Kick drum tuning in C major

In C major the safest kick note is the root, C: C1 (32.7 Hz) or C2 (65.4 Hz). The fifth, G, works almost as well: G1 (49.0 Hz) or G2 (98.0 Hz). 5 of the 25 kicks in RAW POWER land on them, on the root: Kick 7 (C2), Kick 8 (C2); on the fifth: Kick 1 (G1), Kick 3 (G1), Kick 17 (G1).

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C MAJOR · ROOT C · FIFTH G · 5 OF 25 KICKS MATCH

Kick notes in C 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 C major

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

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 C major?

C, the root, is the safest: C1 (32.7 Hz) or C2 (65.4 Hz). G, the fifth, is the next best choice. Avoid F#, 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.

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