TIMP-TUNER^TM 

MAINTAINING YOUR TIMPANI DRUMS

USING THE TIMP-TUNERTM TO SET THE HEAD TENSION

To set head tension for the proper playing range for each size drum (for instance when installing a new head or after installing a pickup) first set the pedal to the lowest tension lowest note) position and relax the tension at the adjusting screws.  Then tighten the adjusting screws as uniformly as possible (a little bit at a time on each screw) until the lowest note in the playing range indicates on the tuner when the drum is struck. The approximate playing range for the various sizes of timpani are tabulated below.

    Size      Range      Frequency

    32"         C2 to A2           65.406 - 110.00 Hz  (Cycles per second)

    30"         D2 to A2           73.416 - 110.00

    29/28"  E2 to C#3          82.407 - 138.59

    26/25"  Bb2 to A3        116.54 - 220.00

    23"         D3 to C#4        146.83 - 277.18

    20"         E3 to D4          164.81 - 293.66

     Since the tuner generally will not indicate a note with the head tension too low the proper octave will usually be set by this method.  (In other words starting with slack head tension on a 28" drum and gradually increasing the first E that will register on the tuner will be the E2.)

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