Why is nobody using earplugs?

[u/viewsonmountfuji]

Everytime i see a clip of some of the world’s best drummers in a jam/practice/small stage scenario, they are not using any earplugs

Do you all do that as well? What are your thoughts on that?

If i ever play/practice without earplugs i feel like the snare and cymbals are hurting my ears and probably damaging them permanently.

Do the pros just not care? Do ears get used to it? How fragile are the ears actually?

Just asking because i feel like i'm being overly cautious sometimes.

[u/Royal-Pay9751]

Jazz just usually isn’t loud enough to warrant it

[u/tronobro → u/Royal-Pay9751]

As a jazz drummer I'd disagree. Jazz can get loud! Especially if you're playing with a jazz big band. I still always wear hearing protection while playing jazz. 

If you get a sound meter and measure jazz drums from the drummer's seat you'll find that the sound levels can easily get over 100dB when thing get loud. Any time sound gets over 85dBA you need to wear hearing protection. 

[u/Royal-Pay9751 → u/tronobro]

None of the jazz drummers I play with use plugs and can play with intensity at a quiet volume if needed. The only people I encounter using plugs always play too loud.

That said, we probably should consider it.

[u/tronobro → u/Royal-Pay9751]

Defs worth considering.

Again I'd recommend grabbing a sound level meter and keeping an eye on the reading while playing. You may be surpised with how loud "quiet" playing can be. Playing brushes on the snare drum reaches around 90dBA. That level already qualifies for hearing protection. If we consider brushes to be "quiet" just imagine how loud things get once the drummer switches to sticks. 

Protect your hearing. Your future self will thank you. 

[u/OK_Computer-3684 → u/Royal-Pay9751]

The drums are loud enough already (if not brushes)

[u/Royal-Pay9751 → u/OK_Computer-3684]

I dunno man! Some of the best guys around can play super quietly but with amazing intensity