The Fixer: When you’re totally addicted to bass … but your neighbours aren’t

Noise is one of the biggest complaints neighbours have. Simple disagreements can quickly and easily spiral out of control. So it’s crucial to keep the peace and not have the cops come knocking.

Learning to play the guitar is a favourite pastime.

The past couple of years have been a wild ride, to say the least.

For parts of NSW and Victoria last year, weeks and months of lockdowns confined many to travelling no more than 5km from home. While some turned to making sour dough or piecing together puzzles, others pursued crafts and a range of creative hobbies, such as learning to play an instrument, to get them through. As the world opened up again, some set their new-found skills aside to head back to the office, but a significant group have continued to develop their interests, with varying impacts on home life.

Soundproofing could be a good option if your budding musician is, well, still learning.

Q – My partner switched his acoustic guitar for an electric version during Covid lockdowns. Now I need organisation and soundproofing tips please.
A – Part of the beauty of a guitar is its portability and if his technique has improved in recent months, you may have enjoyed listening to your partner pick out a few tunes. But every musician needs to know when the show is over and not everyone has a spare bedroom or music room to retreat to. If you’ve explored all the options, such as the garage and the attic, there are ways to mitigate or dampen noise in your house. Soft furnishings, upholstered furniture, rugs and even walls of books will absorb a certain amount of sound but, if you want to go a step further, there are DIY acoustic panels available from everywhere, from Ikea and
Amazon to specialist suppliers. These are mostly attached to the wall, which won’t help much in open plan areas. Most acoustic room dividers have been created for office environments but you can buy them individually as well. Alternatively, look for a high backed acoustic lounge to face towards the wall so that your musician can strum to their heart’s content in comfort.

Playing music in the backyard is great if you know how to play, but otherwise could cause friction with neighbours.

Q – We don’t have a dedicated music room so how can I contain the noise?
A – Music can have such a positive impact on our mental health and picking up or developing skills like learning to play an instrument is excellent brain training, especially as we age. You may be thankful that he has chosen the guitar over, say, the drums or the saxophone. If you have the floor space, a simple guitar stand for one or several guitars is an obvious solution, especially in corners. Better still, mount the guitars on the wall to get them out of harm’s way. Specialist wall mounts finished in materials such as timber or metal are a stylish option, available from music stores, that will turn your partner’s guitars into works of art. If you’re feeling very clever, put frames on the wall to make the guitars the centre of attention. Picks or plectrums can be stored in purpose-designed guitar straps and capos or in pick holders that stick to the guitar. He just has to remember to put them away.

Think before you turn up the sound or the bass.

Q – They haven’t complained yet but what about the neighbours?

A – If they haven’t complained, it’s hard to know what the neighbours think. If your partner is becoming proficient, it’s possible they’re enjoying the free live music. You can buy acoustic curtains designed to lessen sound transfer, but also ask your partner to be reasonable about the hours he practices. If you’re concerned, have a word next time you see them to gauge their view. I used to have a drummer living next door who practised every day, like clockwork. It was strangely comforting, but it did help that he was good.