SHASHWAT KARKARE
2) Dampening the drums
5 ways
to play the
drums
at home
Apart from this being beneficial to playing the drums at
home, this is a really good exercise to practice in the
studio or in a live setting too. Due to tuning issues
or old/cheap drum heads, each hit can cause a loud
or a shrill overtone that is never a pleasant sound.
There are many cheap ways to avoid this. The
easiest one is to just put a piece of cloth. This cloth
can be put straight or folded, depending on how
much you want to dampen the drum or how damp
you prefer the drum to sound. This makes the
drum sound better and softer. Perfect for slipping
in a quick jam. Some other ways to dampen
the drum is to put tape (either on the batter or
resonant head), a wallet, or some gel dampeners.
Now there are dampening pads for cymbals
too. It all boils down to preference as well as
budgets. We musicians do not have it easy.
3) Dampening the shell of a drum
Used most commonly for dampening the kick
drum, this is a very good way to reduce the
general noise level of a drum kit. For the kick
drum, one can use a variety of differing objects
to put in between the batter and resonant heads.
This reduces the surface area of the vibrations
and hence the noise level as well. One can use
a thick pillow, blankets, foam or even rugs.
4) Opting for noise-cancelling variants
With the need for softer drums increasing over time,
various companies have found ways of reducing the sound
levels on drums and cymbals. They work beautifully as
they have the same feel but are innately much softer. This
works well for a variety of settings such as performing
with artists with softer music, playing at a small venue
or even just experimenting with softer sounds.
5) Change your drumsticks
It is no secret that drums are not the easiest to buy
or maintain. Once those issues are taken care of,
the new problems are practicing without annoying
your neighbors. Hopefully this article helps.
1) Use a carpet
While watching a performance of a band live or even on
video, one sees the drums usually on a raised surface.
Ever wondered why? It’s because drums create loud
and heavy vibrations. The need for dampening cannot
be stated enough. It’s not entirely impossible for these
vibrations to cause structural damage. Stay safe. Use
the thickest carpet/rug you have lying around to put
under your kit. I myself use four carpets at home!
Another trick is to dampen the walls of the room with foam
or curtains. This avoids the vibrations from escaping.
Often the weight and built of drumsticks can make your
drums louder. Using 5A’s or 5B’s is a bad idea. Thinner
drumsticks reduce the impact of your strokes and hence
make it softer. Alternatively, different kinds of drumsticks
can also help overcome noise. For instance, the use of
brushes gives a good dynamic as well as reduces the sound
levels remarkably. If brushes are not something you are
comfortable with, another good alternative is using hotrod
drumsticks. These come in wooden and nylon options.
These were 5 easy and cost effective ways to dampen
drums and make them apartment-friendly. These
are just general steps to incorporate in your routine.
Finally, it varies per drummer and their personal
scenarios. Never hesitate with trying new methods.
Also, try not to be a nuisance to your neighbors. Drums
are innately loud. This helps meet them halfway.
The
Score Magazine
highonscore.com
31