I will eventually move the drums to the basement, but sometimes water seeps up through the floor, so it won’t be until I’ve solved that problem. The drums are near the front of the house. I could theoretically move them to another room, but I like having a guest room and a dining room, plus then they’d just bother other neighbors more, so potentially a lateral move.
I’m sure the street percussion laws are indeed to target the “bucket boys,” but they don’t drive EVERYONE nuts. I quite enjoy them.
Have you tried putting a pillow into the bass? That might quiet that one down some. Also, if it’s on hardwood or cement, get a carpet to put under it and that’ll cut down the sound more than you’d think. When I was growing up, the guy across the street lived in his parents’ garage and played the drums all the time; he went so far as to put up egg-carton sound insulation on the ceilings and walls, and multiple carpets on the floor. He was also crazy. Kind of like living across the street from a stoned Animal.
Me, I just played the tuba for ten years. Nobody ever complained, but I found out decades later that actually, it was pretty loud. Kinda wish I had taken up guitar instead…
Consider assigning a particular hour for you to practice your drums every day. So your neighbor would know you’ll be drumming from 1330 to 1430 and she can adjust her rooftop deck time accordingly. Sort of like a compromise.
Ninja’d!
Once you get moved into your basement you can take steps to, well I wouldn’t call it ‘sound-proof’, but sound suppress your drumming. Sound absorbent materials on the walls, ceiling, and floors would help.
I have little to add that others haven’t already said, but let me say, AnaMen- thank you. A desire to accommodate the needs and wants of others is pretty much the core of being a good neighbor, which is something I say we definitely need more of.
Thank you, Recusant. I love having neighbors.