How many of you drummers have a set to practice on at home?

[metalchurch]

How often are you able to play?
Is it hard to fit in playing time due to the inevitable noise?
Can you list some ideas on how you keep the noise down?

thanks

[slackin@dabass]

i don't care, really, i just don't play before 9 in the morning or after 9 at night. my drums are in my dining room, so i get to play whenever i want. i usually shoot for around half an hour a day, at least, sometimes more, sometimes less.

[metalchurch]

That makes total sense to me no doubt. Do you live in an urban area? I'd imagine that in rural situations it would be a little more 'acceptable' to play at decent hours.
Thanks for replying!
Anyone else have any ideas or thoughts to share?

[slackin@dabass]

well, i don't really try to keep the noise down. and i live in tyrone on washington ave. my neighbors don't really care, actually, i was on my way to a show one day and a person across the street asked if i was the one making all the noise, and i said yea. they said it was good that i had something to occupy myself with instead of going out and getting into trouble. also said i wasn't half bad, wich is kinda cool. apart from slacker theory, wich i play bass in, i play drums in a classic rock band called no outlet, and we practice at my house, in my dining room... wich actually has pretty decent acoustics

[HurricaneBob]

I usually just hit the pad at home since i sold all my old kits.
But im on the lookout for a Roland TD kit if anyones selling.

[KyleMayket]

i live in johnstown, in moxham, and i've had the cops called on me cuz i was playing my drums, it was at like 2 in the afternoon, and my dickhead neighbor called the cops.

[metalchurch]

i live in johnstown, in moxham, and i've had the cops called on me cuz i was playing my drums, it was at like 2 in the afternoon, and my dickhead neighbor called the cops.

That's the exact thing I was talking about and trying to avoid. I'm in the talking phase about a band with a few guys on here and I was thinking about the whole practice space issue.
There's a place avail at darksoul's house with a kit, but I am leary about dealing with the cops and what not.
Also I'm writing down whatever good stuff you guys tell me about your setup and sound deadening etc...
Thanks for the replies gentlemen, much appreciated!

[Mapex Drummer]

I have my own room outside of my house. I do live in a rural area but I have neighbors that live close to me, but this is what I did when I moved in. I told them that I was a drummer and if I was bothering them just come tell me to stop. I don’t start until 12 noon and play no later than 8 pm. I’ve lived here for almost 10 years and I was only told to stop once.

As far as sound proofing goes you can go old skool and hang heavy blankets on the walls. just make sure that you cover the windows to.
Or get some of that egg crate mattress foam and do the same thing. What you want is something to absorb the sound. If you have any other questions let me know.

Rock on,
Steve

[metalchurch]

Cool thanks for the ideas.
So for drummers it's just the basic soundproofing 101?

I once saw a band practice who had a clear plexiglas sheet or barrier in front of the drums to keep the sound of them at a lower volume that way the bass and guitar didnt have to turn up louder to compete with the drums.
It seemed like a good idea anyway, I cant remember how effective it was, because it has been a long time since I saw it.

[Mapex Drummer]

I have another tip a almost forgot about. For the drums deaden them as much as you can. You can stuff them with pillows and tape napkins on the cymbals. The goal is to lower the volume of the drums so everyone else won't get into the volume war. Just rememer it's practice. Thats what I do with my practice kit when we have practice.

[Hawk]

I have a kit at the practice house and I keep my gigging kit at home - in it's own room. My neighbors are cool, so I can play anytime - although not usually after 10:00 pm.

I also have a remo practice pad kit that I used for a while. I would recommend the DW practice pad kit. AnotherDrummer has one and they are nice.

If my gig kit is still in cases from a gig - I throw up the practice pad kit - Hey Mike, If you think of it, would you bring my practice pad kit back this week ? Thanks.

And I keep a practice pad on a stand in my living room (My wife SO understands me !) that I play whenever I feel in the mood while watching TV. The "Real Feel" and the "Moon Gel" pads are pretty quiet.

[metalchurch]

Awesome! Thank you guys very much!!!
The drum dampening sounds like a good idea, now would moongel work for this?
I remember Kevin (toonarockguy) was talkin about this one time.
So far I've wrote down alot of useful information from you guys, and if you or anyone else have more ideas or things to add please dont hesitate.
I'm sure there are others out there who can learn and benefit from this.

What kind of dampening would work best?
Obviously stuffing the kick drum, but what about the snare and toms?
Moogel? pads?
I've also heard of tape on the surface in the shape of an "X", would that work?

What about the cymbals?
Would different types of sticks be quieter than others?

[Hawk]

Here you go.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Vic-Firth-D ... 1140088.gc

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Search/Defa ... drum+mutes

[metalchurch]

Very cool!
I think that is perfect.
Have you tried them, or have you seen them in action?

[Hawk]

Very cool!
I think that is perfect.
Have you tried them, or have you seen them in action?

I recommend you join a site like Pearl Drummers Forum. There are others as well that CCdrums belongs to and RobTheDrummer and ToonaRockGuy belongs to.

Pearl is on of the busiest and you get nearly instant responses to your questions.

http://www.pearldrummersforum.com/

I haven't used the mutes, but guys on Pearl talk about them.

[mjb]

Hey Mike, If you think of it, would you bring my practice pad kit back this week ? Thanks.

oh, is that what that thing is in the back of my truck. i thought it was a table. it has a seat, a place for a plate and a place for my drink, i use at lunch time on the weekends. do you really want it back? i'm kinda useing it. everyone is always saying to me, " hey man, cool table!"

[metalchurch]

Very cool!
I think that is perfect.
Have you tried them, or have you seen them in action?

I recommend you join a site like Pearl Drummers Forum. There are others as well that CCdrums belongs to and RobTheDrummer and ToonaRockGuy belongs to.

Pearl is on of the busiest and you get nearly instant responses to your questions.

http://www.pearldrummersforum.com/

I haven't used the mutes, but guys on Pearl talk about them.

Thanks alot for the ideas bro! I'll definitely check that forum out!

[slackin@dabass]

Hey Mike, If you think of it, would you bring my practice pad kit back this week ? Thanks.

oh, is that what that thing is in the back of my truck. i thought it was a table. it has a seat, a place for a plate and a place for my drink, i use at lunch time on the weekends. do you really want it back? i'm kinda useing it. everyone is always saying to me, " hey man, cool table!"

hmm... and they say drummers are the inginuitive ones....

[Hawk]

Hey Mike, If you think of it, would you bring my practice pad kit back this week ? Thanks.

oh, is that what that thing is in the back of my truck. i thought it was a table. it has a seat, a place for a plate and a place for my drink, i use at lunch time on the weekends. do you really want it back? i'm kinda useing it. everyone is always saying to me, " hey man, cool table!"

I'm laughing out loud !

[Jones]

TD kit and westone UM1s.

[ToonaRockGuy]

TD kit and westone UM1s.

What our cryptic friend Jones is referring to is most likely a Roland TD series electronic kit and Westone in-ear monitors, LOL!

MetalChurch,

Besides PDF, check out two other forums for drummers to get ideas:

http://www.drumsmylife.com I'm a moderator over there, good forum

http://www.unitedgrooveworkers.com/forum/ Another great site I'm at.

And no, regular Moongel won't work for what you want to do, it's too small. If you are just wanting to play yourself silently, check out "Sound-Offs".

http://www.midwestpercussion.com/access/sound.html

I once saw a band practice who had a clear plexiglas sheet or barrier in front of the drums to keep the sound of them at a lower volume that way the bass and guitar didnt have to turn up louder to compete with the drums.
It seemed like a good idea anyway, I cant remember how effective it was, because it has been a long time since I saw it.

Nope, won't work, all it will do it redirect that sound right back at you. It has to go somewhere, bro.

Read this and live it.

http://www.wisegeek.com/how-can-i-make- ... dproof.htm

[metalchurch]

Lots of really usable information in those links, thank you Kevin!

Also, thanks for clearing up that rumour about the plexiglas barrier, it theory it sounded like it may work, but you are right now that I really think about it, the sound does have to go somewhere.