Learning drums without waking the neighbors?

Question

Hello,

For a while now I have had the urge to learn to play drums. I own my own home but I'm sure that if I start drumming at least ten neighbors will hear it, some of which are elderly and will probably not appreciate it.

Is there a good way to learn to play drums without getting visited by the boys in blue?

Maybe some drum covers or deadeners or a soundproof box?

I guess there is always drum pads but that is not the same. I don't really aspire to be a drummer but would like to learn enough to play with a garage metal band. I currently play guitar and bass so that would help me be more versatile.

Cheers!

Answer 1

If you haven't already purchased the drums yet, you might want to consider getting an electronic kit. You can pick up a mesh-head kit by Alesis or Hart on ebay at a pretty good price (compared to Roland, anyway). At least that way you can practice without disturbing anyone, you can dial in a decent drum sound, and it beats practice pads. Plus if you want to record yourself, that's a snap as well.

Answer 2

You can always get a roominator kit from www.musiciansfriend.com . It will set you back a couple hundred but as long as you get them with the bass traps and place them stratigically within the room you should be able to dampen the sound enough to keep the neighbors at bay. You can also help dampen the sound by building a small drum platform and setting it on a stack of roofing padding or dynamat to limit the amount of sound being transfered by vibration....If you want a low buck solution, get some old mattresses (you can often find these sitting outside furniture stores in the trash) and put those around your room, foam egg cartons work good for keeping high's controlled but not much for the bass.

Answer 3

Well my first suggestion was drum pads, but as you rightly said, it's just not the same. I'm not a percussionist by any means (I play winds), but I have seen my percussionist buddy with something over the head of the drum -- it deadens the sound but doesn't change the pitch. If nothing else, I would recommend a good thick piece of cardboard with something soft/not super drying (like cardboard is) to protect the integrity of the head of the drum. I suppose for a drum set it wouldn't particularly matter (I know for timpani it does!) but still. That should work. And good luck!! Drumming is addictive. Or so I've heard =P

Answer 4

Ok im a drummer man wat ur best off doing if u dont wanna buy an eletric kit (cos der more pricey dan a starter drum kit) is put aero-board all around the room or garage that your going to be playing in put it on the ceiling too and den get some old carpet or off cuts of carpet from the nearest carpet shop to you and put that over the aero board it will stop the sound getting out but the room will be really hot so u might wanna get a fan or some sort of a/c in der...if ur going to be playing in one of the rooms in your house make sure to put some heavy curtains up on the windows to absorb the sound keep d curtains closed all the time when ur playing and just turn the lights on in d room....dats my suggestion and it worked 4 me...

Answer 5

I've seen at a local music store ... I believe some "Electric" drum pads that one can use with a personal headset would not disturb the neighbors and would not bring out the boys in BLUE.

Answer 6

You could always get a electric drum set. That way, you can plug in headphones. It's also a lot easier if you want to record something. Maybe you could go to your local music store and ask them about this.

Answer 7

ok, first of all, this is going to sound dumb. tape paper towels to the rims of all ur drums. next, put carpet on the wall.... it obsorbs the sound! Hope this helps!