How to Soundproof a Room for Drums: What WORKS!!

Drums are one of the most popular instruments in the world, and have been used for centuries in a variety of different cultures. They can be played solo or in a group, and are a great way to add rhythm and melody to any music.

Drum noise can be quite annoying, especially when you’re trying to sleep or concentrate on something. One of the most popular ways for soundproofing a room for drums involves the use of soundproofing/acoustic panels. You can hang these panels on the ceiling and walls if the drum room is located in the lower floor or basement. These panels do a perfect job in reducing echo and getting rid of the noise that bleeds into the other rooms in the house.

1. Seal the Gaps

Sound is like air; it goes through wherever there is an opening. A soundproofed room is quiet, meaning those outsides can’t hear much noise coming from the inside.

One easy way of effectively soundproofing your practice room is to seal all the available gaps.

Look around your room for gaps; you will find them on the door, air vents, and windows.  Most modern homes’ entries are not correctly fitted with the frames, thereby creating gaps.

These spaces contribute majorly to the sound that escapes from the room.

• So with the help of a high-density tape, you can quickly seal off the gaps. The tape has a variety of thicknesses, so choose the one that works best for your room. Remember not to go for the thickest tape, mainly because it will make it hard for you to close or open the door.
• Use a door threshold to seal the gap between your door and your floor.
• You can also replace your door with a solid wood door. Get a professional to fit the frame so that there are no gaps correctly.
• Another way of sealing gaps is to add density to your door without actually replacing it. You can use fiberglass sound insulation panels because they are useful.
• Screw the panels on the inside of the door. The panels will deaden the drum noise before it is released on other parts of the home.
• Use acoustic sealant such as green glue compound (click here to learn more) seal all the gaps and cracks on the walls, ceilings, door and windows.

2. Reduce echo from the wall

Most times, sounds are a result of sound bouncing off the surface of the wall. So soundproof the wall to minimize the noise.

Follow these methods to soundproof the walls

• Use acoustic foam panels to cover the wall spaces. Acoustic panels are commonly used in the recording studio to reduce any echoes or reverberation.

However, you can get the residential type of acoustic foam panels. They are made of either fabric or foam, which are designed to absorb excess sound.

You don’t need a professional because they are simple to install.

• Use household items to soundproof; for example carpets or rug floors. The flooring of your room is also responsible for creating too much sound. To avoid the echo produced by the floors, use carpets or rugs as a cover.

The carpets and rugs absorb the noise and also deaden the reflection of the sound.

• Sound absorption sheet. These sheets work by dampening the drum noise. For effectiveness, hang the sheets in your room.

Sound sheets are known to reduce too much sound. They are also cheap and economical because most of them are made from environmentally friendly materials.

• Put furniture in the room. If your room only contains a drum and a chair, then you need to change that.

Filling a room with furniture will reduce the echo produced because they absorb sound reflection.

Couches, with soft throw pillows, bookshelves, and other house decoration, will cut on the amount of echo produced.

Besides absorbing sound, decorative items also add character to your room.

3. Soundproof the Windows

Windows are also responsible for letting out a lot of noise. Before you begin, you have to find the gaps that are letting the sound out. Install soundproof windows to

block sound.

The soundproof window can be fitted as an extra layer for your existing window. Soundproof windows can be expensive.

However, there are other ways of soundproofing windows, which are quite affordable.

They include:

• Seal the gaps in the windows. Just like doors, windows also have a gas that can easily let drum sound out.

Sealing the whole window shut is an effective method of drum proofing the room; however, you cannot have a room without a window. Some of the practical ways of soundproofing include using a proofing sealant that fills up every crack and gap on the window.

You can also use foam tape to cover the gaps

• Add extra soundproofing curtains or blinds. Blinds and curtains act as sound insulation. The extra mass increases the level of sound insulation.

There is also noise reducing very dense curtains, which is suitable for noise insulation. They are also useful for dampening sound.

You can also use pleated curtains, which are blackout curtains that are good for dampening noise.

• Window plug. A window plug is an effective way of absorbing sound. The acoustic plug is fitted on the window to seal crack and gaps.

4. Use a Drum Shield

The noise of the acoustic drums when practicing is always an issue for any drummer. Which is why you need to get a drum shield

A drum shield blocks the noise that gets out of your room. Even though most acoustic drum shields are expensive, you can quickly get an affordable one.

Online shops like amazon have these best drum shield which is also pocket-friendly.

5. Drum Room Soundproofing Panels

Something like acoustic panels will significantly help reduce echoes, reverb and limit the amount of noise that bleeds to the rest of your home.

Acoustic panels won’t entirely soundproof your home.

They are designed to absorb sounds and not block sounds such that sound waves aren’t reflected/ or don’t bounce back when they hit the wall but instead will absorb them.

I have written a detailed guide on attaching acoustic panels to the walls without ruining their efficiency.

They don’t block impact noise like mass-loaded vinyl.

6. Acoustical Wallpaper

Acoustic wallpaper is the perfect alternative to acoustic panels/drum room soundproofing panels.

Not only does it help in eliminating echoes, but it also gives the room the aesthetic appeal it deserves.

Unlike the paint, wallpaper is easy to install clean, and it’s also durable.

7. Mass Loaded Vinyl

Mass-loaded vinyl is a perfect soundproofing material that will help prevent low-frequency sound waves from bleeding inside or outside the drum room.

MLV sound barrier can also be installed over the room vents- this should be done during practice sessions and removed immediately after to aid air circulation.

If you need to learn more about MLV works, check my detailed guide on mass-loaded vinyl soundproofing.

The best part is that MLV is paintable.

So, here’s a trick that I would highly recommend- once you’ve attached the MLV barrier to the walls, apply soundproofing paint over it to help eliminate echoes.

8. Purchase A Quiet Drum Set

If you’d like to avoid all the hassles involved in soundproofing a drum room, here’s what you should do.

Ditch your old acoustic drum set and grab one of my recommended quiet electronic drum sets.

You will be able to practice in your room without worrying about the neighbors dubbing you as the annoying next-door neighbor.

Electronic drums are designed to keep the noise down as much as possible, unlike acoustic drums.

The amount of noise/drumming effect they produce is controlled by a series of sensors installed on the cymbals and drum heads.

These sensors detect the stick velocity and assign the exact volume and pitch for each sound.

Related read:

• Top 9 Quiet Drums for Apartment Practice
• How to Make Electronic Drums Quieter
• How to Soundproof a Room for Drums

Final Thoughts

You need to learn how to soundproof room for drums if you have close neighbors or people living inside your home. However, before you begin the process, you first need to know where the noise is escaping from.

There are minor and affordable adjustments you can make before you think of the more significant projects. Start by investigating the room to locate the gaps.

Check on the walls, windows, and door for gaps or cracks and seal them.