One of the most important pieces of gear for drummers is the drum key. The drum key is essential for any drummer that wants to have a good sounding drum set. This is because it is the tool responsible for tuning the drum heads on the set. It fits over the post around the edges of the set and tightens and loosens the drum head to change the pitch that it emits when it is struck with the drum sticks.
There are some important things to know when tuning drums. Make sure that when tuning the drums that you turn the posts in a crisscrossing pattern similar to changing a tire. This will ensure that the drum head is tightened evenly over the drum. An uneven drum head will resonate incorrectly and cause the pitch to be off.
Another thing to consider when tuning the drums is what pitch the individual drums should be tuned too. This is most important with the snare drum. The sound of the snare drum can dramatically change the overall sound of the band. Some drummers even choose to use two separate snare drums to widen the sonic palette that they have at their disposal during the gig.
Just having a great drums set is not enough. Drummers have to constantly make sure that it sounds good by tuning it. Drum keys are an inexpensive tool that make any drummers job much easier.