Replacement of a drumhead (about 10 minutes) see also rope replacement see also natural head set-up version en Français
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Example for a snare head (photo 1)
If it is a natural one, see also natural head
1° Put off the rope surplus which is around of the snare hoop (photo 2)
2° Slack off enough the rope cordage taking advantage of this surplus (photo 3)
3° Draw the hoop concerning by the head which must be replaced (photo 4)
4° Take off the old head (photo 5)
5° Put the new head (photo 6)
6° Set up the parts (photo 7)
7° Pull the rope, but not stretch it (photo 8)
8° Verify the correct placement of the snare hoop with the shell (with the snare throw off), then the batter hoop (photo 9)
9° stretch the rope, often that needs three stages (three turns) (photo 10) (photo 11) (photo 12) (photo 13) (photo 14) (photo 15)
put the surplus around the snare hoop, and I always do a last turn around in order to equalize the tension, in the inverse direction, beginning with the end (photo 16).

Rope replacement version en Français
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In any case, or to renew the hoops, or to replace the ears, we of course must completely put it, but it is of course not necessary to only replace one, or the two heads. See head replacement also natural head
1° View of the Drum parts : (photo 1)
- the shell, with the heads, the snare
- the two hoops
- the eleven ears
- the suspension strap with hook
- the new rope.
2° We put the hoops on the shell, in the right place. (photo 2)
3° It is of course very important to well begin. So, there are many explanations, it is better to have too much than not enough.
4° We begin into the second hole of the snare hoop, counting right from the snare throw-off. (photo 3)
5° We pull it, and put it into the loop. (photo 4)
6° We put into the first ear, then into the batter hoop, in entering direction, and going closer to the snare motion. (photo 5)
7° We continue into the ear (photo 6), the into the snare hoop (thus first hole right from the snare). At this moment, we just pull the rope into the parts in order to maintain all, but we do not stretch. (photo 7)
8° Normally, the suspension strap is "open", we can put it at the end of the operation. If it is not, do not forget to place it now. (photo 8)
9° We continue again, ear, hoop, ear, hook (photo 9), ear, hoop, etc. (photo 10)
10° It is possible to do the operation as shown, without the shell. (photo 11)
11° Here is the final result, with the last passage into the loop of the rope. (photo 12)
12° At this time, we must verify the good position of the snare hoop compared with the shell. Then, pushing down some ears, we can watch the batter hoop. (photo 13)
13° We now have to stretch the rope from the begining. (photo 14)
14° Then, strand by strand. (photo 15) (photo 16)
15° We finish by pulling through the loop, with a stop turn. (photo 17)
16° And, we stretch again... in general we need to do it two, three times, and gain one, two centimeters each time.
17° We put the surplus of the rope around the snare hoop, as shown. (photo 18) (photo 19)
18° I always finish with a last inversed turn (beginning with the last strand) in order to equalize the tension.
19° Then, we can play. (photo 20)

Natural head set-up (about 20 minutes, and some hours for drying) version en Français
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We want to replace the snare head on this old Drum. (see story).
1° General view, (photo 1) :
- the "open" Drum: See head replacement and rope replacement
- the new head, made of calf or goat skin (here it is calf, I prefer) (photo 2)
- the head hoop, for which we verified it matches with this old shell (photo 3)
- the dedicated fork, with a "special" bent end. (photo 4)
2° Soak the head in cold water (not hot, of course, we do not want to cook it) for some minutes, enough to obtain the required suppleness.
3° Place the head on a table, extern side down, and the hoop above. (photo 5)
4° Begin to roll the head, in four opposite points. (photo 6)
5° View of the details of the operation. (photo 7)
6° Continue all around, then finish to roll. (photo 8) and result scheme
7° Put the head on the Drum, pushing it about five millimeters, just for it takes shape. Pull the rope, but do not stretch. (photo 9)
8° Wait for the drying, between three and ten hours, depending of the thickness of the head and of the meteo.
9° Finish the Drum set-up, stretch the rope. See rope replacement
10° Make Drum in tension , the snare adjustments (photo 10) (photo 11)
11° The expected moment came : we can play. Every natural head is different, so the touch, the behaviour, the sound are not predictable, thus it is particularly exciting. (photo 12)

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