How Can I Practice Playing Drums Quietly?

I absolutely love an opportunity to let it all go on my drum set — noisy, no holds barred, blazing, blast beats. It’s fun, de-stresses me, and great practice for live performances, but being that drums are the most anti-social instrument in terms of volume, going full-blown bananas isn’t always appropriate.

There’s no need to toss the sticks in the trash, though. There are a number of ways you can keep up your practice regime without ruining your neighbors’ and cohabitants’ lives.

A Soft Touch

My first suggestion is simply to practice playing with a softer touch. Granted, traditional acoustic drum sets will always be kind of noisy no matter how softly you strike the skins, but there’s a huge difference between a gentle tap on a snare and whaling on it.

Even if you have access to a completely soundproof practice space, I’d recommend playing quietly for a solid portion of your drumming session. Sure, a drummer has to be heard in order for the rest of the band to follow the beat, but drums aren’t all about being as loud as physically possible.

Some of the most engaging drum passages of all time utilize dynamic playing. A song is a nuanced, textured thing. Rarely will one require 100% drumming ferocity throughout.

You could even try switching up the sticks for a pair of these Vater Drum and Percussion Brushes. They’ll soften out your strike a great deal, and they’re an awesome tool to have in your arsenal anyway.

Alternatively, I’ve used these Dampener Silicone Drumstick Silent Practice Tips in the past to some effect. Combined with soft playing, they might be just what you need to keep practicing in a populated area.

However, playing quietly isn’t always enough to prevent the neighbors knocking on the wall. Those pesky soundwaves will still worm their way through walls, ceilings, and floorboards. They’ll scream out windows and rattle through doors. Sometimes, you’ll need a bit of help to keep your playing volume “liveable”, which brings me to my next point.

Practice Pads

When I got my first drum set, we set it up in our attic, but much to my mother’s chagrin, it could still be heard throughout the house. If I’m being honest, you could hear me beating up on that thing three blocks away — it’s a wonder my family didn’t go insane.

To remedy my being a nuisance, I was treated to a set of practice pads not unlike this Double Sided Drum Pad. They simply sit on top of your drum skins, taking the edge off your strikes. 

You can still hear the tone of the drum you're hitting, so you’re playing always sounds like a real drumbeat; it all just gets muted slightly.

Your drums won’t sound quite as punchy, but the key thing is, you’re able to practice without receiving death threats from 84-year-old Mrs. Bailey from down the hall.

The best practice pads mimic the rebound of a real drum head, so when the time comes to play out loud, you haven’t become used to a different feel. Don’t worry about your cymbals either; you can get pads for them too.

If you’re looking for a full set, I recommend giving this Evans Practice Pad, Rock Box Set a look over.

Electric Drum Set

By far the most effective way to turn the volume down on your skin slapping is to invest in an electric drum set. These things are usually brimming with different drum sounds, and they provide a volume control much like a guitar amplifier.

Made of rubber or a mesh material, electronic drum heads have very low resonance, so no matter how hard you feel like playing, the actual acoustic noise will be limited to a quiet cracking and clicking at most.

Electronic drum sets are a pricey solution to the noise issue, but you won’t regret it if you can afford one. Choosing electric over acoustic isn’t just an act of respect for those around you, it’s also self-care.

Being around such loud noises so frequently isn’t good for your ears, and if you really love music, protecting your hearing should always be your number one priority.

Only a few months ago I went to a gig that was objectively too loud, and my hearing still isn’t right. I’m never going to go to a concert without earplugs again. You should approach drumming with similar caution.

If you’re on a budget, but you still want a quality drum set, I’m a big fan of what Alesis are doing currently. This Alesis Eight Piece All Mesh Electronic Drum Kit is particularly great for the price.

If you’ve been playing a while and wish to invest more in an electronic kit, I’d go with something like this Roland Drum Set.

Are electric drums quiet enough for an apartment?

While an electric drum set is by far the best way to keep your drum practice at an acceptable volume, they’re not completely silent, which can be a problem if you live in an apartment complex.

Your lateral neighbors may be unaware you even have a drum kit, but the vibrations from the kick pedal and kick drum will still be shaking the floor — a sure-fire way to earn the ire of your downstairs neighbors. Thankfully, there are a couple of precautions you can take to keep the peace.

Placement

My first bit of advice is to station your drum kit above one of your neighbors' less-frequented rooms. If you’re unsure which room that is, why not give them a knock and ask? They’ll appreciate you being forthright and respectful.

Sound Dampening Mats

Kitting out the floor beneath your drum set with these foam Interlocking-Borders will take the sting out of that kick vibration. They’re affordable and fairly effective. Combined with thoughtful kit placement, they might be enough to remedy your noise issue.