Kick drum tuning in Ab major

In Ab major the safest kick note is the root, Ab: Ab1 (51.9 Hz) or Ab2 (103.8 Hz). The fifth, Eb, works almost as well: Eb1 (38.9 Hz) or Eb2 (77.8 Hz). 6 of the 25 kicks in RAW POWER land on them, on the root: Kick 11 (Ab1), Kick 12 (Ab1), Kick 13 (Ab1), Kick 19 (Ab1), Kick 21 (Ab1), Kick 22 (Ab1).

  • Free
  • No account
  • Runs in your browser
  • Every key
AB MAJOR · ROOT Ab · FIFTH Eb · 6 OF 25 KICKS MATCH

Kick notes in Ab major

C132.7 Hz
C#134.6 Hz
D136.7 Hz
Eb138.9 Hz
E141.2 Hz
F143.7 Hz
F#146.2 Hz
G149.0 Hz
Ab151.9 Hz
A155.0 Hz
Bb158.3 Hz
B161.7 Hz
C265.4 Hz
C#269.3 Hz
D273.4 Hz
Eb277.8 Hz
E282.4 Hz
F287.3 Hz
F#292.5 Hz
G298.0 Hz
Ab2103.8 Hz
A2110.0 Hz
Bb2116.5 Hz
B2123.5 Hz

root fifth in key out of key tritone

RAW POWER kicks for Ab major

KickPitchNoteFit
Kick 1150.5 HzAb1 -48¢Root
Kick 1350.5 HzAb1 -48¢Root
Kick 1251.8 HzAb1 -4¢Root
Kick 1952.5 HzAb1 +19¢Root
Kick 2152.5 HzAb1 +19¢Root
Kick 2252.5 HzAb1 +19¢Root
Kick 1747.8 HzG1 -43¢In key
Kick 149.1 HzG1 +4¢In key
Kick 349.1 HzG1 +4¢In key
Kick 559.9 HzBb1 +48¢In key
Kick 765.3 HzC2 -3¢In key
Kick 865.9 HzC2 +13¢In key
Kick 1668.6 HzC#2 -17¢In key
Kick 2053.8 HzA1 -38¢Out of key
Kick 2353.8 HzA1 -38¢Out of key
Kick 654.5 HzA1 -16¢Out of key
Kick 1054.5 HzA1 -16¢Out of key
Kick 1854.5 HzA1 -16¢Out of key
Kick 455.9 HzA1 +28¢Out of key
Kick 2455.9 HzA1 +28¢Out of key
Kick 1456.5 HzA1 +47¢Out of key
Kick 2562.6 HzB1 +24¢Out of key
Kick 263.3 HzB1 +43¢Out of key
Kick 963.3 HzB1 +43¢Out of key
Kick 1572.7 HzD2 -17¢Tritone, clashes

Kick tuning in every key

RAW POWER: 25 kicks, 179 drum samples →Every kick on this page is in the pack, as 32-bit WAV, with snares, claps, hats and loops. $29, royalty-free.

Or start with the free pack: 24 sounds from all three packs, and a 25% code for the full packs a few days later.

Questions

What note should a kick be in Ab major?

Ab, the root, is the safest: Ab1 (51.9 Hz) or Ab2 (103.8 Hz). Eb, the fifth, is the next best choice. Avoid D, a tritone from the root, which clashes with the bass.

Why tune a kick drum to the key?

The kick has a pitch, usually between 40 and 80 Hz. When it matches the root or fifth of the key, it locks with the bass instead of fighting it, and the low end sounds fuller at the same level.

Which note should my kick be?

The root of the key is the safest. The fifth works almost as well. Other notes in the scale are fine for short kicks. Notes outside the key, especially a tritone away from the root, tend to clash with the bassline.

How do I find the pitch of a kick?

Put a spectrum analyser on the kick and read the strongest peak in the low end, or use the table on this page. Most kicks drop in pitch after the attack, so read the note it settles on.

How do I change the pitch of a kick?

Transpose the sample in your sampler. A semitone up or down rarely hurts. More than three or four semitones changes the character, so pick a kick that is closer to begin with.

More free tools

Guides