Thank you, Rob. Right on time, as my shipment of your recommended Promark Firegrain Rebounds arrived today. 5B - 5A - 7A and an Activegrip 5A. Looking for my feel.
Yes Rob, I use the heavier weighted sticks on the pad to warm up before gigs and it can also help develop your wrist strength but I always do a warm up first before and after playing without the sticks it helps keep your muscles in tune. Much like a football team warm up and warm down. Everyone has their own routine and i also recommend only going one size up when using heavier sticks that way your wrists hardly notice the subtle difference but it's there
Great idea Rob I made I huge mistake one time practicing to fast with heavy metal thicker sticks and end up making my muscles tired to where I couldn't even roll fast
Love my Hardimans. I find that they have helped me to develop better feel and control. Recently, I started to play 5Bs (meatier than my usual stick) on the kit after a parade stick technique warm up. 5Bs also work on the pad.
In my experience, playing with heavier sticks (like Ralph Hardimons) makes double and triple strokes sound more even, but that’s because the stick is doing the dynamic work. Double and triple strokes are harder to get to sound dynamically consistent with 5A’s. I practice with heavier sticks when I wanna sound better than I am, lol.
100% agree. Drumming is an athletic instrument. You can compare it to weight lifting in a way. You don't try lift more than you can handle on your first time in the gym. If you work up, once you're comfortable with heavy weights, going lighter will not only feel like less resistance, but your control over that physical object will be far greater than when you were struggling/pushing yourself. Also, like you say, situational. I worked my way up to pretty meaty sticks (Thomas Lang sig, Virgil Donati sig) and have just recently moved down to Vater Power 3As. I feel my playing has become a lot more comfortable for the things I'm having to try pull off.
Before watching the video: I love to switch the Sticks to get used to different feelings. It makes it easier to get used to adjust to strange or unusual circumstances. I only use heavier Sticks if I want to practice endurance. If I play technical stuff like rudiments, I mostly use my normal sticks.
I started out using vic firth American Metal. They're fairly beefy. Been using them for two years now. Should I just keep using them since that's what im use to? Thanks.
What rudiments were you playing during the flam section you said? Sounded like swiss triplets at first but then some displacement or another rudiment in there? Had a nice flow!
+1 Good ideas! Also, if you want weight, but don't want the huge size of the Hardimans, try wrapping an old pair of your sticks with electric tape, drum Corp style.
Tried weighted metal sticks. Not good for developing feel and bounce. Was told that it might strengthen hands by the drummer whose name appears on the sticks. Maybe, maybe not. No need to be muscle bound. Flexibility is the emphasis in most muscle training these days (for football, yoga, tai chi---)
like how you mentioned its all preference I know drummers that I looked up to would tell me to use heavier sticks when you learning new techniques. I Normally tell my students to use the Sd1 generals from Vic Firth. when learning and its how I started learning my rudiments but I didn't learn rudiments until I was already playing drums when you mentioned when beginning to learn you don't recommend heavy sticks I could relate its no wonder I had an easy time switching to heavier sticks and my students would lean towards the lighter 5a sticks because they haven't learned proper way to hold the stick . how would you teach grip like a method to help them break the habit of when the grip it they wrap all fingers and stretch out their index finger and lay it on top like pressing a button on the stick and the put a lot of tension on the index finger causing them to use their arms and not wrist. I teach them grip d they do it correctly but slowly they switch the grip to this!
Recently, a friend of mine gave his 10 year old a drum set for Christmas. The music shop that sold him the kit threw in 3 free lessons. The instructor recommend the 10 year old use 5b sticks for strength gains. I suggested opposite. I feel like a 10 year old that has no experience playing should start with a 7a. I think stick control is where one needs to start. Strength with no control is useless. That's my logic... Anyway. The metal sticks are a no no on my kit. Easton, the baseball bat company makes those things.
I used to practice with marching band sticks (the MASSIVE ones). Never felt any advantage. Pushing weights is far more productive at building strength/chops.
Thank you, Rob. Right on time, as my shipment of your recommended Promark Firegrain Rebounds arrived today. 5B - 5A - 7A and an Activegrip 5A. Looking for my feel.
I will definitely try the warming up before à show thing now. thanks rob !
Yes Rob,
I use the heavier weighted sticks on the pad to warm up before gigs and it can also help develop your wrist strength but I always do a warm up first before and after playing without the sticks it helps keep your muscles in tune. Much like a football team warm up and warm down. Everyone has their own routine and i also recommend only going one size up when using heavier sticks that way your wrists hardly notice the subtle difference but it's there
nice video RB! appreciate the info you share. thanks a lot man👍
Great idea Rob I made I huge mistake one time practicing to fast with heavy metal thicker sticks and end up making my muscles tired to where I couldn't even roll fast
It's always great to get advice from a real pro! Thanks Rob. You rock!
Love my Hardimans. I find that they have helped me to develop better feel and control. Recently, I started to play 5Bs (meatier than my usual stick) on the kit after a parade stick technique warm up. 5Bs also work on the pad.
Mr. Brown. . . thanks for all the cool videos. I appreciate your candor and approach to the drums. Awesome content!
Thanks for the info! I think I'm gonna try this.
I have several sizes - lately I like DCi17 from Promark for practise pad, SD2 are nice too. It's Steve Gadd sticks on the kit though
In my experience, playing with heavier sticks (like Ralph Hardimons) makes double and triple strokes sound more even, but that’s because the stick is doing the dynamic work. Double and triple strokes are harder to get to sound dynamically consistent with 5A’s.
I practice with heavier sticks when I wanna sound better than I am, lol.
I use my DC sized sticks for practicing George Stone exercises on my pad. I highly recommend "Accents & Rebounds."
100% agree. Drumming is an athletic instrument. You can compare it to weight lifting in a way. You don't try lift more than you can handle on your first time in the gym. If you work up, once you're comfortable with heavy weights, going lighter will not only feel like less resistance, but your control over that physical object will be far greater than when you were struggling/pushing yourself.
Also, like you say, situational. I worked my way up to pretty meaty sticks (Thomas Lang sig, Virgil Donati sig) and have just recently moved down to Vater Power 3As. I feel my playing has become a lot more comfortable for the things I'm having to try pull off.
Before watching the video: I love to switch the Sticks to get used to different feelings. It makes it easier to get used to adjust to strange or unusual circumstances. I only use heavier Sticks if I want to practice endurance. If I play technical stuff like rudiments, I mostly use my normal sticks.
I started out using vic firth American Metal. They're fairly beefy. Been using them for two years now. Should I just keep using them since that's what im use to? Thanks.
If they're workin' for you, sure
Great explanation...
I use heavy sticks for not just the Practice pad but sometimes I will use them for the drums
What rudiments were you playing during the flam section you said? Sounded like swiss triplets at first but then some displacement or another rudiment in there? Had a nice flow!
tdrum21 *shrug* Probably a variation or two of the Swiss triplet, yea.
Great video!! Hickory or Oak
+1 Good ideas! Also, if you want weight, but don't want the huge size of the Hardimans, try wrapping an old pair of your sticks with electric tape, drum Corp style.
Any particular reason for recommending hickory when choosing wooden drums sticks?
I think it depends on how the stick feels and what is your preference
Tried weighted metal sticks. Not good for developing feel and bounce. Was told that it might strengthen hands by the drummer whose name appears on the sticks. Maybe, maybe not. No need to be muscle bound. Flexibility is the emphasis in most muscle training these days (for football, yoga, tai chi---)
Thanks!!!!
Good advice...
like how you mentioned its all preference I know drummers that I looked up to would tell me to use heavier sticks when you learning new techniques. I Normally tell my students to use the Sd1 generals from Vic Firth. when learning and its how I started learning my rudiments but I didn't learn rudiments until I was already playing drums when you mentioned when beginning to learn you don't recommend heavy sticks I could relate its no wonder I had an easy time switching to heavier sticks and my students would lean towards the lighter 5a sticks because they haven't learned proper way to hold the stick . how would you teach grip like a method to help them break the habit of when the grip it they wrap all fingers and stretch out their index finger and lay it on top like pressing a button on the stick and the put a lot of tension on the index finger causing them to use their arms and not wrist. I teach them grip d they do it correctly but slowly they switch the grip to this!
I like that use the term "work out". It makes me feel less guilty for not going to the gym. 😜
te amo
I have maple sticks. Are hickory sticks better?
Hickory sticks are heavier and more durable than maple, but maple tends to have a sweeter and brighter sound.
Recently, a friend of mine gave his 10 year old a drum set for Christmas. The music shop that sold him the kit threw in 3 free lessons. The instructor recommend the 10 year old use 5b sticks for strength gains. I suggested opposite. I feel like a 10 year old that has no experience playing should start with a 7a. I think stick control is where one needs to start. Strength with no control is useless. That's my logic... Anyway. The metal sticks are a no no on my kit. Easton, the baseball bat company makes those things.
rusty wooten That instructor dude was clearly a moron 🙄
I used to practice with marching band sticks (the MASSIVE ones). Never felt any advantage. Pushing weights is far more productive at building strength/chops.
I feel like Luke Cage!! Haha
I get tired fast using heavier sticks 😂😂😂