Choosing The Right Drum Sticks
HI GUYS! In this blog, we will cover many of the troubleshooting problems when faced with what drum sticks to buy??? From size & weight, to shape and material, we will give you a comprehensive guide when it comes to choosing the right drumstick. Our music teachers at Rockademy are more than qualified to give expert advice on the right equipment, here is what a few of them have said...
>>>learn more about how to have lessons with a Rockademy teacher here<<<
Lets start with SIZES...
Here are the 4 most commonly used sized drumsticks. They each have a number and a letter.
NUMBERS...
The number indicates the drum stick circumference. So, the lower number indicates a bigger circumference. Example, the 7A is smaller (SKINNIER) than the 5A (THICKER).
LETTERS...
The letters help to identify the use for what type of band you are in. Way back in the day, the letters stood for:
“A” (orchestra)
“B” (band)
“S” (street).
Nowadays, it doesn't really matter as most drummers go by feel and comfort.
LENGTH...
The length of a drumstick generally runs from 15 to 17.5 inches. Some drummers prefer smaller sticks and others use larger ones. What you should choose is what ever feels comfortable to hold, as we will all have our preferences.
SUMMARY...
If in doubt, the 5A is a middle-of -the-road drum stick. 5A is the most common type of drum stick used by our teachers here at Rockademy. While they’re commonly used to play rock, you can use them for most types of drumming styles and if you dig around online, you might even find tinted coloured wood to match the colour of your shoes :)
Look closely at the drum sticks in your local music shop. Notice how there are different shaped tips and some with plastic (nylon)??
In general, the purpose of the shape of the tip controls the contact area. The size and shape of the tip therefore has an affect on the OVERTONE of the drum.
Smaller surface head = higher tones
Larger surface head = lower tones
Rounder tips (like the round and barrel) tend to give light bright tone, fuller sounding tones are achieved with acorn and arrow shapes tips. The oval tip and tear drop is a fairly good compromise of both extremes.
Wood or Nylon? Nylon will provide a brighter tone overall, no matter what shape the tip is.
"What you should choose is what ever feels comfortable to hold, as we will all have our preferences"
WOOD...
Sticks tend to be made from three types of wood: Maple, hickory, oak. The type of wood will play a part in the wight and durability.
The most popular material is hickory. This is due to the fact that it is dense, strong, stiff, and has great shock-absorption properties- essential when drumming. Maple is another popular choice, it is the lightest in weight of the three materials, offering more more ‘flex’, whilst still being very tough. Oak sticks are the heaviest in wight . We don't know these guys personally, but this video has some further insight comparing wood:
We hope this blog will now help you in your search for finding the perfect drumsticks. It is our mission to share the knowledge we have learned with you and we thank you for reading this post. If you need any further help, contact the team here at Rockademy by email at rockademy@outlook.com
www.rockademy.co.uk - Thanks again for reading, please share the love by sharing this blog...
Rockademy Team
www.rockademy.co.uk
