[gyutae]

Well they say duct tape is bad for the drum heads and I would have to agree. They also leave a sticky mess when trying to pull them off.

Anyway, I still think they're pretty usefull when it comes to drumming. What are the different uses?
Well...

1) Sticking some onto toms to muffle the ring a little bit
2) Sticking some on the snare batter head to muffle sound, or get a different sound altogether
3) Hold together your crappy drum hardware that came with your crappy drum set
4) Tape some onto your sticks for better grip

Anything else you guys have done with duct tape on ur kits?

[AvengedDrummer]

Some people put duct tape on their cymbals to silence overtones, but for me thats a big no-no.

[gyutae]

Ah, forgot about the cymbals...

Yeah that just seems wrong... It would sound like a "clink" which would defeat the purpose of a cymbal to begin with. Why not just a get trash can lid or something then.

[Drummer1919]

Yea putting tape on your cymbals is really bad for the cymbal I'm not exactly sure way, something about the expanding and contracting of metal, I have just been told that by a lot of people and even my dad who doesn't even play drums.I use duct tape for keeping my crappy hardware together and for recording.

[Davenhurst]

NEVER NEVER NEVER put tape on cymbals. If you don't like the cymbals you've got, buy different ones.

I used to put tape on drums to reduce overtones but recently got myself that moongel stuff, don't think I could live without it now. I've been in the studio for the past few days (which is why I'm very drunk and a bit wound up right now... long story), and sorting out a decent snare / tom sound is so much easier when you just have to move a piece of blue sticky gel around the head. Recommended.

[gyutae]

Yeah if the metal is restricted and not able to vibrate as it normally would I think it would be more susceptible to cracking and stuff. Some of the cymbals I've used cracked at the hole because of insufficient padding.

[capitalist_junkie]

I've definitely used duct tape on my sticks, but I'd never considered putting it anywhere on my instrument . . . mostly because of the residue it leaves on EVERYTHING. If it works for you, great, but I absolutely hate trying to clean up that sticky stuff.

[ninikins]

tape on the cymbals just make them sound like hitting plastic IMO. I've always found it a bit weird.

[econwriter5]

I use it on sticks as well. Helped get a better grip so the sticks didn't fly out of my hands all the time. I've seen other drummers use duct tape on various parts of their kits, but I'd rather use something else to experiment with sound.

[Davenhurst]

I've been asked on more than one occasion to put tape on my cymbals so that they're quieter for a gig. I find it insulting, and it shows which engineers are musicians and which are not, the thought that all you lose by using tape is volume is just ridiculous. I understand that some venues can't handle extreme volume, so why book a full-on psychedelic rock band in the first place?

I also get asked if I can the hit the cymbals a bit softer. There's no changing things once I'm up there playing, in a way I have no control and that's part of the point for me. It's a deeply personal thing. Anyway, that's another thread for another time.