What snare wire should I use?

Less = faster. Common snare wires range in number from 16 and 20 strands to more contemporary 30– and 42-strand options. Fewer wires generally yields a tighter, faster, snappier response. More wires is believed to create a fatter attack and greater resonance — more “fuzz” or “jangle” — but often at the cost of speed.

How do snare wires affect sound?

The more wires a snare has the more they influence the drum sound; fewer wires allow a more pure drum sound. Generally, more wires will result in a crisper, brighter sound. While using more wires adds articulation, they can dampen or even choke a drum’s sound.

How do I stop snare wire buzzing?

8 Easy Ways to Control Snare Buzz

1 – Make sure the snare wires are installed correctly.
2 – Tune toms away from the snare’s frequency range.
3 – De-tune lugs near the throw off and butt plate.
4 – Rotate your snare.
5 – Use a thinner snare-side head.
6 – Upgrade to a higher-quality set of snare wires.

How tight should my snare wires be?

Never tension your snare wires so tightly that they choke the snare sound. Instead, find the sweet spot that allows them to sing. And be sure to mount the snares straight, so that they last longer and respond optimally.

Should I change my snare wires?

Drummers often walk into the shop with the following complaint: “My snare doesn’t sound right.” Even though you don’t usually hit the bottom head or snare wires, both should be changed every second or third time you change the batter head, depending on your playing style.

Why do my snare wires buzz?

Often, snare buzz is caused by a rack tom being tuned too close in pitch to your snare drum. You should be able to find out which head is tuned too close to your snare that way. Once you know which head is the problem, you can TRY to change its pitch far enough away from your snare tuning to eliminate the buzz.