Now that your ears are up for it, you are ready to start TUNING the timpani! Here are a few tips to get you started.
Tuning Tip #1
It is better to tune UP to a pitch from below. The drum will hold the pitch better this way. Coming from above down to the target pitch can leave slack in the head and when you play loudly, the drum can slip (taking up the slack) and go flat.
CLICK HERE for the proper tuning procedure
Tuning Tip #2
Be aware that a very small pedal movement has a big effect on pitch when you are near the bottom of a drum's range. The higher in the range you go, the more you must move the pedal to achieve the same change.
For example, on the 26" drum, a very small pedal movement changes Bb to B, but a larger pedal movement is required to change E to F.
CLICK HERE to see this demonstrated
Tuning Tip #3
If it sounds bad, don't leave it that way! If you can't tell whether you are too high or too low, take a guess and adjust. Your changes are 50-50. If it sounds better, you guessed right. If it gets worse, you guessed wrong and maybe you will guess better next time!
Tuning Tip #4
Tune WHILE you play, not just before you play. Tuning is not just a preparatory action that you do before playing the timpani. It is part of playing the instrument. Whenever possible, have your foot on the pedal while you are playing. By doing this, you can make a quick adjustment after you start playing if you hear that you are out of tune with the rest of the band.
Tuning Tip #5
Learn how your part should sound. Play it on the piano or mallet keyboard. Sing it. Have a friend who plays Bassoon, Trombone, Baritone or Tuba play it for you. Listen to a recording of the piece if at all possible.
EXERCISES TO HELP YOU GET BETTER AT TUNING
D A E A D A E A
All the A's are played on the 29" drum, whose pitch you don't change. This is your stable reference pitch.
All the D's and E's are played on the 26" drum.
By going back and forth between D and E on the same pedal, you get a feeling for the distance between them. You can become aware of the difference in pedal movement between a half step and a whole step.
CLICK HERE to see this exercise up close
CLICK HERE to see this exercise from far
Scale Fragment Exercises
Try playing scale fragments on each drum.
23" D Major Scale Fragment (slow)
23" D Major Scale Fragment (fast)
26" Bb Major Scale Fragment (slow)
26" Bb Major Scale Fragment (fast)
29" F Major Scale Fragment (slow)
29" F Major Scale Fragment (fast)