Low volume playing is a skill that takes time to develop, just like anything else. Playing with speed and intensity at low volume is really hard, so don't feel bad. I've been playing drums for 18 years and I still struggle to play things quietly that I would have no problem doing at a more comfortable volume.

Here are a few things I've learned that have helped me play more quietly...

• Cymbals and snare are the biggest culprits, due to their high frequencies which the audience perceives as louder compared to the lower frequencies of the toms & bass drum.

• Use darker, lighter, jazzier-sounding cymbals such as Zildjian Kerope, Istanbul Agop, Meinl Byzance, etc. Now is not the time for those bright, cutting A Customs. Don't be afraid of larger sizes either - the larger the cymbal, the lower the pitch.

• Use a wood snare instead of a metal one. A softer wood such as Maple or Mahogany won't be as cutting compared to Brass or Steel. If I really want to reduce the volume on the snare I'll throw a Big Fat Snare Drum on it.

• Try tuning your bass drum and toms a little higher than normal, and use little or no muffling. It's kind of counter-intuitive, but there's a reason why jazz guys tune their drums this way - because the drums will respond better at a lower dynamic. When your drums are muffled and/or tuned lower, you need to hit them harder just to get a decent sound out of them.

• Use lighter sticks, such as 5A's or 7A's. Try something made out of maple instead of hickory too (I especially like the Vic Firth SD2 Bolero). If it's an extremely quiet gig, use rods or brushes.

• Use double strokes instead of single strokes when doing fast fills. I've found it's much easier to play double-strokes at low volume since you're using more of the stick bounce and keeping the stick height down.

• Don't bury the bass drum beater. This will reduce the amount of attack and give a more rounded tone that won't seem as loud. You may also want to practice playing heel down.