Essential Timpani Care: Maintenance and Troubleshooting
Timpani play a pivotal role in bands and orchestras as they provide warmth, depth, and harmonic as well as melodic characteristics. The demands on a timpanists are evolving as composers experiment with new sounds, rhythms, and techniques and drums that are not in optimal working condition can cause stress on the performer and lead to less confidence.
To be in optimal playing condition, timpani should have working pedals and tuning gauges, be free of rattles, and have a clear pitch. Whether you are a percussionist or not, we’ve got some practical tips for you to keep your drums working and sounding their best.
Yearly Timpani Maintenance
Just like woodwind and brass instruments, all percussion instruments need yearly upkeep and with all of their moving parts, timpani need extra attention to ensure they last for years and sound their best. Even if you’re not experiencing immediate issues, we recommend annual maintenance to ensure that you cut down on potential issues. Click HERE if you’d like us to take care of the yearly maintenance for you.
1. Lubricate moving parts
Your timpani pedals and other moving parts require lubrication to function smoothly. Applying white lithium spray to joints that move frequently will keep them moving freely. Be sure to keep any lubricant off of the timpani bowl as it will damage the finish and wipe up any excess spray as it will cause unwanted residue buildup.
2. Set the Range of your Drums
Each timpani manufacture has different tuning ranges. Check to see if your drums are in the correct range and whether it is recommended to tune to the high or low pitch when setting the range.
Adams Timpani - Manual recommends setting the range from the bottom pitch.
Ludwig Timpani - Manual recommends setting the range from the bottom pitch.
Yamaha Timpani - Manual recommends setting the range from the bottom pitch.
3. Clear the heads
Clearing the heads is the process of having the head sound the same pitch at each tension rod. Start by finding the tension rod with the highest pitch and match the others to it. There are several overtones present on timpani heads and you want to listen for the initial (lowest) pitch that you can hear. This takes time, patience, and lot of practice. Make small changes and try again the next day.
4. pedal & tuning gauge adjustments
Ensure that your timpani pedals are functioning smoothly as a sticky or squeaky pedal can affect your timing and overall performance. The pedal should move smoothly and stay in place after you’ve tuned the drum. Check out our videos on adjusting Ludwig timpani pedals and Adams Generation II pedals for more information. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for future videos on Yamaha timpani.
If your drums have a tuning gauge, check to ensure it’s calibrated and working correctly before every performance. Our Instagram page has videos on how to adjust your tuning gauges.
5. Clean hair from wheels
Timpani often collect hair, dust, and other debris in the wheels. Periodically clean the wheels to ensure smooth operation and prevent any debris from interfering with the pedal’s movement. A vacuum or compressed air is ideal for this task, and don’t forget to occasionally lubricate the wheels to prevent squeaking. Wipe down the wheels with a soft cloth afterward.
Need Help?
Schedule your Yearly Timpani Maintenance and we’ll take care of it for you!
When to Change Timpani Heads
Just like reeds on a clarinet, drum heads wear out before they break. A new head will make the drum easier to tune and will provide a warmer tone. It’s very easy to pass on changing out timpani heads as it can be an expensive endeavor but think of them as two tubas that need basic cleaning and maintenance every year and a comprehensive overhaul every few years. Here are some signs that your timpani heads need to be replaced.
1. Worn playing spots
Every time a mallet hits the head, the coating on the head wears down. Over time the coating wears off and you’re left with a beating spot as seen in the picture below. The coating gives the head it’s characteristic sound and without the coating, you lose that sound. If you can see a beating spot on your timpani, take a minute and hear the difference between playing on the beating spot and playing on the opposite side of the head where the coating is still intact.
2. Hard to Tune
If you’re having a hard time tuning to the correct pitch, your first move is to clear the head. If you’ve been trying to clear the head for a long time and you just can’t seem to get a consistent pitch, that’s a good indication that it’s time to change the heads.
3. Range
Most timpani will reach the interval of a fifth or a sixth but some can reach farther. As the heads stretch over time, the range will widen. Our general rule is if your timpano is getting more than an octave in range, it’s definitely time to change out those heads.
3. Time
Timpani heads wear out as they slide over the bearing edge of the bowl. Every time you move the pedal, the head stretches and wears down. The more pitch changes you make, the more the head wears out. Timpani in school settings need the heads changed out more frequently than those in a church setting as they get used exponentially more. We generally recommend changing heads every 2 to 5 years in a school setting depending on your budget and every 5 to 10 years in a church setting.
Need your timpani heads changed but don’t want to take the time to do it?
Pedal at Heel Down or Toe Down for Storage?
This is one of the most asked questions when it comes to timpani. Although we’ve yet to find scientific evidence of where a pedal should be placed when stored, we generally recommend storing the pedal 1/3 to 1/2 of the way up as leaving the head at full tension (toe down) and fully relaxed (heel down) can put stress on the head.*
Our second reason is that timpani tend to get moved and having a little tension on the moving parts can keep them from rattling loose or potentially breaking on their journey to the stage or to the football field.
* Fun fact - the snares on your snare drum should be left in the “on” position when not in use as they lose tension faster when in the snare “off” position. Same principle applies to a very loose timpano head.
Where is that Rattle?
Rattles can really ruin your day as they are hard to track down and can be tricky to diagnose. Remember that a rattle is metal touching metal and you want to prevent friction between the pieces.
1. Joints
Dirt can build up anywhere there is a joint. Tension rod casings, linkage points, and tuning gauge parts all have joints. Usually some white lithium spray will help. Adding a tiny bit of white lithium grease to the inside of a ball joint can also help.
2. Spider arms
If you have Ludwig timpani that have spider arms inside the bowl as pictured below, check to see if the spider arm is rubbing up against the copper where it passes through the bowl. A little bit of moleskin can help prevent rattling.
3. Counter Hoops
Most timpani heads have an insert made of either aluminum or steel. If the underside of your counter hoop (the circular piece that sits on top of the head) doesn’t have felt on it, the insert can rub up against the counter hoop. If you feel comfortable taking a timpani head off and reinstalling it, you can apply teflon spray to the bottom side of the counter hoop to prevent friction between the head and the counter hoop. Don’t try to put teflon spray on while the head and counter hoop are still attached to the drum - it’s gets really messy.
Help!
Timpani can be very confusing as every manufacture builds their drums slightly different and chasing down a specific issue can be time consuming and very frustrating. That’s why we’re here - we want to help so you and / or your students enjoy playing these fantastic instruments.
If you’re in our service area, we’d love to come in person to get your drums in playing shape and answer all of your questions.
If you’re not in our service area, we offer virtual help where we’ll sit with you online and walk you through the repair. We can even provide the necessary supplies to get the job done.
Final Words
Taking care of your timpani is just as important as practicing. Ensuring your instrument remains in top condition throughout the year with proper maintenance and attention to detail will lead to a better sound, smoother performance, and a longer lifespan for your drums. By routinely changing heads, lubricating moving parts, adjusting pedals, and keeping everything clean, you can avoid common issues like rattles and pedal malfunctions, allowing you to focus on playing and sounding your best. If you think your timpani might need attention we are here to help. Schedule an appointment TODAY!!
Happy drumming!