The original drum kit shipped with Rock Band is anything but quiet. The newer drums are substantially nicer, both in build quality and overall noise produced. Those with the original drum kit are left in the dust unless they’d like to shell out for the new drums.

I’ve come across an inexpensive way to quiet (not silence) your original drums – foam padding. I picked up 4 pieces of 2mm thick 9″x12″ foam sheets and cut a circle in each one to put on each pad. I chose to use black for all four pads because I couldn’t find a yellow sheet at the retailer I was at. I cut a circle in each piece of foam that’s just smaller than each drum pad so you can still see the color ring on the pad. Luckily, I was able to trace-cut each piece using a scalpel and a dinner plate that was just the right size. I secured the foam to the pad using double-sided tape.

How much did this cost me? Each piece of foam was 33 cents and the tape was around $2.50. Overall cost comes in under $4 and takes about 15 minutes to do. The tape isn’t the best method of attachment, but its easily reversible. My drums are now quieter and carry a different pitch when they’re struck. It’s not nearly as annoying as they are when they’re naked.

The minor downside of using tape to attach the foam is that the pad still moves a little, so small air pockets form. Luckily, you can smooth these out easily using just your hand.