by Steve Rhodes
The Best Tips for Muffling Your Bass Drum
Muffling your bass drum is an important decision that every drummer contemplates at some point. Drum sets, by their very nature, often require muffling to reduce unwanted ringing. Some drummers believe that muffling dampens the sound too much, but the reality is that it helps shape the sustain and resonance to suit your preferred music style. Being aware of your needs as a drummer will help you make the right choice, and by reading this article, you’ll learn how to achieve the precise bass drum sound you want with proper bass drum muffling.
Consider These Points When Muffling Your Bass Drum
The style of music you play will determine the sound you want from your kick drum.
For heavy metal, you’ll likely want a short and snappy kick that easily cuts through dense guitars. On the other hand, if you’re a jazz drummer, you’ll probably muffle the bass drum less than a metal drummer would. Jazz drumming typically has an open and organic sound, often part of a trio, allowing for a larger, more sustained sound. Ask yourself whether you want the bass drum muffling to create a dry but resonant sound or an open sound that eliminates unwanted ringing.
So, what are your options? Some drummers simply place a pillow in their kick drum, which works well but may sacrifice the drum’s natural character.
The pillow takes up so much space that the air doesn’t have room to move, creating a flat, dead sound. Some drummers experiment with towels or small pillows, which can work to some extent but rarely achieve the desired sound.
Bass drum muffling has come a long way in the past decade, and there are now systems specifically designed to give modern drummers complete control over their bass drum muffling.
I have been using two methods for several years with great success. The fantastic thing about these systems is that you can continuously and easily adjust the sustain and muffling level to meet your needs as a drummer. You can be a jazz drummer one day and a thrash metal drummer the next.
Here are just a few suggestions to help you decide which method is right for you. I have divided the options into two categories for clarity.
Muffling Systems and Pads
I want to discuss two excellent products: the first is the Evans RGS Bass Drum Muffling Pad.
The Evans RGS is an adjustable muffler that allows the drummer to control not only sustain but attack as well. A hinged pillow attached to the pad bounces off the drum head when struck with the beater. If the hinge is pressed firmly against the head, you get maximum attack and minimal sustain. The pad includes a large and small pillow to accommodate various bass drum sizes.
The second muffling system I’d like to introduce is the REMO HKMUFF Bass Drum Muffling System. Developed by Remo in collaboration with renowned drummer Dave Weckl, this system offers the ultimate control over kick drum muffling. It can be used on both the batter head and the resonant head, allowing you to control the sound and feel of the kick. The muffling system includes one pillow available in three sizes to fit all drums.
This excellent product is used by many drummers, including Weckl himself, so it must be good!
Pre-Muffling Systems
An alternative to the previously mentioned options is a pre-muffling system, which consists of a batter head with integrated dampening rings. Evans EMAD offers a variety of heads to choose from, primarily featuring a two-ply construction with adjustable dampening rings that allow you to control the level of attack and sustain. These products are fantastic and used by many professional drummers to achieve impressive results. Interestingly, even drummers who claim they never use a dampening system often use these heads, simply because they offer so much control over the sound.
Manuel Marino is a seasoned Senior Producer, Music Composer, and Artist with over a decade of experience. He specializes in branded entertainment across various mediums, including video games, films, and advertising campaigns. With 20+ years as a game music composer, Manuel has worked on numerous platforms, creating diverse orchestral soundtracks. HIRE ME
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