Must-Have Drum Accessories for Quieter Practice
You can greatly reduce the overall volume of your drum kit by using low volume cymbals and low volume drum heads. You can practice rudiments (almost) silently with a practice pad. Swapping from drum sticks to brushes will lower your volume further. And using a drum tuner will keep your tone consistent when swapping between different drum heads.
Yes, Low Volume Cymbals Sound Like Real Cymbals
Low volume cymbals are notably quieter while offering the familiar wash, splash, and feel of traditional cymbals. By reducing the amount of high frequency energy in your room you’ll not only be able to play quieter, you’ll also record cleaner drum tone in your home studio. While low volume cymbals are significantly quieter than traditional cymbals, you can still use them for recording and live performance.
Best Low Volume Cymbals in 2026
Zildjian’s low volume cymbals are up to 80% quieter than traditional cymbals. I’ve worked with a drummer that practiced, recorded and performed with these cymbals, and his tone was fantastic. This 3-pack comes with 14-inch hats, a 16-inch crash, and 18-inch crash ride.
These durable brass-alloy cymbals generate a fraction of the volume of normal cymbals, while maintaining a responsive feel that makes it easy to transition back to real cymbals. This 3-pack includes 14-inch hats, a 16-inch crash, and a larger 20-inch ride.
This Sabian Quiet Tone cymbal set is the best bang for your buck if you want a crash/crash/ride setup. This 4-pack includes 14-inch hats, 16- and 18-inch crashes, and a 20-inch ride. Players report great tone and stick feel, with positive results both in rehearsal and small-format performances.
Yes, Low Volume Drum Heads Feel Good To Play On
Low volume drum heads will drastically lower the volume of your drum kit: along with low-volume cymbals, your neighbors may think you’ve stopped playing altogether. However, unlike low volume cymbals, I do not recommend low volume drum heads for performance or recording: swap out to real drum heads outside of practice applications. Also know that it’s important to use fresh sticks with low-volume drum heads: worn stick tips can wear down and damage mesh heads over time.
Best Low Volume Drum Heads in 2026
These low-volume mesh heads are the quietest practice heads you’ll find. This 5-pack comes with 10-, 12, 14-, 16-, and 22-inch mesh heads (a 24-inch bass drum head is also available separately). Players report a responsive, bouncy feel and much lower volume compared to standard drum heads.
Evans designed dB One low-volume heads to feel more like real drum heads while drastically lowering volume. They’re not as quiet as the Remo Silentstroke heads, but players report a more natural playing feel and stick response. This 5-piece pack includes, 10-, 12-, 14-, 16-, and 22-inch heads.
Use a Drum Tuner When Swapping Heads for Consistent Tone
The best way to swap between low-volume drum heads and regular heads is with a drum tuner. I think the Overtone Labs Tune-Bot Studio Digital Drum Tuner is by far the best drum tuner for any drummer that values their tone. Clip it to the side of any drum on your kit between two lugs, tap the drum head near the lug, and tighten it until it’s in tune. It comes with tuning recommendations, and you can save five different kit presets for easy recall of your favorite tunings.
Practice with Brushes for Lower Volume with Traditional Heads
A great way to lower your drum volume when using traditional drum heads is by swapping to brushes instead of sticks. I’m specifying normal drum heads because I do not recommend using them with low-volume mesh heads, as the brushes could damage the mesh.
Best Brushes in 2026
Heritage Brushes have light-gauge wires for a faster, lighter feel than heavier-gauge brushes. The brushes are retractable, allowing you to achieve a stick-like response at tighter settings.
The Monster Brush features heavy-gauge nylon polymer strands instead of metal wires, giving them a unique stick-like sound without the weight of wire brushes. They’re adjustable, ranging from a stick-like response at one extreme to responsive, washy brush at the other.
You Can Enjoy Great Drum Tone at Low Volume
Every component of your drum kit can be optimized for lower volume, and the best place to start is with low-volume cymbals. You’ll likely find that low-volume cymbals can sound great for recording and even live performance too. The next step is to swap out your drum heads for low volume mesh drum heads. You’ll want to swap back for band rehearsals, recording and performance, so get a good drum tuner to make head changes easy and consistent. If you don’t want to mess with changing your drum heads, swap your sticks for brushes to help lower your volume.
WANT TO ENHANCE YOUR HOME DRUM RECORDINGS? LEARN HOW TO GET BIG-ROOM DRUM SOUNDS IN SMALL STUDIOS!
- Introduction
- Yes, Low Volume Cymbals Sound Like Real Cymbals
- Best Low Volume Cymbals in 2026
- Yes, Low Volume Drum Heads Feel Good To Play On
- Best Low Volume Drum Heads in 2026
- Use a Drum Tuner When Swapping Heads for Consistent Tone
- Practice with Brushes for Lower Volume with Traditional Heads
- Best Brushes in 2026
- You Can Enjoy Great Drum Tone at Low Volume
