This article will walk you through the steps involved in muffling your bass drum. It will show you the available options and provide some advice for honing in on the sound you want.
Instructions
1. Start by determining the type of sound you are going for. Do you want a very dry sound or do you want a little more resonance?
2. Examine your options. There are many choices. Some are practically free and others rather expensive. Many drummers throw a large pillow into their drum and never think about it again. But, by placing such a large object inside your drum, you are also making some sacrifices. A large pillow is going to take up a great deal of space inside the drum and you will be losing a lot of the drum's "character." Some drummer's use towels or clothing. You can also buy damping materials made specifically for this purpose. Evans EQ3 Bass Pack and the Danmar Impact Pad are some popular options among drummers. Each will give a varying level of muffling.
3. Experiment! Unfortunately, muffling your bass drum is not an exact science. Every drummer is going for a different sound. Experiment with the available options mentioned in Step 2 to find the sound you are looking for.
4. Talk to other drummers. Talk to drummers you know or talk to drummers who you meet at a live performance. If you like a particular drummer's sound, ask the player what he is using inside his drum to get that sound.
5. Record yourself. It is a great idea to record yourself trying out the different available options. This will allow you to be more objective in analyzing the sound. At the end of the day, it is your sound. Trust your ears.
