The Bottom Head
Step 1: Place the snare drum shell upside down on the carpet or a soft cloth on the floor.
Snare Drum Shell
Step 2: Place the bottom snare drum head onto the snare drum shell.
Bottom Snare Drum Head
Step 3: Place the counter hoop in position over the head. Make sure that the slots in the bottom hoop are carrectly in line with the snare action.
Bottom Snare Drum Hoop
Step 4: Using your thumb and index finger, lightly screw the tension rods down against the counter hoop.
Seating the Tension Rods
Step 5: Using the heel of your palm, press down hard on the counter hoop and repeat the process of screwing in the tension rods. Work around the drum two times and you will have reasonably even pressure at each tension point.
Seating the Counter Hoop
Step 6: With one hand on top of the other, and again using the heel of your palm, you must stretch in the head by pushing down quite hard three or four times in the centre of the head. When you have done this, you should repeat step 5 (Seating the Counter Hoop).
Stretching the Head
Step 7: To tune the head you must hold your finger lightly in the center of the head, and tap the head with the drumstick, 15mm in from the edge at each tension point. You must adjust each tension rod so each point sounds the same as the other. To raise the pitch, you must tighten the tension rod. To lower the pitch, you must loosen the tension rod.
Tuning the Head
When you have finished, if you press down firmly in the centre of the head, it should move approximately 1cm.
