Re: [Harp-L] The silent harmonica

[Vern <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

Foamy or fluffy stuff such as cork or caneboard on the walls can suppress reflections but it takes mass to suppress transmission. I took  lessons in a music store where the owner built practice cubicles and used caneboard on the walls. He was under the mistaken impression that the caneboardf would suppress the transmission of sound.  It was as if the walls were not even there.

An extra layer of wallboard would probably help.  However, it would not be effective unless all openings in the walls were blocked.  A hole the size of a quarter can negate the good done by the most massive walls. 

Don't forget the floor and ceiling.  If sound can travel up and over thicker walls, extra thickness/mass will be pointless.

Because of their extra mass, brick or concrete-block walls would be most effective.

Staggered studs in the wall can help suppress conduction through the wall. They are most effective with multiple layers of wallboard.

The logarithmic response of the neighbor's ears means that you will have to reduce the transmitted sound energy by a factor of 100 or more  (20 db) for the neighbor to perceive a meaningful reduction in sound.  


IF your apartment has heated garages, could you practice in your car?

I suggest that you visit the practice rooms of a college/university music department to see what is involved and to judge its effectiveness.  Open the door a tiny crack and hear how much sound comes out.

I understand that the above remedies are not really practical in most apartments.   However, this post might save you from a big effort and expense that would be ineffective.

Sorry to be the bearer of such discouraging news.

Vern


 


On Nov 22, 2011, at 2:37 PM, Degregorio, Jeffery wrote:

> My brother has a house and he puts some type of foam material in various places on the wall.  This might help the acoustics.  You might want to research this option.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of martin oldsberg
> Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2011 4:34 PM
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [Harp-L] The silent harmonica
> 
> Becuse of a move to a new apartment I´m faced with a nasty problem: it´s not sound proof here. I´ve been spoiled for many years with blasting away on my harmonica, record player, or various instruments day and night regardless of neighbours. Never had a complaint: either the´ve been deaf, scared of me or just un-disturbed. (Probably the latter, due to a solid house construction.)
>  
> Different story now, and I´m not planning to make my next door neighbour an enemy: he seems rather a nice guy, but it´s apparent that he hears too much of me, even in the daytime.
>   My only solution so far is playing the music I´m playing along with (that´s my usual way of practicing; also it drowns some of the harmonica shrillness) at a more moderate volume, and wrapping the harp in a T-shirt or something. Awkward. But it still sounds too loud.
>  
> Any ideas here are welcome. You who have your own houses, garages, attics, basements, woodsheds or simply Mother Nature at your disposal can just lean back in your easy chairs and keep smiling, but if you want to live in the heart of a city this is something you have to take into the equation.
>  
> Cheers,
> from
> Martin,
> in downtown Gothenburg, 
> Sweden.
> 
> 
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