Adjusting a snare

[drummers_dad]

Hi, my lad has his first (cheap!) drum kit. The snare doesn't have much "rattle" - can you knowledgeable folks help me adjust it? I will take some pics of the mechanism and the wires underneath. Hopefully it is straightforward!

 

[jansara]

If the kit was purchased at a drum store, return the snare to them and have them tension and adjust it. It's going to be much easier seeing how it's done rather than working through online instructions.

 

[drummers_dad]

It was £50 from a friend of a friend.

 

[toddbishop]

Sure, you'll notice a mechanism on the side of the drum-- there's a lever that engages/disengages the snare wires, with a knob on it that adjusts the tension of the wires. With the lever engaged, tap the center of the drum softly while adjusting the knob.

If the knob tension is too loose, the snare sound will be very rattly, or it will sound like a tom tom. If it's too tight, the drum will sound like a tom tom with little snare response.