The snares are turned on and off by the strainer. The knob on the strainer controls the tension of the snares which controls the degree of "crispness" of the sound. To adjust the tension, flip the strainer to the "on" position and loosen the knob until the snares begin to "rattle." While tapping the batter head, slowly tighten the knob until the desired "crispness" is achieved.

Note: Over-tightening the snares will choke the sound and shorten the life of the snares.

Note: The snare drum that came with your set is designed for general purpose use. However, just as there are specialized clubs for playing golf, there are specialized snare drums. Therefore, if you're looking for a different sound, please visit your local Pearl dealer to check out the many specialty snare drums that Pearl and others have to offer.