threaded tuning rod 170 is threaded through the nut 174 in doing so the head of the threaded tuning rod 170 and the washer 172 are drawn downward against the bottom section 130 while the nut 174 is drawn upward against the receiving portion 156 as the threaded tuning rod 170 is tightened a tensile force is created along the length of the bolt 170 in some embodiments the nut 174 can move float within the receiving portion 156 such that the threaded tuning rod 170 may align itself vertically while secured to the receptacle assembly 124 and the receiving portion 156 for example by allowing the nut 174 to move the forces created within the threaded tuning rod 170 may be substantially tensile in nature with substantially no bending moments being imparted in addition the floating nut allows the side plate assembly to be mounted at the same height relative to the head of the drum regardless of the diameter of the shell of the drum in some embodiments the heads of the threaded tuning rods 170 can be formed such that they are able to receive and be torqued by common hand held tools e g nut drivers socket wrenches hex keys torx wrenches robertson drivers screwdrivers for example a percussionist may use a hardware store variety nut driver to engage the top end of the threaded tuning rod and adjust the tension between.