how to make the drums quiet

http://www.guitartabs.cc/forum/index.php?showtopic=151874

The best way I've found (as a drummer) is to use a stick like the Promark Hot Rods or the Vic Firth Rutes....

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ProMark-Hot-Rod-Sticks?sku=443400
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Vic-Firth-Rute-Brushes?sku=446456

These are basically a bunch of dowels bundled together...you can buy them in various configurations (several smaller diameter dowels or fewer larger diameter rods). The great thing is that the drummer can play naturally and with full force, but the volume is reduced due to the stick itself, and it works with cymbals as well as drums. And they sound cool too...

Bath towels will help; they absorb some of the sound that's resonating inside the drum shells.

They do make commercial things to lessen the sound. You can get circles of foam that sit inside the rim of the drum shell that dampen the vibrations - they also make full foam covers. They're not real cheap - outfitting my son's set was a little over $100. (Since I started out as a drummer, the sound doesn't bother me - but his bedroom adjoins a bathroom, and the tile grout keeps cracking from the vibrations)

Any physical solution will make a difference in the way the drums 'feel' to your drummer. But the only other real cure is dymanic control, something many drummers don't work at.

No drummer can resist this, and (s)he will pick up on it like a shark to blood: Hide large quantities of fast food around the practice space, and out of reach of the drum kit.

Notes

1. Jack-in-the-Box and Taco Bell taco/burritos work best.
2. Rhythm section brawls sometimes occur due to bass player competition for food.
3. May result in permanent drummer/bass player infestations in basement or garage practice areas.

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh OUCH!!!!!!
I'm glad I don't just play the drums or I'd get rediculed all the time :)

Tell you're drummer to start practicing quite, I've taught myself the drums as well and I have no problems playing quietly. Towels will work fine just make sure u get those big fluffy beach towels in there.

http://www.vicfirth.com/products/pads_mutes.html

Scroll to the bottom and have a look at those drum mutes, don't know how much they cost and to be honest with you I don't think I wanna know. Tell you're drummer to either shell out the dough or learn dynamics. Since dynamics are a very big part of any drummers bag of tricks he'll be glad he did.

No drummer can resist this, and (s)he will pick up on it like a shark to blood: Hide large quantities of fast food around the practice space, and out of reach of the drum kit.

Notes

1. Jack-in-the-Box and Taco Bell taco/burritos work best.
2. Rhythm section brawls sometimes occur due to bass player competition for food.
3. May result in permanent drummer/bass player infestations in basement or garage practice areas.
Is this what broke up Cream? :wink:

Keep several ad clippings of drum machines laying around? :lol: We had the same problem in the band I was in... We found no solution.

Good luck

Geoo

Keep several ad clippings of drum machines laying around?
Heh, if that's the kind of thing we're open too... wire up a sound level meter to a taser, and wire that up to the drummer's stool - fairly sure that would do the trick after a couple of minutes or so :)

Keep several ad clippings of drum machines laying around?
Heh, if that's the kind of thing we're open too

LOL I probly shouldnt have said that but to elaborate on my other point. The reason we couldnt find a solution is because honestly the drummer didnt want the situation to change. He learned this way by teaching himself and pumping loud volumes of R&R in his ears. He, also, didnt want to put objects in or on his drums because it would change the sound. His response to us would be that we need to turn up our amps but there is only so loud you can get without ticking off the people around you or putting off customers in a club. Our number one comment use to be that we sounded pretty good but the drums were too loud.

Anyways, I'm ranting about the old days.. Good luck on finding a cure.

Geoo

Keep several ad clippings of drum machines laying around?
Heh, if that's the kind of thing we're open too

LOL I probly shouldnt have said that
Nahh, nothing wrong with a little ribbing here and there... I used to try quite hard to make sure I had a new drummer joke every week, and he did the same with guitarist jokes. I wish I'd have thought of leaving drum machine ads lying around though :)

Get one of those dog training collars that administers a shock for barking and put it on him. If he plays loud enough to trigger the collar a few times, he'll back off.

You could make cheap drum pads out of pizza bases - most drummers can get plenty of those from work :lol: :lol: :lol:

ahh the age ol question we all deal with in a band situation
sedatives.. is the only answer.. man was path was forged by beating on things with great force.. hard to combat the nature of a beast

Get a new drummer.