AKARSH SHEKHAR
Pro Tips to
Make your
Drum Kit
Quieter
Drums are the type of instrument that you love for
being loud (although your neighbors might not
share the view). Fortunately, there are several ways
to reduce the output of your acoustic drums.
Onstage/On the Platform: At Home:
1. Drum shield 1. Mesh drumheads
The drum shield, or “fish tank” is a common solution venues
and houses employ to reduce ambient drum volume. They
do a commendable job of deflecting the crack of a snare or
the clatter of a crash cymbal away from listeners and vocal
microphones, effectively reducing both ambient volume
and stage bleed. However, many players can feel downright
uncomfortable (even insulted) playing behind one, especially
if they aren’t used to it. Replacing your stock skins with breathable mesh heads can
reduce the output of your shells by up to 90 percent. You
still hear the tone of your toms, feel the woof of your kick
drum, and sense the snap of your snare and it just makes the
ambient volume much more manageable for your neighbors
and loved ones.
Drum shields only deflect sound away from listeners
positioned on the other side of the shield. All that ambient
sound stays in the room, just gets redirected backward and
upward. It’s also less effective at tempering bass frequencies,
such as those produced by the bass drum and floor toms.
2. Gels and dampeners
These two options are all you need to control overtones
and give the illusion of a quieter stage kit. Blanketing your
drum heads with wallets, t-shirts, bandanas, etc. usually
works well. This tip will provide a reduction in output as
well as sustain, which leaves you with enough output to be
heard but also better balanced for blending with unmiked
instruments.
3. Lighter sticks
Nick D’Virgilio often preaches about this, but it bears
repeating, at the end of the day as the drummer you are
responsible for blending with the band. No matter how soft
they play or how lively the venue is, it doesn’t matter. A
great tip is to practice swapping out your “tree trunk” stage
sticks with something slimmer and more controlled in the
hand. For example, Vater Sugar’s maple 7As or Thunder
Rods will give you greater dynamics control without
affecting your playing style too dramatically.
Now, be advised that this is a practice-only option; it’s not
the sort of thing you’d want to perform or record with. To
keep things simple, mesh drumheads install just like any
standard head. Another added benefit for getting mesh drum
heads is the soft attack and fast rebound that these heads
are capable of, which many drummers consider to be more
comfortable on the wrists.
There is a variety of specialty shell and cymbal mutes
available today but as we’ve mentioned above, these are
practice-only options. They do a great job of giving you
an acoustic-like performance at a much-reduced listening
level. Unlike mesh heads, these mutes can be installed and
removed in seconds for quick transitions from the practice
room to the performance stage.
2. Low-volume cymbals
Certain drummers prefer to hear the full decay of a crash
or the earthy ping of a ride cymbal unencumbered by
traditional mutes which is perfectly fine. Outfitting your
practice kit with low-volume cymbals will give you that
inimitable wood-on-metal cymbal response and high
dynamic range without blowing your balance. Note that
these specialty cymbals are best paired with muted drums;
trying to use them on a traditional kit could cause you to
overplay and damage the cymbals.
So if you are a noise conscious drummer, whether you are
at home or performing onstage, you have a ton of options to
make your drum kit quieter.
The
Score Magazine
highonscore.com
35