The drummer is an accompanist part 2: Playing drums softly

Drums are loud.

Playing loud is fun! We are the peace disturbers. But drummers are required to play softly in most situations.

1. Rehearsals
2. Concert bands
3. Jazz bands
4. Home practice
5. Churches
6. Singer songwriter bands
7. Orchestras
8. Theatre orchestras

The question is how to play at softer dynamics without losing intensity. There must be a way to play your beautiful drumkit without stuffing them full of pillows, covering them with tape and otherwise muffling the death out of them.

Ten Tips on playing the drums softly

1. Learn proper drumming technique. Chimpanzee technique will not serve you well in your quest to play musically and softly.
2. Practice softly.
3. Work daily on pad technique with your metronome. You will need to be able to control the hands in small and precise movements. This regime will last a lifetime.
4. Use smaller drums and lighter cymbals. For Jazz I use a Paiste 602 flat ride and Paiste Masters 20" crash ride with rivets. 
5. Most drums are sold for their “cutting” qualities. This means loud. I’ve been using a Tama SLP spruce snare drum for softer situations not my hard maple, brass, or oak snare drums.
6. Use smaller sticks. I use lighter maple over heavier hickory in Bebop sizes. I leave the clubs at home.
7. Learn to use brushes, brooms, and rods/rutes.
8. Use a softer beater on the bass drum. Play heel down.
9. Play with unamplified instruments. I play weekly in jazz bands. The best sounding ones rehearse with no amps, including the bassist. If I can’t hear the bass I know I’m too damn loud. I learned quickly.
10. Learn to tune your drums. Well tuned drums will sound lovely at lower levels. No need to beat the “you know what out of them” just to make them sing.

These are a few of the techniques that will help you survive and thrive in a lower sound level environment and avoid the indignity of either being fired, required to play behind a plexiglass barrier, or worse play some crappy electric drum kit though an amp.

Bonus? It will help save your hearing.

​If I can help, call me.

​David