How to tune your kick to the key of your track

A kick has a pitch: the low tone it rings at after the click. When that tone sits on the root or the fifth of your key, kick and bass support each other. When it does not, the low end can sound muddy or hollow, even with a good mix.

Step by step

  1. Find the key of your track, for example A minor.
  2. Find the pitch of your kick. Put a tuner or a spectrum analyzer on the kick and look at the tail, not the click. The strongest low peak is its note.
  3. Pick a target: the root of the key (A) or the fifth (E). In the kick range that means A1 at 55 Hz or E1 at 41.2 Hz.
  4. Pitch the kick in your sampler by the number of semitones between its note and the target. Small changes of one or two semitones keep the character.
  5. Check it against the bass in mono. If the two still fight, shorten the kick tail or sidechain the bass.
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Note frequencies in the kick range

NoteHzNoteHz
E141.2A#1 / Bb158.3
F143.7B161.7
F#1 / Gb146.2C265.4
G149.0C#2 / Db269.3
G#1 / Ab151.9D273.4
A155.0D#2 / Eb277.8

Most kicks in house and techno ring between 45 and 65 Hz. Our kick tuning chart shows the root and fifth for any key and the measured pitch of every kick in RAW POWER, so you can pick a kick that is already in tune.

When not to tune

Very short, clicky kicks barely have a pitch, and tuning them changes little. And a kick that sounds right is right: tuning is a tool for when the low end feels off, not a rule.

Kick tuning chart →Root and fifth for every key, and the pitch of every kick in RAW POWER.RAW POWER: 25 kicks with their pitch measured →179 royalty-free house and tech house drums and loops. $29.

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Questions

Should the kick be tuned to the root or the fifth?

Either works. The root is the safest; the fifth often sounds a little more open. Try both against the bass.

How do I find the pitch of a kick?

Put a tuner or a spectrum analyzer on the kick and look at the tail after the click. The strongest low peak is its note.

Does every kick need tuning?

No. Short, clicky kicks barely have a pitch. Tuning matters most for kicks with a long, round tail.

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