Abstract: Two or more deadening elements are in contact with the underside of the drum head and are provided with a mechanism which moves the deadener or deadeners across the drum head thus varying the effective resonating area of the head so that the drum can be tuned while playing. As an example, the drum tuning can be changed from a bass drum to a concert tom. The preferred embodiment includes a pair of opposed, curved deadeners which are moved towards and away from one another in concentric relationship with the drum head. The actuator system is arranged to move the first deadening element at a rate of movement different from the second and thus defining three effective resonating areas of different sizes between the first and the periphery, between the first and the second and between the second and the periphery.

Abstract: One or more deadening elements are in contact with the underside of the drum head and are connected to a foot operated mechanism which moves the deadener or deadeners across the drum head thus varying the effective resonating area of the head so that the drum can be tuned while playing. As an example, the drum tuning can be changed from a bass drum to a concert tom. The preferred embodiment includes a pair of opposed, curved deadeners which are moved towards and away from one another in concentric relationship with the drum head.