Daily Mail

[fortis70]

Beat drums excessively yes(6) it could be deafen or deaden either would fit the clue but I fail to parse this could some kind soul help please

[dannyk13]

Deafen (reference to eardrums)

[mac44]

deafen, ear drums.

[fortis70]

thank you very much dannyk and mac, i had thought about eardrums but i still feel that it is rather an unwieldy clue and what would the "yes" have to do with anything? and i sill feel that deaden would be an equally acceptable answr, we muffle drums to deaden the sound in certain circumstances, forgive me but i think it is a clumsy clue but in any event i thank you both for taking the time to enlighten me. kindest regards to you both

[fiction-factory]

This clue usually has some punctuation which makes it work better.

[Mamyalynne]

Beat drums excessively? Yes (6)