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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Drumming

39 replies

Drumbalina · 29/05/2023 16:10

AIBU… neighbour drumming in their house which is audible from our house and garden up and across the street?! Driving me mad. Surely some effort should be made to soundproof or use electric drums?!

OP posts:
elevenplusdilemma · 29/05/2023 16:13

YABU unless they're doing it in the early morning or late at night. Lots of things that people do in their own homes make noise that others can hear: DIY, mowing the lawn, tinkering with the car, dogs barking, babies crying etc. It's something you just have to put up with when you live in the vicinity of other homes.

Original poster
Drumbalina · 29/05/2023 16:15

But all the above is normal noise and can’t be made quieter. Drums could be soundproofed or use headphones surely?!

OP posts:
peacelemon · 29/05/2023 16:16

As long as its for no longer than an hour I don't see the issue.

GiveupHQ · 29/05/2023 16:16

just today? Or ongoing?

have you popped around and politely asked for them to turn it down? Or simply started a mumsnet thread? The latter won’t reduce the noise levels

deplorabelle · 29/05/2023 16:19

How do you know it isn't already soundproofed? Depends how loud really. Audible in daylight is fair enough. So loud you can't have a conversation over it? Maybe not

LocoMoko · 29/05/2023 16:20

Musicians need to practice.

If after 10pm or before 8am or longer than an hour then I'd perhaps let them know that it's impacting you, otherwise, tough.

Plumbear2 · 29/05/2023 16:24

One of my boys plays. He does an hour a day practise for his GCSE and leisure play. It's never before mid day and never after 7pm. Like another poster said their are many other ways to make noise, eg drilling for up to 6 hours by a neighbour at unsociable hours. At least my boy dosent do that.

determinedtomakethiswork · 29/05/2023 16:26

You can tell, who doesn't have a drummer living nearby!

CoreyTaylorsSoggyTshirt · 29/05/2023 16:29

My dd drums.

I've told my immediate neighbours what time she will practice and given them my number in case it pisses them off too much, but they are really great.

Not a lot else I can do, and I certainly wouldn't be changing anything for anyone except my next door neighbours.

EdieLedwell · 29/05/2023 16:29

Can you ask them to let you know when they plan to practice/play? If there was a schedule it would feel like less of an onslaught when it happens

KrisAkabusi · 29/05/2023 16:39

How often? For how long? What time? You're not answering these questions.
Also electric drums and practice pads both feel different to a standard drum kit, so they are going to have to use real drums at some point if they are going to be any good/are already professional.

peacelemon · 29/05/2023 16:41

Yeah ask for a schedule? Or if there can be a time-limit of 30mins in a go

Original poster
Drumbalina · 29/05/2023 16:44

They are definitely not professional!
this time it was an hour. Happens every few days, seemingly no pattern to what time.

OP posts:
CoreyTaylorsSoggyTshirt · 29/05/2023 16:47

Drumbalina · 29/05/2023 16:44

They are definitely not professional!
this time it was an hour. Happens every few days, seemingly no pattern to what time.

An hour of noise every few days, at a reasonable time, really isn't a big deal.

churrios · 29/05/2023 16:50

I’m not sure how a drum kit could be sound proofed. Sounds like it’s a kid learning an instrument which can be considered ‘normal noise’. Or is it normal if you make noise and not ok for others.

Original poster
Drumbalina · 29/05/2023 16:53

We don’t make excessive noise. Certainly no music, DIY, dogs or kids. I think we are overly considerate and a lot of people sadly aren’t!

OP posts:
JustFrustrated · 29/05/2023 16:55

The drummer half way down the street opposite is currently on his 5th hour. He stops every so often for 10 minutes or so, and then it starts again.

Day, after day after fucking day.

I can hear it in my back garden at the very far end, I feel so sorry for his neighbours.

Original poster
Drumbalina · 29/05/2023 16:56

Ooh that sounds unbearable. I feel for you!

OP posts:
towriteyoumustlive · 29/05/2023 16:57

YABU

Its an hour if drum practice and good to see someone who wants to improve.

I'd much rather my kids spent an hour doing music than on a screen...

TheSnowyOwl · 29/05/2023 16:58

Go and have a chat and see if a mutually agreeable resolution can be found, although be aware that they don’t need to do anything (as annoying as it might be to you). It’s possible it’s a beginner learning and they will improve or it could be that it’s a sensory outlet for a child with sen.

GiveupHQ · 29/05/2023 16:59

So I’m guessing you have not bothered to stroll over there and ask them politely to turn it down?

I am also guessing this isn’t a regular occurrence and toddy first day it’s happened

GiveupHQ · 29/05/2023 17:00

Ah sorry does happen
very infrequently and for short periods of time

BeBraveAndBeKind · 29/05/2023 17:01

My son is a drummer and we used to live next door to a drummer. There are ways to decrease the noise on an acoustic set through muffling pads on the drum/stuffing the base drum with a pillow. My neighbour had an electric kit so he wore headphones when I texted him (sometimes at 3am) to cut the noise.

Having said that, an hour during the day a couple of days a week wouldn't bother me and I'd rather listen to that then to some of the shite that gets blasted in people's gardens as soon as the sun comes out.

Summertimesmile · 29/05/2023 17:01

KrisAkabusi · 29/05/2023 16:39

How often? For how long? What time? You're not answering these questions.
Also electric drums and practice pads both feel different to a standard drum kit, so they are going to have to use real drums at some point if they are going to be any good/are already professional.

No that’s not true. One of mine has passed grade 8 with distinction and has never had an acoustic kit, mainly because I’m not prepared to subject my neighbours to it. We have upgraded the electric kit a couple of times and it’s more expensive than an acoustic one but it’s perfectly suitable for her, who plans on playing professionally. If she wants to play acoustic she plays on the kits at school or hires a practice room in a studio for a couPle of hours

GoodChat · 29/05/2023 17:02

TheSnowyOwl · 29/05/2023 16:58

Go and have a chat and see if a mutually agreeable resolution can be found, although be aware that they don’t need to do anything (as annoying as it might be to you). It’s possible it’s a beginner learning and they will improve or it could be that it’s a sensory outlet for a child with sen.

If they have only done it for an hour in the middle of the day I'm not sure there's any compromise to reach.