Do You Need A Pillow In Your Bass Drum? Unleashing the Boom

Do you need a pillow in your bass drum? This is a big question that many drummers ask themselves when they are putting together their own kits. 

For a more focused sound, you will want to put a pillow inside your kit’s bass drum. Jazz drummers like a punchier sound and use pillows to keep the sound decay short so it doesn’t overwhelm the other instruments. Rock musicians use no or less padding so that the drum produces a long “booming” sound.

It’s really a personal preference that you will experiment with as you develop your skills as a drummer. You may also end up using a pillow (or other types of padding) for some gigs and not for others. The key is to develop a sound that you like while being flexible to try different things to alter your sound.

How Do You Put A Pillow In A Bass Drum?

Place the pillow so that one of the long edges sits against the batter head of your kick drum. It’s okay if it touches the front head a little, but the less it touches the more of an open, booming sound you’ll get.

You can slide the pillow forward so that it sits against the front head and lightly touches the beater head (basically the opposite of the one above.) This will dampen the sound even more.

Alternatively, you can turn the pillow so that the short ends of the pillow touch the drum heads. To have the most focussed and muffled sound, place the short edge of the pillow so that it runs roughly halfway up the beater head.

You may use tape or rubber bands around the perimeter to keep it in place as well if needed.

The front facing drum head should have a hole in it that you don’t want to block. This hole allows air to pass through and gives it that “boomy” sound. If you block this hole your bass drum won’t resonate and will sound dead.

When Should I Put A Pillow In A Bass Drum?

Obviously, it’s best to have the pillow in your bass drum before you start playing since taking of drum heads can be cumbersome and takes a little time. 

If you’re already in the middle of a gig and fin that your sound is too boomy and needs to be more focused then the next time you take a break put a pillow or blanket inside. This will create better sound quality and volume for future gigs as well. 

If this is not possible, just play with less energy or get someone else to help hold down both sides of the drumhead while you place the pillow inside.

If you’re just practicing and trying to refine your sound, then experiment. I keep mentioning pillows in this article, but many people use heavy blankets or foam. There is no right or wrong material…whatever you find gives you the sound you want and is easiest to use is what is right for you.

Should I Muffle my Bass Drum for Certain Music Styles?

The decision to muffle your bass drum for certain music styles depends on your personal preference and the desired sound you want to achieve. Muffling can alter the tone and characteristics of the bass drum, and it is often used to control its resonance and sustain.

In some music styles, such as jazz or softer acoustic settings, a more controlled and focused bass drum sound is often preferred.

Muffling techniques like using a pillow or blanket inside the drum, using dampening pads or gels, or adjusting the drumhead tension can help achieve a shorter and punchier sound.

On the other hand, in genres like rock, metal, or some pop styles, a fuller and more resonant bass drum sound is often desired.

Muffling may not be necessary in these cases, as the longer sustain and booming qualities of the bass drum can enhance the overall impact and energy of the music.

The Benefits Of Having A Pillow In Your Bass Drum

• Sound Bleed – A pillow inside your drum set’s kick drum helps isolate the sound from other instruments which will make for a better mix. The sound engineer won’t have to worry about sound bleed into other instruments’ microphones.
• Mix – You’ll have a better sound quality and volume in the mix. A pillow in your bass drum will help give you a drier sound (less reverb.) While this doesn’t sound ideal your music mixer will thank you for it. It’s a lot easier to add reverb than it is to take it away.
• Be Unique – It’s a great way to tweak your sound and shape it to me “your” sound. It’s a subtle thing, but when combined with other changes (drum heads, sticks, cymbal style, etc.) you’ll end up with a unique sound.
• It’s Inexpensive – Unless you score that big record deal right out of high school, it’s likely you’re going to be a musician on a budget like the rest of us. While the drums and heads themselves can get pricey pillows or other muffling objects are a cheap way to get that sound you’re looking for.

The Disadvantages Of Having A Pillow In Your Bass Drum

There are some disadvantages to using a pillow in your bass drum, but these are usually more of an annoyance than anything else…but I figured I’d mention them anyways just so you’re aware.

• An Extra Expense – pillows aren’t “standard issue” with a new drum set so you’ll have to provide your own. Luckily, they’re cheap! 
• Degrade – pillows may need replacing after a while if they’re made from natural materials like cotton which will deteriorate over time, especially when exposed to moisture. This is especially true if you use them while playing in cold weather as well since there’s less warmth being trapped inside the cushion.
• Distraction – pillows will make more noise when you play. Sure, it’s a small amount but every little bit counts! 
• Fluffiness Factor– having too much fluff in your bass drum can lead to some less than desirable sound quality.

Again, these are more annoyances than outright disadvantages. The only one that could be a persistent problem is the distraction category I listed above. If you’re playing gigs or (and probably more importantly) a new player just learning, the less bothersome distraction you have while playing, the better!

What Are Other Ways To Muffle A Kick Drum?

A standard bed pillow seems to be the most common muffling object that you’ll find inside most drummers kick drums. But if you find that sound too punchy and want a little more boom to your sound…or you just want an alternative to a pillow there are a few things to look into. 

• Rolled Up Towel – A rolled-up towel will create a similar effect as the pillow without having to fit it inside your kick drum. The best part of this is that you can toss it in there for use at any time and then just take it out when you’re done.
• Blanket – Since you can roll up a blanket or fold it into different thicknesses, it will offer more sound options than a pillow would.
• Speaker Baffles – Commonly used on home stereo speakers to reduce echo inside of small rooms and to give sound better clarity, they can also be used by drummers to help muffle their kick drums.
• T-Shirt – Attach a t-shirt around the head of your kick drum. This method provides the lightest muffling so you can still have a nice “boomy” sound.