If you remove the head, a brick, stage weight, or the bottom of a round-base mic stand placed on top of a pillow will keep it from moving. Removing the front head is another option that can reduce ringing and provide options for mic placement. If the drummer doesn’t want anything inside the drum, you could try taping felt strips to the heads. Alternatives include damping “gadgets” such as the KickPro Weighted Gripping Bass Drum Pillow from MuffleLow Technologies () or the Protection Racket Bass Drum Muffler (). The trick is to use something big enough to do the job, without completely killing the tone of the drum. If the drum rings excessively, a pillow, large towel, blanket or a piece of foam placed inside the drum can help control it. The Bass Drum Head Port Hole Cutter from Gibraltar is a clever, inexpensive tool that makes easy work of cutting a hole, and the company also offers hole reinforcement rings that prevent damage to the head. If you have a steady hand, you can use a hobby knife or razor blade. If there’s no hole in the front head and you want to make one, clear it with the drummer first.Ĭutting a hole in a drumhead is tricky business. A hole in the front head makes it easier to insert, remove or adjust a pillow or blanket, and facilitates microphone placement. The resonant (front) head also plays a big role in the sound of any drum, and popular choices include the Remo’s Powerstroke P3 resonant (available in a rainbow of colors) and Evans’ EQ3 - both of which feature a pre-cut, five-inch hole.
The life of the head can be extended using a simple stick-on impact pad such as the Remo’s Falam Slam or Evans EQ Patch EQPC2 - both of which strengthen the head and increase the attack. For example, heads like the Evans EMAD2 are designed to control excessive ringing and feature an adjustable damping system, while Remo’s Powerstroke P3 has an inlay ring for damping. Depending upon the drum, the heads and the tuning, putting anything inside the shells may not be necessary. But before stuffing the shell with your dirty laundry, make sure the drummer is okay with the idea of damping the drum. A kick drum with a long decay can be problematic, especially for music with complex arrangements or busy bass lines. If they’re not comfortable with the feel of the drum, you won’t get a good performance.Ī good place to start is listening to the sound of the kick drum on stage - without any microphones. There are a lot of ways to change or improve the sound of a kick drum, but first and foremost you need the drummer’s blessing. Obviously, mic choices will have a huge influence on the kick sound, but there are other factors to think about. This month’s Buyers Guide ( on page 16) spotlights kick drum microphones.