Tips for playing with neighbors

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Adam

Posts: 1156
Joined: Dec. 6 2006
From: Hamilton, ON

Tips for playing with neighbors

So after four years of dorm life in the States with nary a complaint about incessant guitar-playing, here in merry ole England it seems like everything I strum a chord one of the neighbors is at my door a-knockin'. Anyone have tips for getting in practice when there are neighbors who study 24/7 and apparently can't deal with the sultry tones of a Bernal reverberating through their dwelling?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 4 2010 13:44:27

Argaith

Posts: 481
Joined: May 6 2009
From: Iran (living in London)

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to Adam)

Welcome to my world!

Mind you I have only once been criticised by a neighbour and that was the only one who does not play music. I am surrounded by neibours who play electric guitars and other instruments.

However, I can only practice in the evenings (normally after 10 pm). I am not too bothered about the neibours but I don't want to wake my children up. Its a hell of a lot of work to put them to sleep.

I use the good old piece of sponge under the strings and that does the trick. I know it is not ideal and it really pisses me off that I can't hear THE SOUND of my guitar but that's the best I get!

I think my little girl can still hear the guitar because she's always humming the songs that I play!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 4 2010 14:03:54

yohan

Posts: 306
Joined: Feb. 5 2007

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to Adam)

join the club

best tip is move to a beautiful quite ranch in Andalusia where your neighbours dont mind doing palmas only all day

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 4 2010 14:13:58

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to Argaith)

quote:

but I don't want to wake my children up. Its a hell of a lot of work to put them to sleep.

I use the good old piece of sponge

HaHa!....I thought you were going to say "in their ears"

Yeah Ramparts...the sponge or cloth under the strings is about the best you can do.
Even then, you might still get some fussy folk complaining.

I usually put the Radio or TV sound up to a reasonable volume to help mask the guitar sound.

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 4 2010 14:30:37

Florian

Posts: 9282
Joined: Jul. 14 2003
From: Adelaide/Australia

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to Ron.M)

you stick a sock under your strings...u can still softly hear yourself and its good for practice anyway...

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 4 2010 14:36:28

orsonw

Posts: 1941
Joined: Jul. 4 2009
From: London

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to Florian)

quote:

quote:

but I don't want to wake my children up. Its a hell of a lot of work to put them to sleep.

I use the good old piece of sponge

HaHa!....I thought you were going to say "in their ears"

Good one Ron! Thanks for making me laugh.

On topic- I feel for you Ramparts, I hope you find a solution.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 4 2010 15:05:48

HemeolaMan

Posts: 1514
Joined: Jul. 13 2007
From: Chicago

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to Adam)

no no no, its easier than all that. you can enjoy the full volume of your guitar..... just kill all your neighbors.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 4 2010 15:23:15

XXX

Posts: 4400
Joined: Apr. 14 2005

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to HemeolaMan)

quote:

ORIGINAL: HemeolaMan

no no no, its easier than all that. you can enjoy the full volume of your guitar..... just kill all your neighbors.

better: make them commit suicide because of your playing.

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Фламенко

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 4 2010 15:24:54

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to HemeolaMan)

quote:

just kill all your neighbors.

Unfortunately, that's against the law though....

You could just move to a really rough area where the neighbours can't hear you for watching TV shows at full volume or screaming and fighting and strangling the wife...

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 4 2010 15:40:19

rombsix

Posts: 7817
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to Adam)

Stuff beach towels into the guitar through the soundhole. Better if they're damp.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 4 2010 16:53:44

HemeolaMan

Posts: 1514
Joined: Jul. 13 2007
From: Chicago

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to Adam)

true, but if all of your neighbors are dead there'll be no one around to tell the police who did it!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 4 2010 16:58:29

n85ae

Posts: 877
Joined: Sep. 7 2006

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to Argaith)

I never stopped playing when my kids were born, so I can play all night long now
since it's part of their usual sleep routine to hear guitar playing. 5 & 7 - no guitar related sleep problems at all. :)

Jeff

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 4 2010 17:03:27

Richard Jernigan

Posts: 3433
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to Adam)

I'm not sure what the English equivalent would be, but this worked pretty well in Austin, Texas.

We had a loud party going. The neighbors upstairs pounded on the floor a couple of times, then shouted. The host of our party disappeared into his bedroom.

When the knock on the front door finally occurred, the ex-Marine host appeared in his full dress Sergeant's uniform, complete with gold braid, white hat and sword. He yanked the door open and bellowed, "What the Hell do you want??!!"

The upstairs complainer muttered an apology and retreated.

RNJ

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 4 2010 17:03:57

HemeolaMan

Posts: 1514
Joined: Jul. 13 2007
From: Chicago

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to Adam)

Actually, the best way to get them to shut up is to buy a few cases of beer and have them over for an evening. do that once in a while and i bet they wont complain about your playing any more!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 4 2010 17:10:36

Adam

Posts: 1156
Joined: Dec. 6 2006
From: Hamilton, ON

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to HemeolaMan)

Eh, I wish. This is pretty much all coming from my college's fairly large contingent of non-drinking Asian students. I have, however, extended a standing offer to anyone in the staircase with a complaint to talk about it over some sherry and a flamenco serenade. No one's taken me up on it yet.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 4 2010 17:13:38

JasonMcGuire

Posts: 1141
Joined: Apr. 10 2007

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to Adam)

take up the violin or cello for a month or so...... then go back to guitar. they will never complain again

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 4 2010 17:24:16

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to JasonMcGuire)

quote:

take up the violin or cello for a month or so...... then go back to guitar. they will never complain again

Or the Trumpet!

Jeez....I feel embarrassed now and really sorry for what I put my neighbours through when I look back at when I was 13. No joking.

BTW...There used to be a kid up the road from me who practised the bagpipes on a Sunday afternoon.
You could hear it up and down the street.

He was really good actually!

My Christmas present for people I don't like is to buy their kid a toy metal drum.

(Great for Sunday morning hangovers.)

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 4 2010 17:58:18

Elie

Posts: 1837
Joined: Apr. 10 2010

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to Adam)

Man you're lucky

at least you can play softly and your neighbors won't be bothered
you don't have a room mate like the one I have

who will say "stop playing this **** I wanna sleep" when you start playing

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 4 2010 18:56:54

Mohan

Posts: 42
Joined: Mar. 23 2010
From: Dunstable, England

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to Adam)

Doesn't Cambridge have a music department with lots of practise rooms? Why not book some practise time there a few times a week and use the sponge/sock/towel trick for the rest of the time?

I believe some people have also made use of "silent guitars" from companies like Yamaha, but they don't come cheap. However, you can use them with headphones or just acoustically. I believe one foro member even added a tap plate to his guitar so that he can do golpes...

I've had it great for the last year, because both my neighbours passed away about a year ago - no HemelaMan, I had nothing to do with it

Unfortunately, a new neighbour moved in last weekend and I've had to be more "considerate" once again

Good luck! Mohan.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 4 2010 20:55:35

Guest

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to Mohan)

quote:

"silent guitars"

would'nt spend the money...well i did but soon came up with plan B
spent $60 on an old plywood valencia guitar...bit of shaving at the nut and bridge...etc..a few tweeks to get it to feel right..
jammed a pillow or two in it...
thing had no tone or volume to begin with..even less so now
also the sock underneath the strings...
i live in units but can practice anytime with a sleeping baby in the next room..

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 4 2010 21:41:06

felipe

Posts: 39
Joined: Jul. 1 2010
From: Poland

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to Adam)

I use a bit of sponge. And I practise usually early in the morning (not too much time during the day hours), so everybody sleeps, and they don't hear the guitar. I also have some neighbours that play instruments (violin, piano, electric guitar, flute), so even if I do a bit louder during the day, it's no problem. But my brother used to play a drum set (in his own room), and he had lots of visitors every day, so he had made a schedule (discussed with neighbours) of playing hours. Finally, one of them found a place on the backyard of a school to put a the drumset and play.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 5 2010 11:18:38

rombsix

Posts: 7817
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to Guest)

quote:

jammed a pillow or two in it...
thing had no tone or volume to begin with..even less so now
also the sock underneath the strings...

Damn!!!

You've taken this thing to the next level, mate!

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Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 5 2010 11:35:37

marrow3

Posts: 166
Joined: Mar. 1 2009

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to Adam)

university accommodation usually have a policy for practicing musical instruments, e.g between 10 am and 9 pm, 1 hr. You should be able to claim fair use being a student and not a monk!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 5 2010 11:47:08

Chiste de Gales

Posts: 298
Joined: Jan. 13 2009

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to Adam)

Not so much a problem for me, but Ill comment anyway.
Our downstairs neighbor complained about my wife's bicycle trainer
shaking our floor (neighbor's ceiling) and subsequently the neighbor's
pictures hanging on the wall. The wife brought up my guitar playing
and the neighbor said that it wasn't a problem since she liked hearing
my music. The wife is frustrated, but I think it is kind of amusing since
it is usually the musician who earns noise complaints.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 5 2010 16:03:02

noemiflamenco

Posts: 32
Joined: Oct. 11 2010

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to Chiste de Gales)

When I'm in London I have a neighbour who works from home and complains constantly about my footwork practice (I have a studio in my house) but I tell her that I am also working from home and I make sure I practice during business hours... I have learnt to ignore the bad vibes coming through the walls...
Tell them 'si no tienes soniquete..pa que te metes, pa que te metess..'

p.s. Sevillano neighbours are SOOOOO much worse!!!hehe

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 5 2010 19:12:31

HemeolaMan

Posts: 1514
Joined: Jul. 13 2007
From: Chicago

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to Adam)

http://www.stringsbymail.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_410&products_id=5806

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 9 2010 6:48:32

chester

Posts: 891
Joined: Oct. 29 2010

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to Adam)

I dunno the legal situation, but if you're not breaking the law you should tell your neighbors to stuff it. It's your right to practice and if they have a problem they can call the police. If you're not breaking any laws there shouldn't be a problem.

I hate anal neighbors. I recently moved and when I started playing someone was knocking on the wall. I tried going there to discuss the situation but no one answered the doorbell. I then proceeded to ignore/play through the knocks until they stopped. Nothing since...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 10 2010 23:05:41

HemeolaMan

Posts: 1514
Joined: Jul. 13 2007
From: Chicago

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to chester)

Chester, in all probability there was a man trapped in the wall and he was trying to get your attention by knocking. every time you played he knew you were nearby and would hear him and come to his rescue.

Now you've killed him. Way to go.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 10 2010 23:35:21

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to Adam)

chester, how could you do that? that's horrible, man.

welcome to the foro, chester!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 11 2010 0:05:26

chester

Posts: 891
Joined: Oct. 29 2010

RE: Tips for playing with neighbors (in reply to Adam)

Ha. So morbid...

I probably would of killed him if he opened the door though (like you suggested earlier).

Thanks for the welcome Anthony (see, I've been paying attention). When's the next challenge?