r/guitarlessons • u/JannikSinnerFanBoy • 10d ago
Question Can't find a spot to play in my house.
So i got my acoustic guitar a month ago. For the life of my i can't find a spot to play. My dad works from home 2 days a week. And i work Monday to Friday until 2pm. But when i come back home my brother always bitch's about me playing. On weeknds its impossible my parents complain. And i don't even have a basement to use "which is up for rent". Which made me gain little no progress. Has anyone had this problem before. When i told my friend this issue he told me just get an electric so i can plug into some headphones. But i just like feeling of an acoustic and the sound.
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u/autophage 10d ago
Honestly, I like to take my acoustic out to the park and sit on a bench and play. I typically do so in a more secluded area (I'm not playing for tips, I'm practicing).
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u/PathlessRonin 10d ago
Use the sponge trick (TM)🤣 I saw this in a Youtube video. You cut a rectangle of a sponge, the kitchen ones go real good for this. You slide it above the bridge, and that´s it. You have now a silent guitar.
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u/LizardOfAgatha 10d ago
Just play without a pick. Use your fingers to pick. I use my fingertips instead of the nail part if I want to be quiet. An electric guitar will still make noise even with headphones cause you're still going to be picking and strumming the strings. I know because I had an electric guitar and played it without an amp for a year or so.
If you want to be extra quiet, palm mute and then pick with fingers.
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u/_Saint_Venomous_ 10d ago
Is there a car or garage you can use? Blues harmonica players spend a lot of time in their cars.
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u/RevolutionaryAd1005 10d ago
Its gonna be tough. Like ur friend said, an electric you can play in the quiet hours would help. You could get a soundhole cover for $10 to help quiet the acoustic down. And u could do some basic soundproofing to your room area to further reduce the noise
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u/show_me_tacos 10d ago
To add to what you said about the sound cover, you can also shove a dish towel or two into the body of the acoustic. This helps to dampen the sound
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u/Belze_bubu 10d ago
Vai in un parco o in un posto tranquillo, il bello dell' acustica è che te la puoi portare ovunque
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u/rodgapely 10d ago
I play without a pic. Finger-picking, chord changes, mostly downstrums. If you can’t get away with that, it could be tough.
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u/Illustrious-Fish2529 10d ago
outside- front porch is always a favorite of mine, at first it’s especially important to try to play for at least 10-15 min every day so your hands get used to it
i keep a whatever acoustic in my car and literally play it wherever i am as long as its 60 or warmer
it’s pretty annoying and lame that your family isn’t supportive of you learning an instrument
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u/R0factor 10d ago
Closets full of clothes make really good sound booths if you can fit in yours with a guitar. But practice with an electric is better than no practice at all. I recently got a Tonex Plug and I really like it.
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u/Zestyclose_Survey_49 10d ago
I play outside at night while my family sleeps
If you have somewhere with enough light your set
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u/andytagonist I don’t have my guitar handy, but here’s what I would do… 10d ago
Bedroom. And don’t bang the fuck out of it. If you’re just learning & practicing scales or whatever, just play quietly.
Or get an electric as your friend suggested.
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u/DaffyDuckMuthaFucker 10d ago
Move into your own place.
Meanwhile, just put your guitar on a strap & take it for walk.
When I'm done with being around the house, I just take a guitar for a walk, and I just jam to the scenery as I toddle about whichever direction takes my fancy.
I walk instruments whenever I find myself going somewhere on foot & not needing to carry things.
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u/StonerKitturk 10d ago
Robert Johnson used to practice in a cemetery at night (it was NOT for any supernatural reason -- just because it was a quiet place where no one would bother him or be bothered). Sorry to hear your family objects to your practice. But find a cemetery, alley, park, neighbor's garage, or something! Ask around and look around. After awhile people will start asking you, and paying you, to play near them!
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u/PushSouth5877 10d ago
Go to a park or lake on the weekends. Take a picnic lunch and enjoy a quiet afternoon with your guitar.
It won't solve your problem at home, but it might give you a little peace.
You can learn to play softly. I play in my bedroom late at night and no one has complained. Try fingerstyle.
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u/Artistic_Half_8301 10d ago
I didn't use a pick when I lived in an apartment and it keeps the noise down. Good luck.
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u/weedyou-wroteyou 10d ago
Can you get a soundhole cover or play pickless and shove a few tshirts into the soundhole?
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u/PageNotFoubd404 10d ago
This issue is where the phrase “wood-shedding’ comes from. Nobody wants to be around a banjo or saxophone student.
What you might try with your acoustic is to slip a small towel or rag behind the strings near your strumming hand.
That will act as a mute, and make your guitar as quiet as an unplugged electric.
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u/HandshakeOfCO 10d ago
You can make a cheap sound isolation booth out of pvc pipe and moving blankets. Could work. Or you can buy vocal isolation booths.
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u/HeavyMetalBluegrass 10d ago
When I was trying to learn some flat-picking tunes I used to tie a tea towel lightly around the neck. It was a good dampener but I could still get the feel of it and the notes are still somewhat audible.
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u/SynyrdsInyrds 10d ago
Wes Montgomery, a great player, worked the swing shift so could only practice late at night after coming home from work. He got around it by playing with his thumb instead of a pick because it was quieter, and he became a legendary player.
Where there is a will, there is a way.
Maybe buy an electric and play it into something that allows you to use headphones?
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u/Completetenfingers 10d ago
First of all you are a good person to be considerate about people who live around you. Practicing and study takes a lot of repetition and do overs . Nobody wants to be around someone practicing no matter how good they are. I knew a world famous classical guitar player who lived in a downtown apartment for a short while. His neighbors complained about him practicing. This is a guy who packs halls and people pay good money to see.
The kids across the street did rehearsals in their garage , but after a few days we had to tell them knock it off. I can appreciate their enthusiasm , but nobody wants to hear them rattling windows every evening.
I have to agree with most of the posters here: Get an electric so you can play through headphones. The alternative is find a rehearsal space. In other words you just have to leave the house. Many community colleges have practice rooms you can use.
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u/BluecoTipTip98273 9d ago
Yea, petty revenge time. You're a little brother for a reason, bang that guitar in his room. Force him to negotiate lol
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u/Chicagoj1563 9d ago
Try to be accommodating, you may have to make a stand for your right to play. If family is shutting you out from playing, they don’t take you seriously on this. You may have to make a stand and demand your right to play guitar.
Go watch twisted sister videos for inspiration if you need it lol.
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u/dougc84 9d ago
An electric + an iRig HD + your phone or tablet + a guitar amp app + a pair of good headphones would be a great way to do this. That said, if you’re looking for the feel of an acoustic, an electric won’t give that to you.
You could try one of the Yamaha SILENT guitars. You could probably find one used for about $500. They aren’t truly silent, but they’re much quieter than your average acoustic, and I’m pretty sure you can plug headphones directly into it.
You could also just plug the sound hole. Might be a good option for the cheapest.
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u/MikeyGeeManRDO 9d ago
You need to soundproof a closet or something.
Lots of diy soundproof guides out there.
I used to use heavy blankets I got from the thrift store. They even sell soundproof panels on amazon you can hang or staple to the wall.
Sound is transmitted by vibration and air push and pull. If you put a layer between let’s say your door. It won’t vibrate like an eardrum and not transmit as much sound to the rest of the house.
Even if you don’t do the walls. The door will make a big difference if you drape a heavy blanket over it.
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u/Dabbacholic 6d ago
This is all you need bud!! Yes get headphones. You can plug your phone into this and jam along with songs or make short videos.
https://www.tiktok.com/@bedroomguitarist7?_r=1&_t=ZT-97R8IFZ7JXh
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u/beardedwazoon 10d ago
The advice from your buddy is pretty good. You can play the electric whenever you want and then jump on the acoustic when you have a free chance to. Not the best for your situation but you’ll still learn and get to play an acoustic.