Drums are great, but they’re loud! Most people don’t have access to a full acoustic drum kit they can play whenever they want. But you can practise quietly without driving your neighbours or housemates mad. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to improve your skills, here’s my recommendations for how you can practice drums without the noise complaints.
Electronic Drum Kits: The Best Quiet Practice Option
One of the best ways to practise quietly is to use an electronic drum kit. I do most of my practice on one through headphones, and it massively reduces noise compared to an acoustic kit.
There are lots of electronic drum kits out there at different prices, including some great beginner options at fairly reasonable prices. If you’re just getting started, investing in a beginner electronic kit is worth considering, as it’ll last you a long time before you even need to consider upgrading.
I would recommend looking at beginner electronic kits here: Gear4music Electronic Drum Kits (This is just one place to look and there are many others too)
Some drummers worry that electronic kits don’t prepare you for playing an acoustic kit. Personally, I think there are some differences between the two to consider, but in the grand scheme of things it doesn’t matter too much, and you can learn the bulk of popular drumming on an electric kit (including the graded material). Also, most skills can be directly transferred between the two kit types without any issues, such as timing, coordination, and technique. Many pro drummers use electronic kits for both practice and live performances in some cases.
Practice Pads: A Cheap and Effective Alternative
If you’re on a budget, a practice pad is a great option. Obviously, there’s various things that can’t be practised on this in the same way as a full kit, but you can work on hand technique, stick control, and rudiments (the essential drumming patterns). Even just 15 minutes a day on a practice pad will make a huge difference to your playing.
Different types of practice pads include:
Rubber pads – common, with moderate rebound
Gum rubber pads – super quiet, less bounce
Mesh pads – feel like real drum heads
Electronic pads – connect to sound modules for feedback
Check out practice pads here: Gear4music Practice Pads (Again, just one option – there are many more)
If you want to work on full drum kit coordination, consider a multi-pad setup like the Gibraltar GPO8 Practice Pad Kit. This will help you practise different limbs coordinating together while keeping the volume low.
The Cheapest & Quietest Option: Lap Drumming
You can actually practise drumming with no gear at all! Lap drumming (tapping your hands on your legs) is great for working on rhythm, coordination, and timing.
I often use lap drumming when I’m learning a tricky part or working through a new song. You can even tap your feet on a carpet or soft surface to include bass drum and hi-hat coordination.
Another powerful technique is mental practice – visualising the drum part in your head. I think this has something to do with forming neural connections and mental pathways in the human brain when learning a skill (but ask a neuroscientist for the details on this).
How to Make an Acoustic Kit Quieter
If you have access to an acoustic drum kit but need to keep the noise down, there are several ways to make it quieter:
- Mesh drum heads – These can replace standard heads for an 80% volume reduction while keeping the feel of the drum kit realistic.
- Low-volume cymbals – These are perforated cymbals that sound just like real ones but at a much lower volume.
- Drum mutes and dampening pads – Foam pads, drum silencer pads or even tea towels can cut down the volume by a good chunk.
- Tuning adjustments – Loosening the tuning of the drums can reduce some of the sharper attack sounds (they won’t ‘ping’ as loudly).
Alternative Sticks & Brushes for Quieter Playing
Changing your sticks can also help lower your volume:
Wire brushes – Soft, swishing sound (great for jazz)
Rods (bundled dowels) – Quieter than normal drumsticks
Mallets – Warm, gentle tone
Hot Rods – A middle ground between sticks and brushes
Experimenting with different sticks not only reduces volume but also expands your drumming technique, and there are many different sounds that you can get out of the drums this way.
Final Thoughts: You CAN Practise Without an Acoustic Kit
If you don’t have free, regular access to a full acoustic drum kit, don’t stress – most drummers don’t (myself included!). There are plenty of ways to practise and get better without one.
At the start, drumming is all about coordination—getting your hands and feet working together, and you don’t need a full kit for this. Focus on stick control, timing, and limb independence, and you’ll make great progress, no matter where or how you practise.
Drumming quietly doesn’t mean you can’t improve. Whether you use an electronic kit, practice pad, or even just your lap, consistency is more important than volume. Stick with it, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly you develop your skills – without annoying your neighbours 🙂
Happy drumming! 🥁
If you’re interested in having drum lessons in Brighton with me, you can find my prices here.