Yes I've looked into that Saturday not before 9am and not after 11pm I play within those hours.
Surprise Landing (neighbors think I'm loud)
- Thread starter Tiges
- Start date
Want to thank everyone for their responses. All valid points of view.
For me my drum day is drum day because l don't just play for a few hours. In the first few hours l am just beginning to warm up. And in natural progression of playing the momentum builds... and l find myself in a zone.....another place..
For me my drum day is drum day because l don't just play for a few hours. In the first few hours l am just beginning to warm up. And in natural progression of playing the momentum builds... and l find myself in a zone.....another place..
I understand your desire to play. I understand not liking ekits (tho I have one for this exact reason). I understand "the point", and being within the statutes.
I also know that dealing with neighbors that don't want to get along is a pain in the a$$.
Is this a fight you have to win? That's always the question I ask myself, when put into an unsavory situation. Is it worth the fight, for the principle of it all?
I also know that dealing with neighbors that don't want to get along is a pain in the a$$.
Is this a fight you have to win? That's always the question I ask myself, when put into an unsavory situation. Is it worth the fight, for the principle of it all?
Duck Tape
Platinum Member
Yes, it is pretty huge that they bought him mutes, but you can just feel the spite lol
Benthedrummer
Silver Member
Hi Tiges!
Mate, I'll give you my opinion here on this situation.
1) I really feel like this is a much better approach by your neighbours than many others I've seen. Drum mutes aren't cheap. They aren't telling you to stop altogether and they seem to recognise that you enjoy your drumming.
2) There was mention of finding it difficult to sleep by your neighbour. Well, maybe this person is a shift worker like me. I think it's a very fair, rational letter in this regard. Again, they are not telling you to stop altogether. They aren't being abusive.
3) Drums ARE actually loud. Sound properties are interesting and sound can travel some distance. Your local council do have services which can measure your decibel levels.
4) Unfortunately we also have a responsibility to behave within the bounds of what would be deemed appropriate. If you are smashing away at the drums for absolutely hours and hours on end on a Saturday.......well they kinda may have a point here.
5) It's a tricky wicket to navigate through in these circumstances. I totally understand this. My opinion on what you could do?....... perhaps use these pads. They are a terrific free gift for you. Perhaps play the kit with the mutes on for a few hours to warm up etc then take them off and play unmuted for a few hours.
6) I feel absolutely no spite from your neighbours' actions here. To me it's a genuine attempt to keep all parties happy. It's not all about what you want to do and it's not about what they want to do. I believe that they recognise this.
And as @Yamaha Rider has mentioned, ultimately they haven't caused the initial problem.
I guess it's easy to predict that if you choose to ignore their suggestions and just think of yourself, you are going to get into some trouble I'm afraid.
Mate, I'll give you my opinion here on this situation.
1) I really feel like this is a much better approach by your neighbours than many others I've seen. Drum mutes aren't cheap. They aren't telling you to stop altogether and they seem to recognise that you enjoy your drumming.
2) There was mention of finding it difficult to sleep by your neighbour. Well, maybe this person is a shift worker like me. I think it's a very fair, rational letter in this regard. Again, they are not telling you to stop altogether. They aren't being abusive.
3) Drums ARE actually loud. Sound properties are interesting and sound can travel some distance. Your local council do have services which can measure your decibel levels.
4) Unfortunately we also have a responsibility to behave within the bounds of what would be deemed appropriate. If you are smashing away at the drums for absolutely hours and hours on end on a Saturday.......well they kinda may have a point here.
5) It's a tricky wicket to navigate through in these circumstances. I totally understand this. My opinion on what you could do?....... perhaps use these pads. They are a terrific free gift for you. Perhaps play the kit with the mutes on for a few hours to warm up etc then take them off and play unmuted for a few hours.
6) I feel absolutely no spite from your neighbours' actions here. To me it's a genuine attempt to keep all parties happy. It's not all about what you want to do and it's not about what they want to do. I believe that they recognise this.
And as @Yamaha Rider has mentioned, ultimately they haven't caused the initial problem.
I guess it's easy to predict that if you choose to ignore their suggestions and just think of yourself, you are going to get into some trouble I'm afraid.
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dcrigger
PRO DRUMMER
I gotta agree with the this....
To the OP...
We've all been through this at one time or another (except those that live on a farm, in the woods, or on acres of land) and this was probably the most civil reach-out from a neighbor I've ever seen.
The distance thing doesn't surprise me at all - drums, particular bass drums, can end up being louder a block away than they are next door. But the fact they are carrying that far makes me want to ask, if you're doing anything to mitigate the sound. Are you playing in a room with as few windows and doors as possible? Are they all closed? Are you playing in a garage - unfinished with an unsealed door? (which would be nearly the same as just playing outdoors).
I get you feel you have the right to do this - but the unfortunate reality is, your neighbors have the right to not be bombarded by it. (And sorry to all the lawn mower comparison folks - but they really don't compare - and are rarely used for hours on end, week end and week out). I think it's great that you've checked out the local ordinances - but I would be wary of thinking that is an absolute. Most every community has nuisance laws - which pretty much boil down to, if enough people complain about something for long enough, it will be declared a nuisance....
Most residential communities have restrictions on setting up auto body, car repair, etc. shops in residential neighborhoods - same goes with theaters, clubs and bars - and folks that want to make (in this case) performance level noise on a regular basis can often fall prey to those laws - even if there is no actual business involved. "If it sounds like duck, it can be treated like a duck".
Of course, you do what you want. But my advice is this.... IMO these neighbors have approached you about this in an unusual, but basically civil, nice way. Personally I would do whatever I could to make things better - up your soundproofing, watch those evening hours (evenings make sense for short periods durning the week, but on weekends?) - and now that you are aware there is an issue, I'd think twice about hosting any jams.... unless you're just dead set on proving you are right that you have the right, and that right is absolute. Even though that might not be the case.
dcrigger
PRO DRUMMER
Regarding Los Angeles - I lived in LA proper during the 80's and at that time (in the city itself), and I had grown up in an Orange County suburb where the law was defined as anything 9pm was a no-no. Imagine my surprise, when a policeman rang the doorbell during a jazz rehearsal on a Tuesday afternoon informing me there had been a complaint, so we needed to turn it down. As a further complaints would lead to a citation.
Needless to say, I questioned the officer about this - as in "Huh? It's 2pm on a Tuesday afternoon. So what are the time limits?" Nice guy - very patient with me.... "There aren't any time limits", he said. "If someone complains... it is too loud". I was flabbergasted - and he understood that - and was nice enough to stop the next day to give me a copy of the actual statute.... and there is was.... "If someone complains..." I know since then, they've added the whole no power tools, lawn mowers, etc. before 7 bit - and really don't know if that law is still the same. Or if you could actually get a squad car sent out in response to such a complaint.... just don't know. But that's the way it was back then.
All the more reason, why I'm a big fan of window plugs - and playing in rooms with no exterior doors. It is possible to totally eliminate the problem (I've done it with previous home studios) - but that is very expensive. But knocking the sound down quite a bit can be done reasonably affordably.
Ei
I haven't opened the package with the note yet im going to find out who landed it if I can and give it back to them if you lived near by I would be glad to give them to you.
Al Strange
Platinum Member
I’m a big proponent of not making life more difficult than it has to be. I couldn’t enjoy practice if I knew I was making someone else’s life a misery in the process (even if legally I’m within my rights to do so). I know that the way I play doesn’t lend itself to playing my acoustic drums in my current house/neighbourhood so I make do with the pad. I’d rather move than have a beef with a neighbour tbh. My house is a peaceful retreat for me and my family and I want to keep it that way. I do like the fact that if a neighbour ever gets obnoxious with noise I have a nuclear double bass option to hit them back with.
Caz
Senior Member
Practising with mutes isn’t great, is there anywhere nearby you can rent to practice? My neighbours are all pretty cool, I’ve invited them in, tested the sound from theirs and asked them to let me know if any issues. The lease for our building says we can practice musical instruments 7am-11pm. So I do practice at home and have a quieter setup for this, but I still pay monthly rent on a space where I can practice properly. It’s not cheap and is tempting to save on the expense, but people around me work shifts, have babies etc so it works out best for everyone. I think practising away from home has other benefits too.
Rock Salad
Silver Member
I have to disagree with those who found the anonymous note civil. Making a demand to a stranger without even identifying yourself or any possibility of discussion is not civil in my mind. I’d consider it more civil to cuss him out and insult him but sign your name and open a dialogue
Just buy some ear plugs and write and anonymous note and drop them on porches, seems an equally “civil” response
It’s not that their concern is unimportant, their unconditional non specific demand is not neighborly in my book
Just buy some ear plugs and write and anonymous note and drop them on porches, seems an equally “civil” response
It’s not that their concern is unimportant, their unconditional non specific demand is not neighborly in my book
Caz
Senior Member
Yeah that's fair enough with the mutes, it's not the same. My spot isn't necessarily a music rehearsal space, it's just a private space shared with one other drummer - he only comes in once a week to teach - we have separate kits and separate areas. I've rented a few places like this in arts studios, railway arches, industrial estates etc, somewhere to leave a kit set up where noise isn't an issue. Like Al said, I can't practice properly knowing that it could be disturbing neighbours. So far they have all said they can't actually hear me practising at all so it's not really an issue, but I have lived in places before where it has annoyed people so it's just something I'm aware of and I rent the space for peace of mind.
A J
Silver Member
You're not being "harsh" at all. You're just being direct and honest. I like that.
You're already making some charitable accommodations simply by limiting the time frame in which you play. It's too bad the neighbor who complained didn't approach you face-to-face. You seem like a reasonable guy. Just that fact you're bringing this up on the forum shows that you do, in fact, care. During a face-to-face meeting, I'm sure the two of you could come up with a solution that would be agreeable to both sides.
If it were me, I'd probably take a slightly gentler approach and perhaps deaden the room a bit, or possibly muffle the drums. Nothing wrong with your approach, especially given the fact the complainer won't even identify themselves.
A couple years ago a neighbor's pot field was stinking up my place. He was violating township ordinances and I could have easily had him cited. Instead; I just knocked on the door and talked to the guy. It took a couple visits and it wasn't perfect, but we got it under control and no authorities were ever contacted.
A J
Silver Member
Dropping off anonymous notes isn't my style either. It's weak.
It's the kind of thing a group of old ladies did at a gig a while back. They sat next to the mains and then made multiple complaints about our volume to the waitress and bartender.
I totally agree with your comment man.
They went through the trouble and expense of dropping off mutes on your doorstep. Seems like it would have been easier to leave a note: "My name is John. I live on the block behind you and can't help noticing when you practice on your drums. I'd like to talk to you about it. Here's my phone number - please call, thanks!"
Too easy. But like has been mentioned, at least they didn't call the cops.
Too easy. But like has been mentioned, at least they didn't call the cops.
