Is it possible to play an acoustic guitar in an apartment? Experts put it to the test

Among the many instrument users, the guitar stands out as a favorite for countless enthusiasts. While the exact number remains unclear, it’s said that hundreds of thousands of people in Japan play the guitar. However, in urban areas, many people live in apartment buildings, making it challenging to play freely at home without worrying about disturbing others.

This time, we conducted a test specifically for acoustic guitar players to see whether playing the guitar in an apartment is feasible!

Check Your Apartment Regulations

If you want to play guitar in your apartment, the first step is to confirm whether guitar playing is allowed where you currently live.

You can find this information by reviewing your building’s management rules. Generally, apartment buildings fall into one of three categories:

1. Properties where musical instruments are prohibited.
2. Properties where musical instruments are allowed but with restrictions on the type of instruments or permissible playing hours.
3. Properties where instruments can be played 24/7.

Start by checking the management regulations to determine which category your apartment falls into.

If the rules explicitly prohibit musical instruments, playing—even at a low volume—is not permitted. Ignoring such rules could lead to conflicts with neighbors, complaints to your landlord, or, in the worst-case scenario, eviction.

If you are set on playing your instrument, you may want to consider moving to a property where musical instrument use is allowed.

Next, we’ll explore how to play your instrument in buildings that permit music but lack soundproofing, while minimizing the chances of complaints.

Acoustic Guitar Volume Levels

Before discussing ways to play an acoustic guitar in an apartment, it’s essential to understand its sound pressure level (dB). For this, we measured the acoustic guitar’s volume.

We used the Le Light ST model from L.Luthier for the test.

The sound levels were measured using a smartphone app. While professional sound level meters are more accurate, this measurement aimed to provide an approximate range.

The volume (dB) varies depending on the player’s intensity:

• Light strumming: around 60 dB
• Strong strumming: up to 73 dB

Given that the performer in this test leaned toward a softer playing style, others might reach as high as 80 dB under normal circumstances.

For advanced techniques like tapping, as used by Erik Mongrain, or slap-style playing, as popularized by MIYAVI, even higher sound levels may occur.

To help contextualize, here are some common sound pressure level comparisons.

How Loud is 70 dB?

To understand how loud 70 dB is, consider the following examples:

• A ringing telephone
• Noise in a busy office
• A crowded street
• The sound of a vacuum cleaner

While perceptions of sound vary from person to person and depend on the surrounding environment, general guidelines classify noise levels as follows:

• 60 dB and above: Perceived as "slightly noisy."
• 70 dB: Considered "quite loud."
• 80 dB and above: Often described as "too noisy to tolerate."

While guitar players may find the sound of their instrument pleasing, unintended listeners may perceive it as noise. To avoid potential disturbances in apartments or other shared living spaces, it’s best to refrain from playing with windows open.

How Much Sound Reaches the Neighboring Room?

The extent to which sound travels to a neighboring room depends heavily on the building's construction (e.g., reinforced concrete [RC], steel-frame, or wooden structure). Therefore, it’s challenging to definitively state "how many dB will reach next door." However, we can make some assumptions based on observations:

# Hypothesis: Vacuum cleaner and guitar produce similar sound pressure levels

In this test, the measured sound pressure levels of a vacuum cleaner and the guitar were almost identical. Using a smartphone noise meter, both registered comparable values.

This leads to the hypothesis:
"If a vacuum cleaner’s noise can be heard in the next room, it’s highly likely that the guitar’s sound will also carry through."

For additional context, other measurements taken with the same noise meter showed:

• Coughing: 65 dB
• Sneezing: 72 dB

*While frequency characteristics can affect how sound travels, we’ll proceed without factoring in this complexity for now.

Simplified Conclusion
If you can hear the sound of a vacuum cleaner from the neighboring room, it’s safe to assume your guitar playing will be transmitted to the same degree.

Do You Have to Lower the Volume to Play Guitar in an Apartment?

Apartment walls are built to meet soundproofing standards set by the Building Standards Act.
However, they’re rarely designed to fully block the sound levels produced by musical instruments. If you want to play your guitar without soundproofing renovations, using a mute or a low-noise guitar is highly recommended.

Mute

GRAND GUITAR /Mute

There are many products available, but the following mute is a classic example. If you’ve been playing guitar for a long time, you might recognize it instantly from its packaging—it’s that well-established. With its affordable price, it’s worth giving a try.

# Important Note: Not Suitable for Long-Tone Practice
Keep in mind that mutes physically dampen the strings, preventing sustain. If your practice involves songs that require long tones, consider playing during daytime hours when sound is less likely to disturb others.
While mutes are an excellent solution for reducing volume, they may not be ideal for all playing styles or techniques.

Low-Volume Guitar Option

YAMAHA SLG200S CRB Silent Guitar

This is also one of the classic products. If you're an acoustic or classical guitar user, you've probably considered it at least once.
Due to the absence of a body, it produces very low volume. In a developer interview, it was stated that "the volume can be reduced to 10–20% of a regular acoustic guitar."

Source:Yamaha | SLG200 Series - Silent Guitar™ - Developer Interview

If You’re Considering Soundproofing Renovations

About "Mashi-Bari"

There are various methods for soundproofing renovations, and one of the simplest is called "Mashi-Bari". This involves adding gypsum board over your existing walls to improve sound insulation.
# Why Mashi-Bari?
- Short Construction Time: The process is quick, minimizing disruption.
- Cost-Effective: Typically costs tens of thousands of yen, making it a popular and accessible solution.
Mashi-Bari is a practical and budget-friendly way to enhance the soundproofing of your space.

For more details, please check the Sowa Sekkei Soundproofing website.

About Soundproof Rooms

Image: Sowa Sekkei Co., Ltd

Compared to adding extra layers, this option is more expensive, but with a soundproof room that clearly demonstrates its noise reduction performance (how much sound is reduced), you can play with peace of mind!

When it comes to layering additional boards over existing walls, this solution is less effective for very old buildings or structures with inherently thin walls. However, a soundproof room eliminates such concerns entirely.

In Conclusion

Building a soundproof room takes about three weeks and costs approximately 2 million yen or more, but it provides a secure environment for playing music even at night!
When you look at it over 10 years, the cost averages out to 200,000 yen per year—a fantastic value considering you'll be able to play your instrument for a lifetime!

Musicians of all types, please consider this option!

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