My electronic drum kit is too noisey for the neighbours
Discussion
Hmmmm.
Here's one for you.
I've just moved in with the girlfriend and she lives in a mid terrace house. For practice I have an electronic drum kit - it's a bit of a hotch potch. A Roland TD-8 brain with the PD80R mesh snare but the PD6R rubber pad things for everything else.
All works wonderfully in my old place - detached - however, in the new place, the impact of hitting the rubber pads and the footpedal especially is quite noisey. Neighbours haven't said anything (only just got it set up) but I don't want to continue. It's the impact going through floorboards etc, and so I imagine it's going through the walls aswell.
I'm a bit baffled really. Is there anything I can do? Obviously the mesh type heads are far better, but at 75-100 each I'd rather not - it's purely a practice kit for during the week.
Is there some sort of mat I can get that can help, or something that can go over the pads themselves?
Any and all thoguhts gratefully received - I'm a bit confused and certainly don't want to pee off the neighbouts, however want to get up and practicing !
Here's one for you.
I've just moved in with the girlfriend and she lives in a mid terrace house. For practice I have an electronic drum kit - it's a bit of a hotch potch. A Roland TD-8 brain with the PD80R mesh snare but the PD6R rubber pad things for everything else.
All works wonderfully in my old place - detached - however, in the new place, the impact of hitting the rubber pads and the footpedal especially is quite noisey. Neighbours haven't said anything (only just got it set up) but I don't want to continue. It's the impact going through floorboards etc, and so I imagine it's going through the walls aswell.
I'm a bit baffled really. Is there anything I can do? Obviously the mesh type heads are far better, but at 75-100 each I'd rather not - it's purely a practice kit for during the week.
Is there some sort of mat I can get that can help, or something that can go over the pads themselves?
Any and all thoguhts gratefully received - I'm a bit confused and certainly don't want to pee off the neighbouts, however want to get up and practicing !
TonyHetherington said:
Hmmmm.
Here's one for you.
I've just moved in with the girlfriend and she lives in a mid terrace house. For practice I have an electronic drum kit - it's a bit of a hotch potch. A Roland TD-8 brain with the PD80R mesh snare but the PD6R rubber pad things for everything else.
All works wonderfully in my old place - detached - however, in the new place, the impact of hitting the rubber pads and the footpedal especially is quite noisey. Neighbours haven't said anything (only just got it set up) but I don't want to continue. It's the impact going through floorboards etc, and so I imagine it's going through the walls aswell.
I'm a bit baffled really. Is there anything I can do? Obviously the mesh type heads are far better, but at 75-100 each I'd rather not - it's purely a practice kit for during the week.
Is there some sort of mat I can get that can help, or something that can go over the pads themselves?
Any and all thoguhts gratefully received - I'm a bit confused and certainly don't want to pee off the neighbouts, however want to get up and practicing !
Speak to the neigbours and tell them that if they hear you to let you know.Here's one for you.
I've just moved in with the girlfriend and she lives in a mid terrace house. For practice I have an electronic drum kit - it's a bit of a hotch potch. A Roland TD-8 brain with the PD80R mesh snare but the PD6R rubber pad things for everything else.
All works wonderfully in my old place - detached - however, in the new place, the impact of hitting the rubber pads and the footpedal especially is quite noisey. Neighbours haven't said anything (only just got it set up) but I don't want to continue. It's the impact going through floorboards etc, and so I imagine it's going through the walls aswell.
I'm a bit baffled really. Is there anything I can do? Obviously the mesh type heads are far better, but at 75-100 each I'd rather not - it's purely a practice kit for during the week.
Is there some sort of mat I can get that can help, or something that can go over the pads themselves?
Any and all thoguhts gratefully received - I'm a bit confused and certainly don't want to pee off the neighbouts, however want to get up and practicing !
I had a similar problem (TD10) - the solution was to nip down to the local Countrystore and pay £45.00 for their rubber stable matting - it's about 1" thick, weighs a ton and almost completely decouples the kit from the floor.
Worked a treat and much cheaper than some other solutions I've seen proposed.
Worked a treat and much cheaper than some other solutions I've seen proposed.
TonyHetherington said:
Alas, she was nowhere to be seen last night so didn't get a chance to find out! I did however spend the night watching Jack Bennett and Dave Weckl videos and trying to sort out my grip, which is shocking.
This just gets better and better. We need a detailed 'score' of the rhythms you finally manage to 'batter' out with her using you improved grip and technique
Pics and custard as usual please!
Tony,
On a vaguely serious note for a second. Have you tried setting your stool slightly higher and then setting your toms slightly flatter (more horizontal), to give you better control both with your hand position, and the areas of the skin you can use ('rim shotting' the toms too for example), (just an observation from the video link you posted from Youtube for your band).
Im no expert, but always found that the different sounds and the control you have over the sticks was much easier when the kit was set out a little flatter - as opposed to someone like Nicko McBrain who seems to have the toms mounted almost vertically meaning you can only ever really hit anything with the very tip of your stick. Just a thought, and who doesnt enjoy stripping the kit down and setting it up differently for a change
On a vaguely serious note for a second. Have you tried setting your stool slightly higher and then setting your toms slightly flatter (more horizontal), to give you better control both with your hand position, and the areas of the skin you can use ('rim shotting' the toms too for example), (just an observation from the video link you posted from Youtube for your band).
Im no expert, but always found that the different sounds and the control you have over the sticks was much easier when the kit was set out a little flatter - as opposed to someone like Nicko McBrain who seems to have the toms mounted almost vertically meaning you can only ever really hit anything with the very tip of your stick. Just a thought, and who doesnt enjoy stripping the kit down and setting it up differently for a change
A911DOM said:
Tony,
On a vaguely serious note for a second. Have you tried setting your stool slightly higher and then setting your toms slightly flatter (more horizontal), to give you better control both with your hand position, and the areas of the skin you can use ('rim shotting' the toms too for example), (just an observation from the video link you posted from Youtube for your band).
Thanks for the thought. I must admit, I did have a major change since the majority of that video was shot - for example now I only use 1 high tom, so I can put the ride a lot closer in, but I think you're very correct. I believe I do mount the tom slightly too vertically. Ok, I don't want to go horizontal, but I think it really does affect how you strike the skin. Will certainly play with it!On a vaguely serious note for a second. Have you tried setting your stool slightly higher and then setting your toms slightly flatter (more horizontal), to give you better control both with your hand position, and the areas of the skin you can use ('rim shotting' the toms too for example), (just an observation from the video link you posted from Youtube for your band).
My biggest problem is that in trying to change my grip to correct, I can sit at a practice pad or just a snare and get the action pretty good, even when doing simple hi-hat/snare beats. But as soon as I try to crash a cymbal I find it impossible to retain the same grip and get anywhere near the same power in the crash. Do you see what I mean? Is it a case of perserverence?
Edited by TonyHetherington on Wednesday 6th January 14:11
TonyHetherington said:
A911DOM said:
Tony,
On a vaguely serious note for a second. Have you tried setting your stool slightly higher and then setting your toms slightly flatter (more horizontal), to give you better control both with your hand position, and the areas of the skin you can use ('rim shotting' the toms too for example), (just an observation from the video link you posted from Youtube for your band).
Thanks for the thought. I must admit, I did have a major change since the majority of that video was shot - for example now I only use 1 high tom, so I can put the ride a lot closer in, but I think you're very correct. I believe I do mount the tom slightly too vertically. Ok, I don't want to go horizontal, but I think it really does affect how you strike the skin. Will certainly play with it!On a vaguely serious note for a second. Have you tried setting your stool slightly higher and then setting your toms slightly flatter (more horizontal), to give you better control both with your hand position, and the areas of the skin you can use ('rim shotting' the toms too for example), (just an observation from the video link you posted from Youtube for your band).
My biggest problem is that in trying to change my grip to correct, I can sit at a practice pad or just a snare and get the action pretty good, even when doing simple hi-hat/snare beats. But as soon as I try to crash a cymbal I find it impossible to retain the same grip and get anywhere near the same power in the crash. Do you see what I mean? Is it a case of perserverence?
Edited by TonyHetherington on Wednesday 6th January 14:11
In the end (as I liked to play BIG kits with lots of things so I couldnt miss!!!) I bought a Gibralter rack which I set up on 3 sides (ie in front and to the left and right of me).
I dont play much anymore due to having no friends, but when I get a second I'll take a pic of my setup and post it up, just for fun.
I dont really know what this new grip is you're trying to master, and Ive only ever had a couple of lessons in my life, so Im probably the king of bad habits (drum-wise anyway). You just need to spend some time getting everything where you can easily play it without losing your 'stroke'/'technique' along the way.
Most of all though (and I noticed this with a lot of younger bands than our lot) make damn sure that you are solid - theres nothing worse than a fancy player with all the moves that simply cant keep time and hold the band together.
Tony, I went to the bother of getting the camera out to show you my Sonor gear this morning, messed around on the work PC trying to get the picture size down to an acceptable level - Only to find that the bloody work firewall restricts me from uploading the damn pictures.
Im planning on a short day so will post them up this afternoon some time for your amusement.
Catchya later
Im planning on a short day so will post them up this afternoon some time for your amusement.
Catchya later
A911DOM said:
I dont really know what this new grip is you're trying to master, and Ive only ever had a couple of lessons in my life, so Im probably the king of bad habits (drum-wise anyway). You just need to spend some time getting everything where you can easily play it without losing your 'stroke'/'technique' along the way.
Most of all though (and I noticed this with a lot of younger bands than our lot) make damn sure that you are solid - theres nothing worse than a fancy player with all the moves that simply cant keep time and hold the band together.
It's not so much a new grip, rather the correct grip. I've hit a wall and improvements are difficult especially with respect to speed, and so I've gone right back to basics to get the fundamentals right and improve from there.Most of all though (and I noticed this with a lot of younger bands than our lot) make damn sure that you are solid - theres nothing worse than a fancy player with all the moves that simply cant keep time and hold the band together.
Gassing Station | Music | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff