How to Muffle a Kick Drum

Add muffling to a kick drum to change its sound.

Although it is not appropriate for all genres of music, many drummers prefer the sound of a muffled kick drum. By muffling a kick drum, the drum cannot vibrate as freely, which cuts down on its resonance. Muffling a kick drum can also make it sound more punchy and consistent when captured with a microphone.

Things You'll Need

• Pillows
• Blankets

Instructions

1. Install a kick drum head with built in muffling on the beater side of the kick drum. This will keep the drum head from vibrating as much, effectively muffling the sound of the drum when it is struck.

2. Take off the resonant head of your kick drum in order to add additional muffling to the inside of the drum.

3. Take an inexpensive route to muffling your kick drum by stuffing it with pillows and blankets. The more you stuff the kick drum, the more muffled it will sound. However, a nicely muffled sound can be achieved with minimal muffling. Experiment with different amounts and types of muffling to achieve the sound you are after. For instance, a fluffy down comforter will sound different than a tightly woven blanket.

4. Put the resonant head back on your kick drum after adding the muffling.

Tips & Warnings

• The more the pillows or blankets inside the kick drum come in contact with the beater head, the more effective they will be at muffling it.

References

• Mike Michalkow's Drumming System: How to Muffle Various Drums
• Music Radar: 7 Simple Steps to Tuning Your Bass Drum