How to Play Drums Where You Can't Be Loud

No instrument is louder than the drums. In addition to being the loudest, the drums also take up more space than other instruments.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Drum Sets
• Drumsticks
• Old Phone Books
• Modern Drummer Subscriptions
• Old Pillows
• Drum Practice Pads
• Electronic Drum Pads

1. Purchase a simple drum pad to practice technique on. If you are a beginner, a solitary drum pad should be all you practice on anyway. Technique is vital to playing the drums well.

2. Find four or five phone books and set them around you on the floor if playing around the drum set is what you wish to do. Playing around these books will help you get around any drum set easily.

3. Use one of the many electronic drum sets available with headphone capabilities to hear actual drum sounds when you practice.

4. Get drum and cymbal practice pads for your acoustic drum set. Most drum stores carry sets of pads that also muffle sounds.

5. Employ the oldest trick in the book. Set up some pillows and bang away. Even your mother won't be disturbed by this.

Tips & Warnings

• Each of these steps is meant for players with different needs and abilities. Don't waste your time trying to deal with all of them.

• A more costly, but permanent solution is to install structural sound barriers. See NetWell Noise Control under the Related Sites.