In a message dated 3/1/00 12:10:21 AM !!!First Boot!!!, PDtek@AOL.COM writes: << On another list, there has been discussion as to whether the head on a drum or banjo actually produces a musical pitch when hit or thumped. When a head like this is tightened it obviously gets brighter in tone but my contention is that the vibrations are too random and disorganized to actually produce a definable pitch. I can't count the times however that I have heard drummers or banjo players saying that they like to tune the head to A or Bb or whatever. Any opinions? Dave Bunch >> Timpani's tune their instruments. Banjos can also be tuned. When a drummer tightens his drum head, it changes in pitch, not tone. There is a pitch to every drum head. It is not a defined as other pitches, mainly because the decay of the sound is too fast. But there is definitely a pitch. Willem Blees
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