Timpani tuner online
This timpani tuner online listens through your microphone and shows the note of the drum, its octave and how many cents it is off. Use it to clear a new head, to set the pedal before a rehearsal or to check a quick pitch change in a quiet bar.
How to use it
- Press Turn on microphone and allow access. Put the phone near the drum, not on the head or the bowl.
- Strike lightly with a general mallet about 8–10 cm (3–4 in) from the rim, at the playing spot.
- Needle left (flat): raise the pitch with the pedal or tension rods. Needle right (sharp): lower it.
- For a pitch change during a piece, set the note here first and remember the pedal position or the gauge mark.
Help and explanations
Timpani have a strong principal tone and many overtones that fade quickly. Tap softly, a hand's width from the edge, and read the needle while the note is still ringing; the steady part of the sound gives the most reliable reading.
Usual ranges of the drums
Common orchestral ranges are about D2–A2 on the 32-inch drum, F2–C3 on the 29-inch, B♭2–F3 on the 26-inch and D3–A3 on the 23-inch. Your heads, bowls and setup can move these limits a little; avoid forcing a drum far beyond the range where it sounds clear.
Clearing the head
A head sounds clean only when the tension is even. Tap about 5 cm (2 in) in front of each tension rod and compare the pitch all around the drum; adjust the rods that are flat or sharp until every spot gives the same note. Then set the main pitch with the pedal and check again at the playing spot.
Tips
- Heads react to temperature and humidity: check the pitch again after moving the drums or turning on stage lights.
- If the tuner jumps to an octave or a fifth above, tap more softly and read a little later, once the overtones have faded.
- Hum or sing the note quietly before you strike: it trains the ear and lets you check the tuner's reading.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tune timpani with a tuner?
Clear the head first, then tap softly at the playing spot and move the pedal until the needle is centered. Check again after a few seconds: the head can settle slightly.
What is the best timpani tuner app?
You do not need to install one: this tuner works in the phone or laptop browser once you allow the microphone, and the sound never leaves your device.
Why does the tuner show a different octave?
Timpani have strong overtones. A soft stroke and a reading taken while the note rings, not at the first attack, usually gives the principal tone.
Can I tune timpani to A442?
Yes. Change the reference A in the tuner settings to match your orchestra before you start.
Does it work for other tuned drums?
Yes, any drum with a clear pitch, such as roto-toms. For a drum kit, the drum tuner has profiles for each drum.