{"id":11705,"date":"2018-10-02T05:30:08","date_gmt":"2018-10-02T12:30:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/?p=11705"},"modified":"2023-05-01T08:43:48","modified_gmt":"2023-05-01T15:43:48","slug":"how-to-muffle-your-bass-drum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/how-to-muffle-your-bass-drum\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Muffle Your Bass Drum (With Towels!)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0jQPB-ubZwI\/\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Does your bass drum sound too boomy and ringy? Are you looking to lasso those overtones and rein them in for something precise and punchy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can muffle your bass drum using stuff you already have at home. Here\u2019s how I do it with towels!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Before you start<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Every drummer is different. Some want a really open bass drum sound, which is great for slower music in a live setting. Some people like a tight and constricted sound, possibly because they\u2019re using triggers or they\u2019re looking to get a specific beater action on the batter head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a general muffling technique that\u2019ll give you a nice, round tone. It\u2019s not going to completely cut the resonance; it\u2019ll just muffle some of those unwanted overtones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This method works for both ported and non-ported resonant heads. If you don\u2019t have a hole in your bass drum head (and if cutting one would be sacrilegious), you\u2019ll need to take it off first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Loosen the tension rods and remove that reso head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you watched the video above: you\u2019ll notice that on my vintage bass drum there\u2019s already a built-in, internal muffler. I find that they don\u2019t really do a good job of giving me the sound that I want, so I don\u2019t use them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to muffle the bass drum<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You could pick up some expensive muffling or special heads from your local music store&#8230;or you could find two towels at home. Let\u2019s keep things simple for now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I recommend using beach towels. Take one and fold it in half, then fold it in half again. Drop it on the floor and roll it up lengthwise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take this and place it inside the bass drum so it gently pushes against the batter head in a \u2018u\u2019 shape. Make sure it\u2019s resting with the ends up, and each end should go up the same distance on each side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the reso side, you\u2019ll do the exact same thing. Fold another towel in half, then in half again, and roll it up lengthwise. Place it inside the drum opposite to the other towel, and make sure to place them both similarly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don\u2019t have a port hole, you\u2019ll want to have the second towel halfway out. This way, when you put the other head back on, the muffling rests against the reso head. If you just push the second towel all the way in and put the reso head on, it\u2019s not going to do its job.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-howto\" class=\"rank-math-block\" >\n<div class=\"rank-math-howto-description\">\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"rank-math-steps \">\n<div id=\"howto-step-1682357481954\" class=\"rank-math-step\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-step-title \">1. Roll up a towel<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-step-content \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/24121712\/2023-04-24-Tyson-Bass-Drum-Dampening-101.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/24121712\/2023-04-24-Tyson-Bass-Drum-Dampening-101.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/24121712\/2023-04-24-Tyson-Bass-Drum-Dampening-101-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/24121712\/2023-04-24-Tyson-Bass-Drum-Dampening-101-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/24121712\/2023-04-24-Tyson-Bass-Drum-Dampening-101-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" title=\"\"><p>Roll up 1-2 towels. Beach towels or bath towels are best because they aren&#8217;t so big they&#8217;ll kill all resonance, but are just big enough to reduce overtones\/ringing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"howto-step-1682357598565\" class=\"rank-math-step\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-step-title \">2. Place the towel in the bass drum<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-step-content \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/24160311\/MG_0797.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"bass drum muffle tuning\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/24160311\/MG_0797.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/24160311\/MG_0797-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/24160311\/MG_0797-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/24160311\/MG_0797-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/24160311\/MG_0797-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/24160311\/MG_0797-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\" title=\"\"><p>Put the rolled-up towel against the inside of the batter head.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"howto-step-1682357667209\" class=\"rank-math-step\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-step-title \">3. Replace your bass drum head<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-step-content \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/24155609\/MG_0807.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"bass drum muffle tuning\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/24155609\/MG_0807.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/24155609\/MG_0807-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/24155609\/MG_0807-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/24155609\/MG_0807-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/24155609\/MG_0807-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/24155609\/MG_0807-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\" title=\"\"><p>Put the head, hoop, and tuning rods back.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"howto-step-1682357691490\" class=\"rank-math-step\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-step-title \">4. Tune the bass drum<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-step-content \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/24155554\/MG_0821.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"bass drum muffle tuning\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/24155554\/MG_0821.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/24155554\/MG_0821-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/24155554\/MG_0821-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/24155554\/MG_0821-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/24155554\/MG_0821-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/24155554\/MG_0821-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\" title=\"\"><p>You may have to tune your bass drum a bit differently as there&#8217;ll be less air movement inside the drum.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"rank-math-howto-supply\"><strong>Supply:<\/strong> <ul><li>1-2 towels<\/li><\/ul><\/p>\n<p class=\"rank-math-howto-tools\"><strong>Tools:<\/strong> <ul><li>Drum key<\/li><\/ul><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Finishing up<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Gently put the reso head back on. Be careful not to move the second towel. Reposition the hoop and tension rods. Tighten the head until all of the wrinkles disappear and make sure the rods aren\u2019t wiggly. If you\u2019re looking for a particular sound, go ahead and tighten it up or leave it loose. It&#8217;s up to you to decide <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/how-to-tune-drums\/#Tune_bass_drum\">how to tune your bass drum<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And that\u2019s it! With two beach towels and a little bit of elbow grease, you\u2019ll get a controlled sound and a full, round tone. This won\u2019t kill the drum, of course &#8211; you can expect a nice attack and some resonance that tapers off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This bass drum muffling technique is perfect for rock music, playing in a church, or in a club where you\u2019re using the house kit. While this is how I like my bass drum to sound, you can start here and experiment with tighter or looser tuning (and even more muffling if it floats your boat). The sky\u2019s the limit, but here\u2019s your ticket for launch!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><iframe class=\"email-form-include-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/weeklyemail\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Does your bass drum sound too boomy and ringy? Are you looking to lasso those overtones and rein them in for something precise and punchy?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":11726,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4020],"tags":[13,152],"class_list":["post-11705","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gear","tag-drum-lessons-2","tag-free-drum-lessons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11705","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11705"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11705\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45391,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11705\/revisions\/45391"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11726"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11705"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11705"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11705"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}