Drumstick Selection: Finding the Perfect Pair for Your Playing Style

The choice of the right drumsticks is no less important than choosing the drumset for your needs, as their shape, material, and thickness can make a great difference in how you play and how you feel. Since drumsticks affect your comfort and the sound, you should carefully take into account the criteria for choosing them. It’s not easy when you arrive at the music store, see all the variety of sticks and feel overwhelmed by the choice. In this article, we will shape tips on how to find your perfect pair of drumsticks.

How to Choose the Drumsticks: Where to Begin? 

Before we delve into numerous criteria affecting the choice of sticks, let’s highlight some key facts to keep in mind:

1. Different materials (hickory, maple, oak) affect your playing and durability of sticks.
2. Higher-quality sticks can be expensive but they last longer.
3. Your playing style matters. Rock drummers may prefer heavier sticks like 5B or 2B for power, while jazz musicians and those who play in lighter styles may use lighter models like 7A.
4. Thinner drumsticks function better for quick responses, while thicker models are better for louder sounds.
5. Longer sticks provide more reach and leverage, while shorter models offer more control.
6. Shapes and sizes of drumsticks impact how comfortable they are to hold and how easy they are to hit the drums.
7. Lighter sticks help you play longer and faster with less fatigue, while heavier sticks, used for louder genres, require more strength.
8. The finish of the sticks affects your tactile feel and grip. Lacquered drumsticks feel smooth while natural finish is considered better for secure grip.

Types of Drumsticks 

Standard drumsticks are made of wood or synthetic materials, coming in different tip shapes and sizes. They are the primary choice of drummers across different playing styles, including pop, rock, metal, alternative, jazz, experimental music, and more.

They are easily recognized by their long, cylindrical body, and straight, smooth shape that tapers toward the tip. The tip can have various shapes, ranging from oval to barrel.

In addition to standard drumsticks, there are also several alternatives, each designed for specific needs.

• Brushes. These are a set of evenly spread out wires, played in the same way as standard sticks but producing soft swishing sounds when contacting the drums. They feature wire or nylon bristles that can be swept or tapped across the drumhead, creating smooth, textured rhythms. Brushes are frequently used in jazz, swing, modern music, and acoustic settings due to their quiet and soft volume. They are perfect for delicate cymbal work and expressive snare patterns.
• Rods (also known as hot rods or bundle sticks). These are a bundle of thin wooden or bamboo sticks strapped together, offering a softer attack than standard sticks but more volume than brushes. They are used by drummers in churches, acoustic settings, small venues, and practice sessions where traditional sticks might be too loud. You can find rods made of wood and plastic, where wooden options have a bigger weight and thus sound louder, while plastic rods are quieter and serve longer.
• Mallets. Mallets are sticks with thick pieces at the end. The thicker these pieces, the warmer sound the drummers can get when they strike drums or cymbals. As alternatives to standard drumsticks, they offer a softer, resonant sound, enhancing the depth of drums and cymbals. Mallets are popular for cymbal swells, tom rolls, builds and orchestral-style accents. Mallets are used in jazz ballads and atmospheric improvisations, where they add texture and emotion. Drummers also like to play them during solos, where they help them create unique sounds.

Material of The Drumsticks

Drumsticks are made from different types of wood. The most common are maple, hickory, and Japanese white oak. You can also find sticks made of laminated birch. Different types of wood affect how sticks absorb or transmit vibrations, as well as influence their durability. Let’s explore each type:

• Maple. As a lighter wood, this material is very responsive, which helps sticks function perfectly in fast-tempo playing and intricate jazz drumming, while offering musicians comfort with less fatigue. Maple sticks sound mellow and clear.
• Hickory. This wood feels a bit heavier but still popular among jazz players. Hickory sticks are popular due to the perfect balance of strength, flexibility, and resistance to breaking, making them popular across genres.
• Oak. This wood is very dense and durable but may feel heavier. The material transmits more vibrations, producing even, deep, and brash sound. They function perfectly in loud music styles.
• Laminated birch. These take the middle place between maple and hickory. They are middle-weight tools of a durable construction and can create an intense sound of cymbals and drums in various genres.
• Synthetic materials. Sticks made from carbon fiber, plastic, or nylon offer better strength and consistency. They are also more resistant to environmental impacts and can be used in settings of different humidity levels, which makes them perfect for outdoor performances.

Shape of The Drumstick Tips

The shape of the tips is another important factor affecting your choice. They influence how you can play and produce sounds. Tip shapes also influence cymbal articulation and such important characteristics as clarity, sustain, and general cymbal sounds.

When browsing internet, you may find the following types:

1. Barrel tips. They offer a wide contact area, helping achieve a dark, full and broad tone. They function well for punchy and loud sounds, especially if you want to cut through amps.
2. Teardrop tips. These sticks offer rich and various sounds depending on what contact point contacts the drum or cymbal. Drummers value them for their ability to produce warm and focused low tones. They are popular among musicians playing in acoustic settings.
3. Acorn tips. These sticks provide the most extensive contact surface, reducing the sound and producing full, dark cymbal tones. They offer a perfect combination of notes and overtones.
4. Ball tips. Thanks to a small contact area, these tips offer the brightest sound.
5. Oval tips. They combine the characteristics of barrel and ball tips, providing an extensive spectrum of sound with more overtones. Drummers like them for their warm and balanced tones.

Drummers often wonder which one is better: nylon or wood tips? A nylon tip offers you defined and consistent sound, while with wood tips you can experience some inconsistency and more natural sound when striking cymbals. For music featuring bright cymbal sounds it’s better to choose sticks with nylon tips.

Sizes of Drumsticks 

What you can definitely see when looking at sticks are numbers usually printed near the base of them. They indicate the weight: the lower the number, the thicker and heavier the stick; the higher the number, the lighter and thinner the stick.

The most common sizes used in jazz are 7A, 5A, and 8D.

• 8D. These are slightly longer than 7A, offering some extra reach while remaining lightweight.
• 7A. These sticks are thinner and lighter and especially popular among drummers with a soft, intricate playing manner.
• 5A. These sticks provide a balanced feel, functioning perfectly for delicate and dynamic playing.

When choosing drumsticks you should ensure that they fit comfortably into your hand and allow you to strike drums effectively. In jazz settings, drummers typically prefer lighter sticks with a longer taper, which offers them better control and articulation when playing cymbals. The choice of drumstick size depends on your personal preferences, playing technique, and the desired sound.

More Useful Tips 

To understand if the sticks are good, take them and roll them on the flat surface. If they slightly hop, they are more likely to have curves, which means they are not straight. You won’t be able to see it with your naked eye.

Take a practice pad and two sticks from your set and strike the pad. Focus on the resonance they produce. Don’t hold them tightly. Just tap the surface lightly. If you notice that one of them is off the pitch, it means one is heavier. 

How to Protect Your Drumsticks 

Once you decide on what you need, you may ask yourself: how to store and transport your drumsticks to keep them safe from damage and environmental impacts. The best way to do it while keeping your sticks organized and within reach is to store them in specially designed bags as those available on our website.

Depending on the collection of sticks you typically use during practice or performances, you may opt for compact drumstick bags or large drumstick bags. These models vary in a number of compartments for various sticks and pockets for essentials. Some bags may also come with a drum key holder, helping you keep this significant tool in a secure place. If you need a reliable case just for two drumsticks, you can select a drumstick pouch.

Conclusion 

When choosing the perfect pair of drumsticks, consider their material, shape, tip, and size. It’s impossible to find your perfect pair of drumsticks without trying various options. The truth is that selecting drumsticks is all about personal preferences. Only through practice and experimentation can you understand what specific options fit you. Especially when you’re exploring brands that you haven’t tried before.

On our website, you can find useful accessories for drummers, including everything from cymbals to bags and pouches.

Would you like to grab some tips on selecting cymbals for jazz drumming? Then check out our article on Cymbals Every Jazz Drummer Needs.