How to choose drumsticks?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Drumsticks are usually made of wood (beech, oak, maple, hornbeam, hazel, etc.) and some artificial materials (aluminum, polyurethane, carbon, etc.). Sometimes the tip is made artificial, and the "body" of the drumstick remains wooden. At present, due to the high wear resistance, wooden sticks with nylon tips are becoming increasingly popular.

Structure of a drumstick:

• butt is the point of balance;
• wand body - grip area.

The shoulder (another name is the neck) is the tapering part. The length and shape of this section greatly affects the behavior and sound of the stick.

The tip is needed to strike. There are different forms. In most cases, it is made of wood.

How to choose drum sticks?

You need to start with the base - wood. There are three main types of wood that are used to makedrumsticks:

1. Maple is the lightest, has excellent flexibility. With sticks made from this tree, the musician will feel less impact with his hands.
2. Walnut is most often used to make drumsticks. It has good flexibility and high energy absorption.
3. And finally, oak wood. Drumsticks made of this material rarely break, but the player will feel much more vibration during the game.

Once you have decided on the tree, you need to choose the right tip. There are two types of drumstick tips - wood or nylon. Wooden tips are the most common and will be a good choice for many types of play. The only minus of the tree is quick wear during active play. Nylon tips will last longer. They will also be useful when playing cymbals when a good rebound and a bright sound are needed. When playing an electronic drum kit, it is recommended to buy drum sticks with a nylon tip, as wooden ones can break and damage the mesh on the pede.

Tips also differ in shape. It is customary to distinguish four types:

1. Round - reduce sound changes when playing at different inclinations. This is especially good for cymbals. This type of tips is very popular now.
2. Cylindrical - give a diffused and open sound.
3. Pointed drumsticks produce an average sound in focus.
4. Shaped tipsolives, allow you to control the sound and area of contact upon impact.

The next important parameter is the size of the sticks. Different manufacturers label drumsticks differently. However, they are quite similar. There are three categories of sticks:

1. 7a are light and thin drum sticks designed to produce a soft sound. Great for beginner drummers and jazz music.
2. 5a are the most common drumsticks, medium in thickness. Good for rock music. They can be played softly or loudly.
3. 2b/5b are drumsticks that allow you to play a louder sound. Great for hard rock and metal.

The most famous drum stick manufacturers are Stunner, Ruby Grip, Zildjian, Ahead, Cooperman, Sabian, Wincent, Tama, Balbex, Lutner, Vater, Pro Mark, Malletech and Vic Firth.