it.

2. The snare is very loose and isn't making firm contact with the drumhead. There should be a thingamajig (technical term for a mechanical part) that will tighten or loosen the tension of the snare. It's found on the side of the drum where the snare is attached. Usually it's something that you turn or twist.
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noodle4u · Little Guppy Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Posts: 31

Tighten the thingmajig, usually located where the switch is to pop the snares up and down. I'd do this while the snares are loose, meaning while they aren't against the resonant head, and incrementally popping the snares on and off until you can't tighten them anymore. You don't want to tighten all the way and force the snares up, or you'll either brake the snares or break the plastic/string holding the snares onto your drums. If this doesn't work the way you wanted you might have to unscrew some lugs and pull the actual plastic/string holding the snares in place so that the snares lie closer the the drum skin. I'd make sure that you don't have the snares tightened all the way if you do this, and again do this in increments so that you don't end up over tightening the snares and don't have room to play around with the sound. But yeah, it sounds like they're not tight enough, or broken. Other than that, you may have to buy some new snares and start over, make sure they're aren't any individual snares that have come loose. I think new snares run pretty cheap, and are super easy to put on. Hope that helps.

Snake · Big Lion Joined: 10 Feb 2004 Posts: 989 Location: DFW

Snare buzzing (called sympathetic vibrations) will never go away completely, but there are many ways to reduce it. A google search for "snare drum tuning" or something similar should get you some good info.

Do the snare wires buzz all the time or just when you hit a certain drum? If it's all the time, then like Zildjian and noodle said, the snare wires may be too loose. And/or if the kit (and snare drum) is as cheap as you say, it might have low quality heads and snare wires and possibly no snare bed.
If it only happens when you hit a certain drum, tweak the tuning of that drum until the buzzing is reduced.
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blazendreadlocks · Alley Cat Joined: 03 Aug 2003 Posts: 184

Hey man i have a cheap set myself and the snare buzzs. Ad the advice they gave works. Try tightening the heads. ive also noticed when you hit in the middle it stops a little bit. Try that if thats the case its probally sa broken snare. hope this helps any peace

Josh02053 · Kitten Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 127

If you invest in a set of straight snare wires, the buzzing may be reduced. This is one of the many reasons to purchase such snares, along with the fact that they sound terrific.

acid_slut101 · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2004 5:33 am Post subject:

I'd recommend buying some Moongel dampener pads. Ive put one of them on the batter head of my snare drum and all the nasty overtones are gone. hope this helps

noodle4u · Little Guppy Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Posts: 31

Or just use tape. In my experience it does the same thing, and you don't have to shell out $10 to buy 4 strips of it, and you can experiment with more or less without having to, again spend the money on Moongel.[/quote]

Premier · Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 5:44 am Post subject:

I use the "active snare system" by Rhythm tech. This cuts down on snare buzz a lot, no matter how loose or tight you like your snares to be.