I have a feeling I've had this conversation before, but starting from a postition of "does an e-kit work in an apartment".
Today, I'd like to reframe the question slightly: How can I learn to drum in any satisfying manner without getting a full kit (and in an apartment)?
Obviously acoustic kits are out. e-kits are maybe an option, but I have no significant space I can devote to it. But I would really like something that emulates bass/snare/hat/ride at the very least. Im aware of practice pads and sample pads but concerned that they'll help me start with rudiments but not much beyond that.
Is there any solution that might be remotely satisfying that won't take up half a room?
** Update Nov 2018 - Not planning a kit at home, just lessons for now, plus a practice pad or 3, and possibly hiring a practice room occasionally. See lower down! **
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I've got a now unused real kit in the loft. There is an adjustment between the two. If the idea is to play out at some point you need to play a real kit before you start auditioning etc.imho.
Initially it was with a DW practice kit which is basically a load of pads on a metal pole.
This was in a London terrace and I had quite a lot of complaints & comments from people.
The problem is the bass drum- even a pedal onto a 'silent' pad is enough to hear through walls and if you are in an apartment then the neighbour under you will quickly grow to hate you.
It was also quite stressful for me once I knew people could hear me- it kinda tainted my practice because I knew they were irritated by the noise.
When we moved our to the countryside it became less of an issue- I have multiple kits set up here and because we don't share walls with people I can play any of the electronic/practice kits anytime I like.
I play acoustic kit about an hour a day, usually when people are out at work and it is therefore not a problem.
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I've never had a complaint about guitar but i'm well aware that melodic guitar playing is much less annoying, and I've been playing long enough that I'm not shit to listen to. That clearly wouldn't be the case with drums.
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Oxfordshire is lovely, you'd like it.
I never had any complaints about guitar either.
Think of a bass drum pedal as a hammer- if you were hammering for hours a day then you'd have complaints.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
If it doesn't work out you've lost nothing other than a bit of money, and if it does then someone will probably overhear you and ask you to join a band...
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Otherwise one of them will kill you. Arguably with good reason. The guitar playing has probably got them close to the edge already, and that's not a comment on your guitar playing.
until a day or so later I bumped into the guy living beneath my who politely asked if I’d taken up drumming!! As previously mentioned, the kick pedal thumping away still travels unfortunately. I even tried to create a bit of padding and mass underneath the pedal but it didn’t really work. I packed the kit up and haven’t really used it since.
Basically some MDF, tennis balls and a bit of time:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-9xcm-TtfM
If you have concrete floors I reckon you'd probably get away with it.
Apart from anything else I'm seeing it as a good way to learning something useful/healthy outside of work stuff and home stuff.
Not planning a kit in the apartment - I think it's clear that's a non-starter, but I'm going to get a run of evening lessons and a practice pad or 3 for home. The DW "pads on a stick thing" looks a good option, and I'll work out a way to muffle the "bass drum" more than it is as standard.
Watch this space...
Now have an acoustic kit in a garden room away from the house, even then I have earplugs in when I play, as a real kit can’t be played quietly (by me anyway)
Ebay mark7777_1
Edit: only £155, I might have to buy that!
Also the TD1 had rubber pads and nasty plastic cymbals. IT MADE A RACKET.
Just bought a TD17 with a PD9 pad and its better (upright action) but you get the slap noise from the pad.
The better option is one of the PDX bass drum pads. Much better but expensive.
All mesh pads really take the noise out and the larger PDX10's are just like hitting the toms on my kit. The new PDX12 snare is very good.
The latest generation rubber cymbals are noisey. Used to prefer the old PD6 pads for cymbals, much quieter than the rubber cymbals.
Roland do make a sound deadening bass drum pedal mat but to be honest, you're playing the drums, its going to make a noise.
I cant play my kit when my daughter is in bed, but I can play it without disturbing the neighbours.
Check out the new Aleis Mesh kits at Andertons. Saw them on Sunday, looked good, very cheep but not played one so cant comment as to how they sound/play.