A drumstick is just a drumstick, right? Is there such a thing as the “right” drumstick?
With so many different types of drumsticks available on the market today, it can be overwhelming to know what to look for when buying a set of sticks. In this article, we will look at some of the key features of drumsticks to help you decide which stick is best for you.
Size Guide
The first question most of our students have at The Drum Hub is “what do the letters and numbers mean?”. Most drumsticks feature somewhere on them a letter and a number such as 5a, 7a, 2b etc. These numbers and letters are indications of the weight and the diameter (thickness) of a drumstick. The number indicates weight and the letter diameter.
The higher the number the lighter the stick this number runs in a scale from 1-9. The letter A is a thinner diameter and B is thicker.
For reference sake 5a is the most common drumstick as it is considered by most to be not be too thick or thin and not too heavy.
Which Tip?
The tip of a drumstick is at the very end of the stick and is the part of the stick used to actually hit the drums and cymbals.
Shape
There are many shapes and varieties of tip and different manufacturers have their own versions of each. However, the 3 main styles to consider are as follows:
Teardrop. This is the most common design found on drumsticks. The teardrop design provides good clarity to the notes as well as good volume. This design is the middle of the road tip and works on pretty much all musical situations.
Barrel. The barrel tip is a slightly longer and fuller in its shape and this results in a fuller sound from the stick. It doesn’t have the same definition or clarity as a teardrop, but still sounds great.
Round. The round tip looks like a small ball or bead on the end the stick and provides a high amount of clarity from the drums and cymbals. It’s slightly smaller design does reduce the volume it produces in comparison to the teardrop and barrel designs. But it does produce a very detailed sound.
Material
I’m addition to the tip shape, the material that the tip is made out of also effects the sound. There are two main materials that tips are made out of:
Wood. This is the same wood as the rest of the drum stick and this material creates the most natural sound from your drums and cymbals. One downside to wood tips is that they can chip and split though use and playing.
Nylon. This is a specially constructed tip that is glued onto the end of the drumstick. Nylon tips are hard wearing and won’t generally break or chip like wood tips. Nylon tips work great when additional clarity is needed, as they produce a brighter sound.
Stick Material
Drumsticks can be made in several different materials. Different species of wood can be used and have different properties. Additionally, carbon fiber drumsticks have also become popular amongst heavy hitting players.
Hickory is the most common material sticks are made out of. It is durable and a nice weight in the hands regardless of the stick size.
Maple (and it’s variations) is a softer, flexible and lighter wood. Great for lighter and quieter styles of playing.
Oak is another great material used for sticks. It is also hard and durable like hickory, but is less prone to chipping. Oak sticks are also popular with harder hitting players.
Manufacturers
It can be a little daunting to look at the cost of branded drumsticks when first starting out. Drumsticks cost a little more than most people realise.
It can be tempting therefore to pick up off brand sticks that are much cheaper. However, if your budget can stretch to buy a branded stick (Vic Firth, Vater, Zildjian, Promark and others) it is usually worth the investment. These major brands work to make sure the process of manufacturing a drumstick will provide not only a great sound - but that the sticks will also last. Such sticks will generally be straight and have the moisture removed from the wood, reducing the risk of warping or breaking through use.
That being said, drumsticks still break. This is a fact of life as a drummer.
The Process
Finding the ideal drumstick is more of an art than a science. This guide is designed to help you make an informed choice when buying sticks, not serve as a calculator for finding the perfect pair. At The Drum Hub, we follow an easy guide to start off with and then encourage students to experiment with different sticks as they grow as players.
For younger players or those with smaller hands we recommend starting with 7a.
For adults, students with larger hands or heavy hitters we suggest a 5b.
A great starting place for almost everyone though is a 5a.
The best way to find your perfect pair of sticks though,is to play and try different sticks, working out what you like and need from a drumstick based on you playing.
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