Drum Dampening Products: Controlling Ring and Sustain

Drum dampening products control sustain and overtones that may interfere with desired sound. While drums naturally resonate, that resonance is not always musical or appropriate for specific applications. Understanding available dampening products enables controlling drum sound effectively without over-muffling.

Why Dampening Matters

Drums produce complex sounds including fundamental pitch, overtones, and sympathetic resonance. Not all of this content is desirable in every context.

Recording microphones capture sustain that live audiences never notice. The accumulated ring can create muddy, undefined drum sounds in recordings and amplified settings.

Different musical styles have different sustain expectations. Jazz often embraces open, ringy drums; rock often prefers controlled, punchy drums. Dampening enables matching drum sound to musical context.

Excessive dampening deadens drums, removing musicality along with ring. The goal is control, not elimination—reducing problematic frequencies while preserving desirable tone.

Gel Dampeners

Moongel, Rtom, and similar gel dampeners provide simple, effective control. The sticky gel pads adhere to heads, absorbing specific frequencies based on placement and quantity.

Placement near the edge controls higher overtones. Placement toward the center controls fundamental sustain more aggressively. The position affects which frequencies are dampened.

Multiple gels increase dampening effect. Starting with one gel and adding more as needed prevents over-dampening. The incremental approach finds optimal control.

Gels can fall off during aggressive playing. Some drummers carry extras for replacement. The temporary adhesion works for most applications.

The clear or colored gels are visible on heads. This matters for visual presentation in some contexts but is irrelevant for recording and most live work.

Dampening Rings

O-rings (Evans E-Ring, Remo RemO’s) sit on head edges, controlling overtones without affecting the center playing area. The ring contact dampens higher frequencies.

The ring coverage affects dampening intensity. Wider rings provide more control; narrower rings provide subtle dampening. Various widths address different needs.

Rings stay in place reliably. Unlike gels, rings don’t migrate or fall off. The stable positioning provides consistent results.

The edge placement preserves center articulation. The attack remains clear while sustain diminishes. This targeted approach suits many applications.

Rings can be stacked for increased dampening. Two rings provide more control than one. The cumulative effect enables fine-tuning.

Internal Dampeners

Built-in internal dampeners (Evans EMAD, Remo Powerstroke) provide control without external additions. The dampening is part of the head design.

Kick drum heads commonly include internal dampening. The controlled sustain suits bass drum applications where extended ring is rarely desired.

The fixed dampening cannot be adjusted once installed. The head choice commits to a dampening level. Changing dampening requires changing heads.

Some internal dampeners offer adjustment (EMAD dampening rings can be swapped). This flexibility provides some customization within the design.

Muffles and Pillows

External muffles physically contact the head surface, controlling vibration through mass and friction. Various products address different applications.

Big Fat Snare Drum (BFSD) and similar products sit on snare heads, creating fat, controlled sound. The dramatic effect suits specific applications.

Internal pillows and blankets in kick drums control resonance through absorption. The traditional approach remains effective despite newer alternatives.

The degree of contact affects dampening intensity. Light contact provides subtle control; heavy contact provides maximum dampening.

Tape Solutions

Gaffer tape, duct tape, and specialized drum tape provide economical dampening. The adhesive strips control ring effectively.

Tape is inexpensive and readily available. The accessibility makes it common for quick adjustments. Many drummers carry tape for emergencies.

The appearance may be undesirable for visual presentation. Tape strips visible on heads look unprofessional in some contexts.

Tape residue can damage heads over time. The adhesive may leave marks or degrade head coating. Regular tape users should monitor head condition.

Folded tape or tape with tissue creates adjustable dampening. The added mass increases control beyond tape alone.

Felt Strips and Patches

Felt strips inside kick drums provide traditional dampening. The material absorbs low-frequency energy effectively.

Pre-cut felt patches (Remo Falam Slam, Evans EQ Pad) protect heads while providing dampening. The dual function adds value.

The positioning of felt affects results. Contact with both batter and resonant heads provides maximum control. Contact with one head provides partial dampening.

Head Choice as Dampening

Controlled heads (hydraulic, double-ply with dampening) provide built-in control. Choosing appropriately dampened heads may eliminate need for external products.

This approach simplifies setup—no additional products to position and maintain. The integrated dampening provides consistent results.

However, built-in dampening cannot be removed. External products offer adjustment flexibility that head choice lacks.

Application-Specific Approaches

Snare drums typically benefit from subtle dampening. Excessive control removes crack and musicality. Gels or thin rings often provide optimal balance.

Toms often need more control than snares. Rings or multiple gels address extended tom sustain effectively.

Kick drums tolerate heavy dampening. The low-frequency character survives significant control. Internal muffling is common and effective.

Finding the Right Amount

Start with minimal dampening and add gradually. Under-dampening is easily corrected; over-dampening is equally easy to reduce.

Record test tracks to evaluate dampening. What sounds good in the room may not translate through microphones. The recorded result matters most for recording applications.

Trust ears over appearance. The visible amount of dampening has no necessary relationship to sonic results. Judge by sound, not sight.

The Balance

Dampening should control problems without eliminating musicality. Drums are meant to resonate—complete deadening removes their character.

The goal is appropriate sustain for the context, not maximum or minimum sustain universally. Different applications warrant different approaches.

Finding optimal dampening requires experimentation. The interaction between drums, heads, dampening products, room acoustics, and musical context creates complex results that trial and error reveals.