Drummers!

Shagg · 08-23-2007, 8:25 PM

I'm always trying to attempt to play to music whilst pounding on the drums.. but the drum volume is way too loud and I end up not hearing the music. Anyone have any methods/advice to help me jam to the tunes? I tried earplugs and then head-phones over top of it.. and that didn't work.

Any suggestions are welcome.

InTransit · 08-23-2007, 8:32 PM

You'd need to get some really really good headphones. Like the old 70's style ones that cover your whole ear. Some computer headphones you can get are really really good like that, just play the music through your computer.

Otherwise you could try putting pads over the drums so the drums are muffled. The only problem with this is that the cymbals will still be at their normal sound.

Shagg · 08-23-2007, 8:34 PM

I was gonna attempt to get muffle pads.. but they cost ALOT.

I have the ear muff kinda head phones; but it's that my MP3-player stops at a certain point.. and that's the point I can barely hear.

El Mojado · 08-23-2007, 8:35 PM

My friend does a technique which he hears a small part of the song. Then he plays the drums and he repeats. It accually helps me on the guitar when I'm playing a mariachi song.

Shagg · 08-23-2007, 8:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Mojado

My friend does a technique which he hears a small part of the song. Then he plays the drums and he repeats. It accually helps me on the guitar when I'm playing a mariachi song.

I prefer to listen whilst Im playing.. so I know when to come out of a verse or go into a bridge etc..etc.

Plus I just got into my High-Schools band as the Drummer. They handed me a disc that has like 5 songs; and I need to master em by the mid-season of school. >.<

thadood · 08-23-2007, 8:41 PM

A good pair of isolation headphones and a headphone amp will help you. The lack of a headphone amp is probably what's causing you to not be able to hear right now. Driving the volume from the source isn't going to give you a lot of the necessary volume to cut through your kit.

Shagg · 08-23-2007, 8:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thadood

A good pair of isolation headphones and a headphone amp will help you. The lack of a headphone amp is probably what's causing you to not be able to hear right now. Driving the volume from the source isn't going to give you a lot of the necessary volume to cut through your kit.

Im personally not familiar with too many Isolation Headphones nor Headphone Amps.. suggest any good brands?

InTransit · 08-23-2007, 10:17 PM

Shagg, with the muffle pads, if you want to get some cheaper, just buy some felt from a fabric store and cut it to shape :)
The only problem with that though is that if you cut it too small it'll slide around.

Lissa · 08-23-2007, 10:23 PM

I have some industrial-use headphones, which are about 40$ and work great (covers whole ear). There's enough room to fit in my MP3 earbuds while having them on.
An alternative would be looking for some headphones that have a jack-in plug. It looks like http://amerasu.com/images/headphones.jpg

Taerran · 08-24-2007, 12:18 AM

I just use regular ear buds and overtop, the ear muffler things you're supposed to wear when you shoot a gun. They drown out the drums quite well; enough to the point that you can hear yourself as well as the music.

bizzle · 08-24-2007, 1:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taerran

I just use regular ear buds and overtop, the ear muffler things you're supposed to wear when you shoot a gun. They drown out the drums quite well; enough to the point that you can hear yourself as well as the music.

Before I bought my good headphones, I used to wire up a pair of industrial earmuffs with drivers from another set to protect my hearing when I wanted to listen in loud environments. Thats a the best idea so far out of all of them.

I'd say make the drums quieter or you will not be able ot her over 15 k in 5 years. Instead of cranking your volume (or buying headphone amps - stupid) pad your drums and isolate your ears better. You can pad your cymbals, I've seen drummers drape scarves over them and secure them with elastic bands. And yeah, I've seen really effective homemade pads.

The noise cancellation cans are a stupid idea, they dont work anywhere nearly as well as they would need to for this, all you would be doing is pumping twice the amount of noise into your eardrum.

Younger musicians (especially drummers) seem to think its so kick ass to bottom out their ear drums because that is so fucking rock and/or roll but when you get tonitis or can no longer hear the shine on the top of a ride then they realize that its pretty fucking shitty.

thadood · 08-24-2007, 7:53 AM

Tinius is a bitch. When our power went out yesterday morning, I was stuck hearing JUST the sound of the screeching. It's overbearingly loud when it's absolutely quiet. I also noticed it's in 4 different high-range frequencies =\

BartS · 08-24-2007, 3:08 PM

In our music class at school, we have special sticks. They're like, rubber. It makes the sound a lot less loud.

innerearth · 08-25-2007, 6:30 PM

You need to get ear monitors. They are more or less ear bud head phones made to be heard over loud noise. They have some made for you problem specifically. Stop by you local chain music store and they should have them.

abbey · 08-26-2007, 1:03 PM

Don't get muffle pads. I did, because my parents thought it was too loud, but when they're on you don't get the feel of the drums, let alone the right sound (obviously).

Just get big headphones. The kind that muffle all other sounds. Like these.

I don't know what a good brand is, or how much they cost, but they're your best bet.

ace76543 · 08-27-2007, 11:04 AM

First off, if you have the money, get isolation headphones, drum mics, and a drum machine, then just pop in a cd and and all you can hear is the music and your drumming at the volumes you want.

If you DON'T have the money (like me); what I do is put in a pair of in-ear earplugs, and either use my computer or mp3 player with a set of headphones, volume maxed out, to play the music. It works most of the time.

http://www.extremeheadphones.com/
http://www.axemusic.com/search.asp?s...rum%20Mics

Couldn't find the drum equalizer, but they sell them in almost all music/drum shops.

WTF · 08-27-2007, 9:43 PM

You could put some fabric in the places where you hit each drum. That way the volume is decreased. Or some of those little like spongey things with light glue on one side. For the rides or craches just play a little softer than usual. It works for me.

arcto10 · 08-28-2007, 4:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShaggMuffin

I'm always trying to attempt to play to music whilst pounding on the drums.. but the drum volume is way too loud and I end up not hearing the music. Anyone have any methods/advice to help me jam to the tunes? I tried earplugs and then head-phones over top of it.. and that didn't work.

Any suggestions are welcome.

You should be able to listen to a song and learn after 3/4 hearings.....if you are in anyway serious about playing the drums.

Or else .....no i couldnt be assed typeing "Or else your not as leet as me" becuase that would suggest i am better than you even though i have no way of knowing your current level and the last 42 or so words are pointless.

CnGy · 08-30-2007, 12:32 PM

my friend does it with normal headphones

play more quietly hoser

SWiTCH · 08-30-2007, 1:20 PM

My hearing is already ruined. Whistling and clapping sometimes give my ears the worst pain ever (even just light tapping if it's high pitched enough). It's from a few years of making music and listening to it in headphones loudly. I also think it's from an In Flames show. I can't believe I sacrificed my ears for such a shit band.
Anyway, it sucks.

So... be careful when using headphones.

Shagg · 08-30-2007, 2:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWiTCH

My hearing is already ruined. Whistling and clapping sometimes give my ears the worst pain ever (even just light tapping if it's high pitched enough). It's from a few years of making music and listening to it in headphones loudly. I also think it's from an In Flames show. I can't believe I sacrificed my ears for such a shit band.
Anyway, it sucks.

So... be careful when using headphones.

Well what do you think about Earplugs.. then Isolater Headphones over top of them. Double the Quiet and I can hear the music (hopefully)..

Lissa · 08-30-2007, 9:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShaggMuffin

Well what do you think about Earplugs.. then Isolater Headphones over top of them. Double the Quiet and I can hear the music (hopefully)..

I highly, highly reccomend using industrial-use headphones. They're reletively cheap, big enough to fit mp3 earbuds underneath, and will protect your hearing probably better than anything else within the price range.

Edit: Actually, if you're willing to pay the $80-$100 for drumming isolation headphones, that'll work best.

Stealth Prawn · 08-31-2007, 1:19 AM

I have these Sony Ericsson earbuds that are so insulated that when my music is on half volume, I can't hear people unless they shout. Really fucking loud.

http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/product/7118.htm

I might not drum myself, but I once tested these, and while I was sitting right near my friend (he was playing drums) I played a song on half volume, and I could hear his drumming, but only just. Trust me, these are wicked. Mind you, they come with a cellphone, so when you buy them, they might come with an extra attachment to plug it into a phone.

Slingshot · 08-31-2007, 1:20 PM

just get some felt and put it on the heads and get like card board for the cymbals. just saw the felt thing by someone else but try putting it under the heads

Slingshot · 08-31-2007, 1:22 PM

either that or do the fake drums made of phone books and pots with the music playing.
If you are really talents you can make the noises with your mouth

Shagg · 08-31-2007, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lissa

I highly, highly reccomend using industrial-use headphones. They're reletively cheap, big enough to fit mp3 earbuds underneath, and will protect your hearing probably better than anything else within the price range.

Edit: Actually, if you're willing to pay the $80-$100 for drumming isolation headphones, that'll work best.

If I just get the Isolation Headphones.. do I just plug-em in any MP3 and it works good? Or do I need something special/specific?

Thanks anyway, Lissa!

CharlieH · 09-02-2007, 5:51 PM

A friend of mine has powerful speakers behind him, which he turns up so he can hear both.

Both he and I have always been against trying to make ear/headphones and a drum kit compete.