Bang! Bam! Bang! Have you always wanted to play the drums, but are afraid your neighbors would call the police on you? Do you want to bang on your drum all day, but are worried you'll drive you loved ones away. Don't worry; your dreams of becoming the next great drummer can still come true! There are quick and easy ways to help keep your family, friends, and neighbors happy while still allowing you to drum it up. So, grab your sticks and take some notes because it's just about drum time! Communicate The key to any successful relationship is communication and this is no less true when you're talking about your drums. Think for a moment about who might be affected by your choice to drum? Typically, housemates and neighbors top the list. Before you start banging on those drums all day, consider having a chat with these folks and see if you can work out a way for everybody to happily coexist in Drumworld. See if there are better and worse times for you to drum. If you think it might help (and you're willing), invite the person for a drum lesson. Once a person gets the beat into their own hands, you'd be amazed at how quickly a dissenter becomes a fan! Go electronic If you live in a small space and have sound-sensitive neighbors, a drum machine or electronic kit might be best for you. With the ability to moderate the volume, you're sure to keep your neighbors happier than if you were drumming it out on a full set. When you go electric, you enter a whole new world of drumming; a world where the beat can all be in your headheadphones, that is! Create a quiet room The professionals who have unlimited cash supplies create fancy soundproof rooms complete with high-tech acoustic materials on the walls, floors, and ceiling. But, do you know what? You can create your own "quiet" room with a little ingenuity and a bit of elbow grease. Of course, yours won't necessarily be the height of elegance and hipness, but it'll do the trick. Did you know that carpet scraps provide an excellent soundproofing medium? Visit your local carpet seller and grab as many free scraps as possible. Then, layer these on the wall of your music "studio" (e.g., your garage). Be sure to focus on the walls and ceiling as these will be where most of your sound escapes and resonates. The more layers, the better! Invest in cymbal mutes and drum practice discs If you're not quite ready to go full shag carpet on your walls and ceilings, consider investing in cymbal mutes and practice discs for your drums. Becoming more and more popular, these drumming accessories make a world of difference in the sound department. By significantly reducing the amount of sound your drum set sends out, you might find that your neighbors and housemates don't even know you have a drum! Go ahead, bang on that drum all day-just make it quiet to keep your friends and family happy! No matter how you do it, quieting your drums can not only save your relationships and your standing with your neighbors, but can also help you to appreciate the sound that your kit makes when it's not muted. |
