I'm not sure if this even a relevent question because I have never heard such a thing but my drum set sounds like shit and I have always thought it was my horrible playing!

If it is such a thing...whats the dealy-o? if not...please spit on me.

Well, you can quite drastically change the tone of your drums by tuning them. Either tighter (higher pitched sound) or looser (lower pitch).

From what I remember, you're supposed to tighten the screw at 12 o'clock on the drum, then the one at 6 o'clock, then the one at 10:30 o'clock, then the one at 4:30. Then the one at 9 o'clock and the one at 3 o'clock.

Only small adjustments for each.

I had the same problem, and someone gave me a tip that made them sound twice as good.

All you have to do is not freaking forget about the BOTTOM HEADS, especially on the toms. Tune the toms to however low you want them if you are playing harder stuff (not TOO low but you know what I mean), then tune the bottom heads to be significantly tighter than the top ones.

If you really dont know the absolute basics of tuning drums, basically, get a sound on one of the tuning things, called lugs, then you use a drumstick or your finger and put your ear real close to each lug and try to get the sound on each of them exactly the same. You have to have a very good ear. It's tough, because every time you tune one, another one can go a little out of tune. But definitely do that opposite sides thing.

does it matter how many threads their are on the screw left? I have thought about just counting the threads and matching them all around...

What the hell are you talking about?

the threads on the "lugs".

does it matter how many threads their are on the screw left? I have thought about just counting the threads and matching them all around...

Probably not. Drum heads stretch in all sorts of ways, so doing just the thread counting could be misleading. Nothing beats listening to the drum.

Tuning drums is not something you can just learn over the internet. Have a skilled percussionist who knows what he's talking about show you the tricks. Then try it yourself, eventually you'll get it.

Also, the heads have a lot to do with it. For example, if you give me that single ply Remo fuckshit I can't make em sound good, but if you give me some Evans Genera 2ply, I can make them sing.

Most drummers tune in fourths. I think that allows a good amount of tonal variety over the spread of the kit. I know also that a lot of producers and drummers like to tune to the key that the songs are in when they record drums for release. For example, if the song is in A then the kick and snare would both be A and the toms would be tuned diatonically form there.

All you have to do is not freaking forget about the BOTTOM HEADS, especially on the toms. Tune the toms to however low you want them if you are playing harder stuff (not TOO low but you know what I mean), then tune the bottom heads to be significantly tighter than the top ones.

I generally do the opposite. I tune the top heads (and I agree, single-ply heads are crappy for a heavy sound) to the notes I want. This is tricky and it takes a good ear and patience. Do not use the threads on the lugs. That won't work - but it gives me the giggles (girls.... we're all the same). If you are having a hard time hearing the tones, try using a stick and hitting about 1"" from the lug while lying a finger very lightly on the centre of the head. This doesn't work for me because I have to hear the tone ring out, but it works for a lot of people.
The botton heads, I keep really really loose. Not falling off, or not so the lugs rattle, but loose so that you get a lot of vibration between the two heads, giving you a real great low bellow between the two heads!
Someone once told me to not tune each head to a certain note, but try to tune each drum to itself. It's a little metaphysical piece of advice, but I've found it helpful. Let the drums do the work and just keep the drum in tune with itself.

Tuning drums is not something you can just learn over the internet. Have a skilled percussionist who knows what he's talking about show you the tricks. Then try it yourself, eventually you'll get it.

Also, the heads have a lot to do with it. For example, if you give me that single ply Remo fuckshit I can't make em sound good, but if you give me some Evans Genera 2ply, I can make them sing.

I agree, but if someone would get an idea here's a few useful (IMO) links:

http://home.earthlink.net/~prof.sound/

http://www.acousticdrums.com/ad_frames/ ... e_old.html

http://www.cse.ogi.edu/Drum/tuning.html

i have worked for a few drummers (bass player i am) in studio and live.
i found that if the bottom is too loose you get like a bounce back 'wow'
sound. tape on the skins always got my in shit, so i had to learn to tune em good.
yes it is not a good idea to count threads, there could be differences, but keep an eye to check for even tension.
most time i tightened the bottom first to where it sounded a bit lower than i wanted the drum. then flipped it over and rested it on carpet to dampen it. got a thick skin for the top tightened it up and then tuned.
after all was set up did a finall check to compare them together.
remember to stretch new skins especially the snare.

i am not an expert but its fun.