There really is nothing quite like waking up at eight AM to the sound of constant painful chaotic banging. It even bugs my cat, who has taken to hissing at the shared wall. The last neighbor had a bass, but at least he was decent at it. This guy is obviously living a rhythmless existance.
Why? Why? Why?
I feel your pain.
The idiot kids down the block from me display a similar need to share their lack of talent with the world. These brats are 13-14 years old, and their parents feel it is somehow acceptable for them to practice outside!
Right now there are posters all over town advertising their “demo release” this friday, inviting anyone and everyone to stop by one of their houses where they will be playing in the driveway.
They have also publicized it on-line. http://www.manual-music.com/gigs.html
I assume you wouldn’t have to think too hard to figure out the type of response I hope they receive…
My upstairs neighbors like to wrestle at 2am. I swear to god that’s what they’re doing. It’s not like they’re making rythmic banging sounds or lots of “Oh god, yes! Yes! YES!” or anything like that. Just lots of crash/bang/slam. I don’t get it. 
I play bass and have a drum set, bwahahaha!
If that doesn’t suffice, I’ll throw in a little Deicide on my 200 watt stereo.
I want to feel sympathy for you, but our new apartment neighbors have a karaoke machine and a 12-14 year old daughter with aspirations of being a singer. She sings mostly Celine Dion and the like, with the volume cranked so you can hear her half a block away. Our windows are about fifteen feet from their windows, and both usually open (until she starts singing, when we slam ours shut).
DId I mention she is awful? Unbearably, soul-crushingly, heart-wrenchingly awful. I have honestly never heard singing this bad. And she’ll sing for hours at a time. I’m desperate to figure out a way to smash that machine.
(The worst part is, I can’t even bring myself to complain, because she’s just a young teenager and is undoubtably both sensitive and insecure. This may change after a few more weekend marathons of “The Greatest Love of All”.)
even sven,
Get yourself a recording of Buddy Rich playing drums, put a speaker near the wall, and you’ll never hear him play again.
or just ask him to have more respect about playing the drums.
It’s been cooler around here lately, we’ve turned off the a/c and opened the windows. Yesterday, one of the neighbors was practicing his French Horn. It sounded like a sick dog. The thing is…he practiced all day long! I had the feeling maybe he didn’t practice at all over the summer, and now that school starts in a few weeks, he tried to cram a whole summer’s worth of practice into one day…
I’m trying to figure out how to encourage you to turn up at your obnoxious best at my neighbor’s little soiree tomorrow, without encouraging you to stop by my place while you are in the neighborhood! 
Would it be mean of me to scrawl “FREE BEER” on all of their fliers?
Or to post them in rowdy bars?
Or “help them out” by selectively sending them round the net?
Just trying to be neighborly!
This is why I slap the mute on my viola when I practice while others are home. I’m not bad, but not so good that I want my practicing broadcasted to the world at large. A good investment, those mutes.
even sven, you might want to check – very politely and in person – with the police about local ordinances. On the other side of the mountains from you, I’ve noticed that loud, piercing musical instruments seem to last for a maximum of a few days before they’re mysteriously silent.
Getting even works, sometimes. I’ve played Frank Zappa at extreme volumes for an hour to let neighbors get the idea. It’s worked a number of times.
Hey, is that Glen Ellyn, IL? If so, that’s only about 15 minutes from my apartment!! I should go!!!
So, playing in the driveway? Ummmm…How about some bets on how long that will last? I give it one song or less.
Bagpipes. I kid you not, one of my neighbors is learning how to play the bagpipes.
even sven, as a drummer, here is my advice:
I rightly gathered that this guy on the drumkit is not good. In all probability, he thinks he is good. I suggest (as TwistOfFate seems to have as well) that you attack what is easiest and most apparent: His ego. Many, many drummers (as well as other musicians) have the most inappropriate egos in relation to their actual abilities. This phenomenon is most common in closet-bangers of this variety. In addition to Twist’s very good suggestion of playing Buddy Rich through the wall, you might search on the web for some beginner drum lessons, print them out, and include them with a note saying something along the lines of “please be decent, quiet about your playing”, etc. all the while making it subtly apparent that he needs lessons. You might also suggest that he get a practice pad, a flat piece of wood with gum rubber on it that he can use for quiet practice. This, while hopefully humbling his racket and buying you some peace, might just give him the boost he needs in the sport of drumming, as well as a lesson in Life.
I also, am a drummer…I used to have a set…I sold it, because I moved into an apartment, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to annoy the hell out of my neighbors…and I’m fairly decent. When I get a house of my own, I’ll buy a new drum set…for now, I simply play on a practice pad and let my set skills dwindle to nothing. Now, if this is someone in a HOUSE next to you, not an apartment, then I’d just have to say to deal with it…but he really should NOT be playing at 8AM.
When I saw the title thread, I got worried–we had a new family move in next door to us, and my husband has a drum kit. And a lot of guitars. And band practice three times a week. But they’re good, dangit!!
My dad played drums in our garage with the door closed. He still practices in the bedroom and he’s 73. He’s good, but he also never played at 8:00 in the morning. Also, his practice only lasts 1/2 hour or so. Not unbearable for anyone.
Drums?
in an APARTMENT?!
Yeesh!
I suggest a call to the landlord. There’s no WAY that should be allowed!
…and I’M a drummer!
Back when I was young and stupid, I dated a drummer. When we lived together, I told him the only time he could practice was during the day between 12-3PM. (My name was on the lease, his wasn’t.) We lived in an apartment building, and only had neighbors on one side. Our neighbors worked day shifts, so I thought that around lunch time would be ok.
Wrong.
Our landlord came over the first day he was going to practice. The landlord went into the apartment next door, and as soon as the ex hit the first note, he was knocking on our door. I thought he was going to have a coronary, and I’ve never been so embarassed in my life. If you can get friendly with the neighbor, recommend that he should get a practice space. Usually, you can go in with a couple of people and rent out warehouse space, which is available 24/7 in most cases. Then he can practice to his heart’s content. Tell him to put an ad in the local music paper, or even the local newspaper.
Our upstairs neighbor was recently giving dance lessons, accompanied by poor conga playing, at about midnight. My girlfriend, who is braver than me, went up and asked them to stop. Their response?
“Are we being too loud?” What do you think, jackass?
Pretty sure that any drums in any apartment at any time of day are unacceptable. I’ve wanted to buy a kit for years but have prevented myself just for this very reason.
Miller, that just about made me cry. I loathe bagpipes. We’ll leave it at that.
God, I’m so sorry for you man, if you need help finding an assasin for the thing pretending its a musical instrument next door, tell me. I’ll find someone cheap and untraceable.