Drum Sticks

The type designation helps to roughly distinguish between drum sticks. It usually consists of a number followed by a letter. Common are 2B, 5A, 5B and 7A.

As a rule of thumb, the higher the number, the slimmer the stick. The letter B following the number indicates a larger diameter than the letter A. So a 2B is heavier and thicker than a 7A.

For beginners, a drum stick type 5A or 5B is recommended. It is not too light and not too heavy. Its length is in the middle range.

As a beginner, you are therefore well served with a 5A or 5B. The type A is a little thinner and lighter than the type B. Sticks of sizes 5A and 7A are suitable for children.

For loud rock music and for the extra punch, 2A drum sticks are very suitable. With their diameter and weight, they provide the momentum to work the skins and cymbals with the necessary pressure. 2A sticks produce more volume than 5 or 7 drum sticks, while requiring the same amount of energy.

For low volume drumming, subtle jazz and small unplugged gigs, sticks with higher numbers starting from 5 are recommended. They are slimmer and lighter. This means that they can be moved with less force and do not bring as much momentum to the head and cymbals.

The drum heads do not respond as loudly. Therefore, you can play drums and cymbals with 7A and 7B drum sticks at a lower volume. Filigree figures on the hi-hat and ride cymbal or jazzy rolls are finer and more fluid with lighter sticks.

For E-Drums you can generally use all common wooden drum sticks. Brushes and mallets are only suitable for high-quality E-Drums with correspondingly sensitive triggers.

For the structure of the mesh heads it is important that you do not play worn and frayed drum sticks. A rough shaft or a broken tip can damage the mesh fabric of the Mesh Heads. When drum sticks are in good condition, mesh heads are as impervious to damage as acoustic drum heads.

Multipads usually have percussion pads made of rubber or plastic. They are completely insensitive and can be played even with heavily worn drum sticks. Brushes, hot rods or mallets are only suitable to a limited extent.

You should keep your hands off any pair of drum sticks for less than 5 Euros. The wood is often low-quality. The sticks in the respective pair usually have very different weights.

It is not uncommon for the wood to be insufficiently dryed. The single stick is already slightly crooked or becomes a wooden banana after a short time.

The biggest disadvantage of a cheap stick or no name stick is the durability of the wood. Often it wears out or breaks after a short time and you need a replacement.

No one benefits if you use up two pairs of inferior sticks for 10 Euros in total, in the time it would have taken a single pair of good drum sticks at the same price to last as well. On the other hand, you waste twice as much wood.

From 10 € you get high quality drum sticks. You can get good drum sticks in all versions from 2A to 7B for that price. Every well-known manufacturer like drum-tec, Pro-Mark, Vic Firth, Zildjian, Rohema, Agner or Meinl already offers a good selection here.

There are countless signature drum sticks by drummers from all musical genres. Mostly they have an imprinted or embossed autograph of the drummer whose name they bear.

For the celebrity drummer, these sticks are the perfect tools. They are tailored to the idol's individual playing style. There are Lars Ulrich Signature Drum Sticks from Ahead or Phil Collins or Simon Phillips Signature Hickory Sticks from ProMark.

Claus Hessler has his own drum sticks and Nico McBrain, drummer in Iron Maiden, also gets his sticks engraved by Vic Firth.

But the sticks alone don't make you drum like your idol. Your anatomy is different, and so is your performance style. That's why the requirements for a drum stick that fits you perfectly are individual.

So Ringo Starr's drum sticks won't make you a Beatle. Signature drum sticks can fit you, but they don't have to.

Sticks with oval tips are more suitable for drummers who prefer a powerful deeper tone. The oval or teardrop-like shape provides a balanced sound with fewer overtones than round tips.

Sticks with acorn-shaped or barrel-shaped tips are best suited for drummers who want to get a fat and precise sound out of their drumheads.

The weight of drum sticks is crucial, as it affects your style and playing control. Lighter sticks are ideal for faster beats. Heavier sticks offer better control of your strokes.

The length of a drumstick depends on your playing style. Shorter sticks are more suitable for fast tempos because you don't have to move as much mass. Longer sticks give you more opportunity to find the balance point where the stick swings ideally. This point is important for an ergonomic playing style.

Some of the most popular brands in drum sticks are Vic Firth, Pro Mark, Zildjian, Rohema, Agner, Meinl, and drum-tec. Each of these manufacturers offers a variety of different types and sizes. You'll find the right stick for your playing style among them.

Neither the brand name nor a famous drummer are determining factors in finding the ideal drum stick for you. With the renowned manufacturers, you can usually assume good quality. With thinner sticks you play quieter, with the thicker ones you get louder.

Among the tips, the round ones sound more delicate and the ones with a larger striking surface make a richer sound. The length determines the speed of the playing and defines the balance point that makes the stick swing. Try a 5A or 5B first. You will then notice if your perfect stick should be longer, shorter, heavier or lighter. When it comes to sound, you'll hear if a ball, barrel shape, or acorn tip sounds better. Try it out. You'll know when you've found the right drum stick for you!