{"id":11091,"date":"2018-08-15T08:33:15","date_gmt":"2018-08-15T15:33:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/?p=11091"},"modified":"2023-04-24T09:08:46","modified_gmt":"2023-04-24T16:08:46","slug":"how-to-choose-drumsticks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/how-to-choose-drumsticks\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Choose Drumsticks"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JemCbY6bblo\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>You walk into a music store. There it is: a huge rack of drumsticks overwhelming you with options. Hickory or maple? 5A or 2B? Nylon or wood tip?<\/p>\n<p>Whether you\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/how-to-play-drums\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">new to drumming<\/a> or a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/advanced-drum-fills\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">longtime player<\/a>, there\u2019s no rulebook for how to choose drumsticks. I\u2019ve been playing for over 20 years, and even I struggle sometimes to find a pair that\u2019s perfect for the gig.<\/p>\n<p>While I\u2019m sure it would be a fun challenge, it would take forever to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/testing-weird-drumsticks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">test out every stick on the market<\/a>. To save you some time here\u2019s a quick guide &#8211; so the next time you set foot in a music store you can do so with confidence.<\/p>\n<p>(If you&#8217;re on this page because you&#8217;re a brand spankin&#8217; new drummer, we&#8217;ve got the perfect course for you &#8211; you&#8217;ll be playing your favorite songs within 90 days! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/new-drummers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Click here<\/a> to check out <em>New Drummers Start Here<\/em>, where you can learn at your own pace for only $7 &#8211; less than your last Uber ride.)<\/p>\n<h3><strong>What do the numbers mean?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>You\u2019re going to see pairs of sticks printed with different numbers. The most common ones are 2, 5, and 7.<\/p>\n<p>The letter refers to the stick\u2019s diameter. It might seem counterintuitive, but remember: the larger the number, the more delicate the stick.<\/p>\n<h4>Lower number = Heavier, thicker stick<br>Higher number = Lighter, thinner stick<\/h4>\n<p>Some brands offer non-standard sizes, like <a href=\"https:\/\/imp.i114863.net\/BXEVk4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vic Firth\u2019s 55A<\/a> (it\u2019s in between a 5A and a 5B) or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=Regal+Tip%E2%80%99s+8A&amp;amp;ref=nb_sb_noss&amp;_encoding=UTF8&amp;tag=musora-20&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;linkId=c58daa231d2166435e850f7eff421dca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Regal Tip\u2019s 8A<\/a>. And while they aren\u2019t as common, they\u2019re absolutely worth trying.<\/p>\n<p>Heavier, thicker sticks are perfect for genres with a solid backbeat like rock or R&amp;B. Lighter sticks are great for ghost notes and dynamic genres like jazz and folk. But in the end, it\u2019s all personal preference.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>What do the letters mean?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>After the number, you\u2019ll see a letter (which is typically A or B). These used to refer to the stick\u2019s application (marching, orchestra, etc.). The letter tells you about the shape and the weight &#8211; so a Regal Tip 8A is going to feel lighter than a Vic Firth 5B.<\/p>\n<p>While you might still find some diversity in the letters (like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=Promark%E2%80%99s+2S&amp;amp;ref=nb_sb_noss&amp;_encoding=UTF8&amp;tag=musora-20&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;linkId=5ebbbc8218cc6373a0ae7e37126ff343\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Promark\u2019s 2S<\/a>), most sizes are consistent between brands.<\/p>\n<p>Most sticks are of a similar length. But you might find that longer ones give you more reach or a more comfortable grip. For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/imp.i114863.net\/3PAqMA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vic Firth<\/a> makes an \u2018Extreme\u2019 line of sticks that are half an inch longer than standard sticks.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Does the stick tip matter?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, it does! The most common question I hear is \u201cshould I choose a nylon or wood tip?\u201d Again, it all comes down to personal preference and the sound you want for your music. The tips make the most obvious difference when they hit cymbals, especially the ride.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a quick way to remember:<\/p>\n<h4>Nylon tips = Consistent, bright, and defined<br>Wood tips = Organic and natural<\/h4>\n<p>The shape of the tip can make a difference as well. If it has a small surface area (like the barrel or ball tip), the sound will be more defined. A larger surface area (like the oval tip) brings out a darker, fuller sound.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Here are some common drumsticks:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>2B &#8211; High thickness, heavier weight<br>5A &#8211; Medium thickness, lighter weight<br>Extreme 5A &#8211; Medium thickness, lighter weight, extra length<br>5B &#8211; Medium thickness, heavier weight<br>7AN &#8211; Low thickness, lighter weight, nylon tip<br>7B &#8211; Low thickness, medium weight<\/p>\n<h3><strong>What kind of wood should I choose?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/how-drumsticks-are-made-promark\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Drumsticks come in a variety of materials<\/a>, but the most common is hickory. You can also find heavy-duty sticks made from polyurethane. The weight, feel, and durability change based on the material:<\/p>\n<p>Maple &#8211; Lightweight<br>Hickory &#8211; Medium weight, dense and durable<br>Oak &#8211; Heavyweight<br>Polyurethane &#8211; Extra durable<\/p>\n<h3><strong>How do I know if my sticks are good?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Once you find your perfect sticks, how do you know if the pair is a good match? You want both sticks to be as close as possible in shape and size, weight, and feel.<\/p>\n<p>Roll each stick on a flat surface. If it wobbles, the stick might not be perfectly straight.<\/p>\n<p>I also like to get a practice pad and lightly tap both sticks on the same surface, feeling the vibration and listening carefully to the sounds they\u2019re making. If they\u2019re way off pitch, it means one stick may be heavier than the other.<\/p>\n<p>Choosing drumsticks is like finding that perfect pair of sneakers &#8211; what\u2019s comfortable for you might not be comfortable for someone else. It\u2019s worth taking the time to find the right fit. Good luck!<\/p>\n<p>(P.S. If you&#8217;re a new drummer, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/how-to-play-drums-beginner\/\">check out this complete guide that includes everything a beginner needs to know about how to play drums<\/a>. If you don&#8217;t feel like reading, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/new-drummers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this $7 video course<\/a> will give you the structure and inspiration you need to start playing your favorite songs within 90 days!)<\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>*This article contains affiliate links, which means we might earn a small commission from the product seller if you make a purchase. For more info, check out our <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/privacy\/\"><em>privacy page.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<p><iframe class=\"email-form-include-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/weeklyemail\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You walk into a music store. There it is: a huge rack of drumsticks overwhelming you with options. Hickory or maple? 5A or 2B? Nylon or wood tip? Whether you\u2019re new to drumming or a longtime player, there\u2019s no rulebook for how to choose drumsticks. I\u2019ve been playing for over 20 years, and even I [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":11130,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4020],"tags":[3725,152,32,331],"class_list":["post-11091","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gear","tag-affiliate","tag-free-drum-lessons","tag-how-to-play-drums","tag-vic-firth"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11091","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11091"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11091\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45167,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11091\/revisions\/45167"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11130"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11091"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11091"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11091"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}