Comments on: How to Play Drums Where You Can't Be Loud

on 8/8/2006 If you don't want your drums to have that loud echo sound, take off your drum heads, then put a few pieces
of clothes in them. Twist each lug the same number of times for an excellent sound!

Tip: Don't put clothes in your snare drum! It will only sound like a de-activated snare on a snare drum!

on 6/30/2006 If you want your bass drum to not carry so much, put a pillow against the beat head and it will sound good.

on 4/3/2006 Put crumpled newspapers or cotton in your drums to muffle them if you want to quieten them down.

on 3/21/2006 Mesh heads are an option in line with pads. They tend to be less pricey than pads (or an electric set) in my experience, have a better response (feel more like real drum heads), and even dull the sound a little more.

The biggest downside is that they take a lot more time than pads to remove, and they're not as sturdy (this is debatable).

on 2/1/2006 Why not go with a pair of digital drums? They can be used with headphones and sound great! Yamaha makes some good ones, but they can be expensive.

on 11/22/2005 Set up a load of really hard and intellectual books in drum positions. Not only does it not make much noise, but you also bend the sides of the books so it looks like you've read them. Then you look intellectual. Put money on top of the high hat and cymbals and it makes the right sort of noise.

on 11/22/2005 Get a pair of "Hot rods" type of drumstick and a pair of brushes. But, more importantly, practice "Dynamics." Play some notes from your exercise "fortissimo" (loud) and some others "pianissimo" (softly). Make sure you exaggerate the loudness and softness of your strokes when practicing, so your hands and ears can begin to get used to how the drumstrokes are supposed to sound and feel. Any drum pattern or groove (no matter which type of music) has in it a combination between loud and soft notes.

on 11/22/2005 If you want to play the drums, do not invest in a set before you learn how to play. Invest in lessons and then buy a practice set. When you sit behind a real set of drums after practicing on pads for about a year, you will amaze even yourself.