|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 head?headphones, 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.
Jon Butt writes for the Musical Instruments Guide, an innovative website dedicated to all things musical. From electric guitars to drum sets, tubas to bagpipes, and accessories, too.


Wind Chimes and more... As an independent musician and/or recording artist, if you did... Read More Many piano students spend much time learning how to play... Read More ABA form is like a musical sandwich. You have the... Read More While many people think that the mixing of the separate... Read More Everyone talks about the negative impact of the Internet on... Read More All of us know what jazz is when we hear... Read More This months tip deals with micing kick drums.You wouldn't believe... Read More Technically, it's illegal to remove DRM from WMA protected music.... Read More It's really not your fault. You see, you've been taught... Read More Many students ask me a question that goes something like... Read More I was listening to NPR the other day when they... Read More Are you confused by the various types of music file... Read More When you read music you are deciphering the printed page... Read More My friend, guitarist Brian Hughes, toured with the Chieftain's in... Read More Playing in front of a congregation each Sunday is no... Read More Most people these days would associate singing with the popular... Read More Problems with humidity can lead to heartbreak for the classical... Read More Do you know what a didgeridoo is? There are so... Read More As you probably know, there are thousands and thousands of... Read More The lyric writing side of songwriting is known to create... Read More We all know, if only instinctively, that music has a... Read More When I was 9 years old I played the Saxophone... Read More Performance anxiety is not something that only happens to musicians,... Read More It is no secret that over the past couple decades... Read More Whether played by a marching band, an orchestra, or a... Read More
Windchimes
for great gifts!
How to Make $30,000 with Your Music Before Years End
Learning the Piano and Playing the Piano
How to Compose Using ABA Form
An Introduction to CD Mastering
How the Internet Helps Musicians
Jazz: What In The Heck Is It?
Micing a Kick Drum
How to Remove DRM from WMA - Is It Legal and Worth the Effort?
Why You Cant Play Piano
What All Do I Have to Know to be a Really Good Piano Player?
14 Ways Musicians Can Increase Their Tips
Beginners Guide to Music File Formats
Does Reading Make Music?
Celtic Music: The Japanese Connection
Be An Organized Church Pianist
Singing: The Tonic of Life
Guitar Humidification
Do You Know What a Didgeridoo Is?
Musicians: What Chords Do You Absolutely, Positively Have To Know?
How To Overcome The Lyric Writing Hurdles That Are Keeping You Behind
Oh My Aching Head! Can Music Really Make You Feel Better?
Self-Expression Without Criticism
Performing, Whats the Big Deal?
The Various Countries - A Rant About Country Music
Patriotic Music: Surprising Secrets About Those Flag-Waving Sounds
It has become increasingly popular for U.S. military veterans and... Read More
Eminem's roots can be found in Scandinavia through his mother... Read More
We don't simply wear a theatrical costume; we wear the... Read More
This article is designed to help anyone to enjoy karaoke... Read More
1. Don't try and make something happen. Trying blocks the... Read More
Vision Music USA is a proactive and progressive music service... Read More
How would you like to spend 4 years in a... Read More
When you read music you are deciphering the printed page... Read More
If you are outraged by the prices software giants demand... Read More
The idea that studying music improves the social development of... Read More
Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel.com and Bookpleasures.com is delighted... Read More
All of us know what jazz is when we hear... Read More
Q. My children are very interested in playing music. Is... Read More
In Northern Australia the Didjeridu is seen as a phallic... Read More
So it has come to this... what we see overrides... Read More
I was 17 at the time (the Beatles era), and... Read More
Learning to fiddle the Orange Blossom Special is not easy,... Read More
All through the age's music and spirituality as served hand... Read More
Flaunting any excessive or anti-social behavior is considered brazen. When... Read More
Yowza! Did you hear that hideous noise? It sounded like... Read More
Almost everyone has heard about the massive crack down on... Read More
Music courses are a great way to learn about virtually... Read More
Released in 2003, Pass the Flask turned this little quintet... Read More
I can't believe how much of the year has gone... Read More
OK, say you've got one thousand of your favorite MP3... Read More
Music & MP3 |