Noise nuisance from drums or drum kits

Environmental Health & Licensing receives many complaints about alleged noise nuisance from the playing of drums. Drumming at home can generate high levels of noise and so has the potential to disturb your neighbours. Please consider your neighbours - particularly those of you who live in flats, semi-detached or terraced properties.

I have received a complaint about my drum playing - what can I do?

If you need to practice regularly, for example as part of a band, then it will probably be necessary for you to consider finding alternative venues such as remote practice locations or provide a sound-proofed enclosure.

Try using practice pads, which are rubber discs that are placed on the top of the drum skins, and cymbals. The centre section responds to the drumstick with a similar feel & bounce as the actual drum head. The practice pad set may reduce the sound output of the drum set and cymbals by up to 90%. In addition a large pillow or old duvet can be placed inside the bass drum to deaden its sound.

The drum kit could also be put onto a thick rubber or a dense foam mat to reduce the noise transmitted into the floor and into neighbour's property through the structure of the building. Old underlay/carpet could be used as a cheap way of doing this. Avoid the use of laminate flooring.

Talk to your neighbours and find out what time is best for you to practice - this way you could minimise any disturbance to them. Avoid practicing early in the morning (e.g. before 9am) or in the evening and at night, when people are trying to sit down and relax or sleep (e.g. after 7pm). On weekends and Bank Holidays, people especially value their peace and quiet so avoid, or keep to a minimum, your practising during these times. Reduce the length of time you practice. Any more than thirty minutes at a time is likely to become annoying to your neighbours and may lead to a nuisance.

When practising, ensure windows and doors are kept closed to minimise the noise that can be heard outside. Thick curtains may also help to prevent noise escaping. During the summer months, an electric fan could be used to keep cool while practising. Conservatories, being predominantly glass, have poor sound insulation properties and should therefore be avoided as a location for drum practice if at all possible.

If you are contemplating buying a new or replacement drum kit, you could consider an electronic set. The advantages of electronic drum kits are:

• they are virtually silent when played - however, you should still consider standing them on a noise-deadening surface as detailed above
• they are compact, lightweight and portable
• digital effects can be added
• they offer hundreds of percussion sounds in addition to regular drum sounds
• using headphones you can play as loud as you want without disturbing anyone
• some modules have dozens of built-in songs to play along to
• many modules can record your performances so you can review your progress
• it is possible to plug in a CD player to play along with.