The Ultimate Drum Stick Guide | Finding Your Own Drum Sound
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.ค. 2024
- Great Gift Ideas for Drummers imp.i114863.net/Gjzq5r
Your drum stick choice has a huge impact on your playing feel and sound. No matter if you prefer thicker, heavier sticks or feel better with lighter and thinner models in your hands, it is very useful to know some basic facts about drum sticks in general.
This video is designed to provide you with everything you need to know - in order to find your perfect drum stick model.
00:00 Intro
00:55 #1 The Different Parts Of A Drum Stick
02:02 #2 Thickness and Length
04:41 #3 Different Tips
07:01 #4 Different Shapes
08:46 #5 Different Material
10:19 Conclusion
Don't miss any new videos.
Make sure to SUBSCRIBE and hit the notification bell!
------------------------------------------
Art Of Drumming is the number one platform for learning all about drums!
Sign up and get access to world class drum lessons from international top artists.
Learn from the greats for FREE at www.artofdrumming.com.
------------------------------------------
#drumsticks
#guide
#artofdrumming
#drums
What stick model is your favorite one?
Personally a really big fan of the promark rebound balance 7a
Vic Firth Extreme 5A, PureGrit! Best sticks I've ever used :)
vf sd1 for snare solo and mid hard playing on drums or electronic drums, for hard playin vf 2bn but i will love to see an oak version of those... (please vic) or i usually go for local no branded sticks made of encino heavy thick and big oval wooden tips, my choice.
I use Vater 7A Manhattan or Promark 717 - both are hickory sticks with wood tips and I play rock and pop music with these.
Vic Firth suits my playing the best. David Garibaldi Signature and American Jazz.
12 years ago I used a pair of Vic Firth SD4 on a gig and it was the best pair I've ever played. I used the same exact pair for a low volume weekly gig for 6 years and when I moved to Japan, brought that same pair with me and have used every week for our 3 hour band practice for another 6 years. Same exact pair for 12 years. The shoulder is super thin by now and the tips are almost flush, but somehow this pair refuses to break. Yesterday I decided I need to retire and frame these sticks.
I’ve never had a pair last longer than a month. Had a couple pairs last under an hour. The woes of being a gospel/rock drummer.
I had a drum head that lasted about 10 years. I used the kit for drummers to play that came over. I should have framed it it was so caved in was a miracle it didn’t break for so long.
Vic Firth SD4s are one of my favorite sticks of all time!
Wow that’s such a thin stick too. Amazing that it lasted that long you must have really good technique!
Man, I play jazz, funk, gospel, trap and once I tried the vic firth modern jazz MJC4 I couldn't go back. Such a vesatile stick, just the right diameter while being light since its made out of maple. Simply amazing.
I’m not big into buying another Drummers custom anything. But I will have to say Tool’s drummer Danny Carey’s signature Vic Firth drum sticks are so perfectly weighted that they are a perfect fit for me. The width of the sticks fit in my hands so well they don’t slip out of my hands much if ever.
Totally agree!
I stumbled upon the Vic Firth Jack De Johnette and they seem like the stick I've always wanted. Extra reach, perfect taper and just the right weight. ✌
Great video!!
I have a few pairs of the Thomas Lang sigs, and I will say the weight allows me to let the stick do the work. I’m not a fan of the white paint as it’s a bit slippery for my taste. So I sand it off where I grip it and use Sex Wax for tackiness.
@@Rockin_Ross Thomas Lang actually does the same thing too, there's a video somewhere where he talks about choosing the white as an ode to marching sticks but finds it too slippy as sold so he sands it down slightly.
Great insight - thanks for sharing
In my harder hitting days, I really liked the Promark white oak sticks. The density of the wood allowed me to play with the added weight I wanted without having to use a super thick stick. I also played mostly rim shots on the snare, and the wood wouldn't splinter and make a frayed mess out of the middle of the drumstick. I found hickory and maple would shred, the fraying would get in the way, and the stick would suddenly become spongy. Oak tended more to break off in little pieces and last a little longer. It was tough enough that I could usually successfully get to end of a song before I needed to switch out with a new stick. I don't hit as hard now, so I'm spending time getting used to using different sticks for different situations.
Yes! I used to love the White Oak sticks for metal
I totally agree after some years of playing, the promark shira Kashi oak has become my goldilocks stick!!
Back in my rock days in the 60's, Promark was my first choice. Now, I'm more of a musical drummer who PLAYS rather than POUNDS. I play Vic Firth hickory wood tips now at much lighter volumes and more variety in song playlists. .
Great rundown on a subject I never really thought about. I didn't realize how different materials and shapes/sizes hit on different parts of the drums made a difference in the sound emitted. Thanks for the though provoking and educational video!
Vic Firth's Peter Erskine Signature are just perfect for me, the sound on the ride is perfect for me ! Thin but dense, and pretty long, I don't feel like playing small sticks but still have the smooth and precise sound of a light stick !
What a great video! Been drumming for 20+ years and the only way I knew all of this was from, well, spending 20+ years drumming and experimenting. I started off with 5A's (because that's whats the store guy gave me), then, as a rock oriented teen I went on to 5B's, on to 2B's, back to 5B's and all of the sudden, many years later... I settled on 7A's... LOL. Go figure.
I personally met a rock drummer I really liked, saw his 7A's and was like... whaaat? Tried them myself and never went back.
For rock, I love and miss the sound of fat, heavy sticks on low tuned toms, but I hate it on the ride and hats. It's all a trade-off of course.
Round tip 7A's (to me) have this amazing dynamics and sound on cymbals; and they are light and fast; but yes, you give up the power on the toms mainly and crashing cymbals.
I also did exactly this! 5a into 5B, 2B and then 7A for years of hard rock/metal playing.
Now I have custom made sticks that are tailored to me and love them! They are longer versions of 5A and built with the weight in the butt of the stick, teardrop heads and a denser wood.
Perfect
I love the promark 5b rebound. It enables me to play hard and have lots of control on my doubles and triplets.
Another thing to bear in mind is pair mismatching. Even if you buy a new pair of sticks it can still mean that the two sticks don't match eachother in sound. I just bought four pairs of the same stick and tried them out on a ride cymbal to get truly matched pairs. The difference between the darkest sounding stick and the brightest was pretty big. Also, the same stick model seem to change in weight over time. A pair of Vic's 7A from about six years ago are significantly heavier than a pair from two years ago, and the four pairs I just bought are somewhere in between.
Depends on what I’m playing. For rock, virtually any pair of 5A or 5B nylon tip will suffice. But for bebop jazz? Regal 7A nylon tip. The stick is lighter in the neck (taper area) than other 7A brands, which allows both the drums and the cymbals to sound lighter and clearer. This makes a huge difference if you’re into the darker ‘Turkish’ jazz cymbals. You need to exert a little more effort on your toms with these, but you can compensate for that by tuning them higher than for rock/pop.
I practice with relatively heavy sticks for greater stick control. It works the muscles and forces you to really learn to control the sticks carefully and with accuracy when you practice with a heavy pair. For actual gigs, I will often opt for the Vic Firth "Steve Gadd" model as it's insanely comfortable in my hands and has a great sound in almost any genre or style (since Gadd himself played in dozens of different bands and music styles). I tend to carry one or two lighter or heavier pairs if a set might require them, but the Gadds are good enough for most applications.
I also play concert drums and that's a whole other ball game on choosing the right sticks depending on the piece or need...
I’ve been playing Pro Mark Oak for decades and love that wood.
I stumbled upon the Vic Firth Jack De Johnette and they seem like the stick I've always wanted. Extra reach, right diameter with perfect taper and just the right weight. ✌
Excellent video. Really difficult to get the sound nuances across, but you guys did a decent job. Spent all of lockdown trying to find the perfect stick. Los Cabos 3A white hickory was the winner.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Man this channel is awesome. I don't know what the budget is, but you guys should put more into advertising. Your channel is amazing, but I feel like there aren't enough people seeing your content
I was just talking with my friend about this. HOW CAN ANYBODY AFFORD THESE VIDEOS??
I run my local stores out of their Vater 1As. Love those sticks.
I’ve done all the experimenting for a long time. I finally settled on Vic Firth 5B’s. I prefer the barrel tip,but the down side of course is the denting of the heads (I tend to hit pretty hard) . So it’s a catch 22, the sound I love and the changing of heads more often 🥺😔, vs the ok sound with standard tear drop tips but saving the heads longer.🤷🏻♂️😢.
I have been using your AJ3 sticks for a few years now, the only drum sticks in my bag.
And I like all the drumsticks models and stick tips and all that stuff
Mt preference is for a 0.5 diameter timbale stick, great feel and sound good to me, i play predominantly hybrid set ups so they work great on pads too
Very informative video! Thanks.
Promark 5bs are my absolute favorite. So dense and heavy.
I bought a set of Shira Kashi Oak sticks made in Japan by ProMark, classic 2B with an oval nylon tip. so far I really like them. I got big hands so the thin sticks that came with my new set came unmarked, look like someone made them out of a home depot 2x4 on a lathe (very warped) but look to be A7 because they are very light and very thin. I toss them in my bag and take them to work to practice in a sound proof conference room (I work nights so no one's around) I played some 25 years ago so I am just getting back into the swing of things and having to basically relearn everything, especially all the terminology. I never really learned how to read sheet music, I learned to play by ear back in a time before the internet which was a real challenge. Imagine learning to play snare for the nut cracker songs by listening to a cassette tape... Anyway, great video, I never knew the different shape tips would make such a huge difference in the overall sound. I've never used anything but the typical acorn or teardrop or oval tips (all the same thing just different companies and people call them different things apparently.
I’v been using 5A’s for a long time nylon tips but.I’m going to use wooden tips for a change for a more natural sound.natural finish.🥁
I love the Keith Carlocks or the 5A Doubleglaze. I wish Vic Firth had more lacquer offerings.
I think the oval tip is just as common as the acorn/teardrop tip.
I used to use nylon tips because of the way they sounded on my ride cymbal when I used to play more rock, but in my experience, they don't feel as good as wood tips, like they rebound a little bit less. I use wood tips now, but it's a drag when the tip wears out long before the rest of the stick does.
Promark sticks are my go to. I use the 5A Rebound Balance Hickory/Maple, Acid Jazz, and Glenn Kotche signatures primarily. Those tend to be what best suits the sounds I shoot for.
👍🏻
Great video, covered a lot of ground! I use anything from 2B, via 5B, 5A down to 7A or 5A maple. You win some and lose some on each type, I find. For toms I prefer 2B, for cymbals 7A or maple sticks. Also, as I get better and play more intricate stuff, I get drawn to the smaller sticks. I saw an interview with Annika Nilles, where she said she likes the articulation smaller sticks give her.
What a fantastic video!
Vic firth 5A hickory nylon tip is my go-to also the Vic grip
Virgil Donati’s Assault was my favorite growing up! Still have one pair left 😅
I was amazed at the difference in sound between the hickory and maple on the ride cymbal (not so much on the drums). I liked the sound of the cymbal played with the hickory stick, but not really with the maple stick. Really eye-opening.
What kit is that in the video? It sounds great
My favourite drum stick model is the Vic Firth Matt Garstka Signature stick but I don't always use it. There are 3 Vic Firth models I typically go to depending on the musical situation - all of which have a 0.585" diameter (this is the diameter that fits my hands the best), are 16" long and are made of hickory. I simply vary the tip and taper to suit the music I'm playing. I use:
- Peter Erskine Big Band Sticks for jazz and other quieter playing - the long taper and tear drop tip make it very easy to play quietly with these sticks, despite their relatively large diameter.
- Matt Garstka Sticks for moderate to loud playing - these are the most versatile sticks I've ever come across which is why they're my all-round choice when volume is less of a concern, although the blended tip makes it pretty easy to play softly with these too when necessary. These have more dynamic range than anything else I've played with.
- Charlie Watts (RIP) Sticks for heavy playing - medium taper and oval tip makes it easy to get a big weighty sound out of the drums which is great for heavy situations.
I thoroughly recommend finding which diameter fits your hands the best, which length you're most comfortable with and going from there. I find the tip and taper are the 2 things that influence the sound the most, whilst the diameter and length are more about figuring out what's physically right for your body. That's why the diameter and length rarely change for me, even when I'm using different sticks.
Lol I love this! My fav is the Vic firth George kollias signature, .585" barrel tip medium taper, I totally know what you mean haha. Sometimes the longer taper of the Matt garksta stick can take some adjustment for me personally (though they are indeed great sticks & I still have a pair) so I'm usually most comfortable with the Vic Firth SGK model.
@@groundedgameplayx Yeah I really like the George Kollias sticks too - 0.585" is just the magic size for me. I don't even really think in terms of 5A, 5B etc. anymore - for me it's all about the actual stick specs. I find it becomes much easier to narrow the options down that way.
Good point
Travis Barker Signature Sticks From Zildjian those are my favorite sticks of all time
Pro Marks 5a rebound balance have given me the best feel compared to others.
Yeah great drum sound but you know I like the The muffled drum sound with fleece fabric shape like circles along with balloon rings and all that stuff
I use either Los cabos 2b, or vaters 2b, really like those sticks
Zildjian 5a hickory, wood tip for 20 years. THEN they changed the tip/shank and I was breaking them a LOT. I hunted thru so many, ended up with promark 747 in hickory and oak (oval tip) and some vic firth 5a hickory wood tip, for jazzier/light playing. I still have a few sets of old school zildjian 5a's, but they are long gone from being produced nowadays. I do use the 5a maple zildjians for my ekits (alternate mode neoprene) TrapKat and DrumKat.. Im primarily a rock drummer on an old Pearl Sessions Rack kit with Zildjian A's all around.
los cabos 5A and 5B canadian rock maple sticks.
I can't find a better stick than SD-1 Generals, rock maple. The perfect stick.
SD1 General is an excellent all purpose drumstick, so comfortable in the hand.
I used Mike Portnoy's signature drumsticks for years, with which I got along very well, having played progressive rock; later, I switched to Todd Sucherman's signature (practically like Vic Firth 5B). For a project with a pop symphony orchestra, first, I tried the Vic Firth 5A Extreme, but I didn't like it because of the kind of balance it gave to my hand; then, I got the SD4 Combo. Outstanding and versatile, too! But to have a "general" and even more versatile drumstick for different genres, I'm opting for the Vic Firth 5B or Mike Johnston's Vic Firth NE-1.
I decided to switch to Vic Firth out of curiosity to try their quality and because the prices are definitely more affordable than Pro-Mark, which raised the price too high.
Ooohhh! This is gonna be good!
Thanks!🖖
And specially the arrow accorn teardrop and oval round and barrel Tips of the drumsticks and all that stuff
i use different sticks rods and brushes from different brands cause i want to have different sound options for my sound depending which sound at what time and style i want to play and how my drumset has to sound like
I am a teenager and I have pretty small hands. I have always used the Vic Firth 7A, but when I was trying to begin practicing traditional grip my fingers just couldn't fit right and the stick felt too heavy. So now I'm searching for some thinner/lighter sticks that are about the same length. If anyone has a recommendation it would really help! (I should also note that there is no way for me to try out sticks because there is no music store in my city. I need to order everything online)
I tend to use different sticks in one pair for ride/hi-hat and snare/tom sounds - for example Vater Los Angeles 5A for snare (left hand) and Manhattan 7A with customised tip for ride/hi-hat (right hand) - tips on Manhattan 7A are almost like on new Carter McLean sticks, really smooth! Great subject!
Geez, I’m glad I’m not the only one who does that 😅
I always thought about that idea, but what about fills or any double-handed playing (like fast 16th on cymbals)? Wouldn't that approach drastically change the sound between right and left hands? I mean I can easily check the difference myself, but I'm interested in your thoughts.
@@kasha504 Very good point! I can speak from my fresh experience - fills don't feel or sound that different especially with coated drum heads (I find the effect to be bigger with clear heads), but there is definitely an effect with double-handed ride patterns, just tested it out myself after reading your comment! Especially with dry sounding rides (Paiste Traditionals 20" and 22").
For me, the sound leads the playing dynamics and I like to have many options and two different sticks is one way to achieve that. Having two different sticks also changes the way the hands work with the stick and I find it to be exciting.
But your thoughts regarding those specific points are really excellent! Всего хорошего! :)
@@lauripold5188 Thanks a lot for reaching out!!! Now I'm really interested in trying your method myself. Actually I had somewhat of a similar situation in college last year - one hand playing bongos and the other one hitting cowbells with a drumstick (yup, percussion ensemble can be pretty fun).
Вам тоже всего наилучшего! :)
I like a 7a long 16” i was playing regal tip 7a jazz 16” but cant find them so ive switched to vic firth 17” barrel tip.
I prefer a drumstick that had a Teardrop tips. I had to buy another stick with the same tips and the thin lengths. those drum sticks are my favorites was Vater sticks.
What stick size would: Be best for fast fingers or Moler technique in the metal genre? I've used 7A's all my life but thinking a heavier butt would progress my blast beat speed/control/dynamics. I'm thinking it would also make fast double strokes sound more even in volume. Thanks.
currently using 5AN extremes from Vic Firth (5As with nylon tips & a bit longer), extra length is nice as I'm tallish so the extra length makes up for the space I lose to my legs, nylon tips as when I used wood ones my tips wore down way before the rest of the stick would. I probably should experiment a bit more but that's for another day.
Same here. Have really been pleased with the 5AN Extremes. They just seem to feel great in my hands and sound great.
For some reason I use Buddy Rich’s VIC for ages. I am not sure why but they are just perfect. And what ever I do they stay solid. Most of my sticks broke on shoulder part, but here no shoulder as such.
I tried Alex Van Halen’s signature sticks before. I used them once and that was it. They’re like 18 1/2” long but oddly light !
😮
I already found my perfect drum stick model: Promark 7A oval-tip hickory 🥰
747's in oak, when you really want to project or not fret over wear. I do prefer the feel of Hickory, but the longevity of oak is something to behold. Oaks do vibrate the shit outta you, tho. Oval is what I use mostly. I only use acorns when I can remind myself to not play loudly and get excited. Head cost too much and divots lead to tears...
Vic Firth Rock drumsticks is the best for me
The Jojo Mayer stick is good. Also the Vater Los Angeles 5A. I notice that I tend to prefer shorter sticks. Anything longer than 16" feels too front-heavy and slow for me.
Vic Firth 55A. Between the 5A & B.
I noticed a big difference in the sound on the ride cymbal between the AJ5 Which is very thin versus the Thomas Lang stick very thick in very dark on the Zildjin ride
ive been playing promark firegrain 5A rebound tip for a while now
Whats the best for hard hitting rock punk and metal sticks ? 5b ?
American Classic Vic Firth 5A Barrel, Dave Weckl Signature, Promark Simon Phillips, SD1 General to practice.
I've been using Steve Jordan Signatures for a long time, but I think it's time for a change, simply to make me feel differently.
Does any of this make any difference for an electric drumset? Perhaps just the feel in the weight and hand movement?!
What about for practice, particularly on a pad? I'm just a few months in. I started with Promark TX5BW teardrop hickory, and now I also have Vater hickory 8A barrel and VF SD1 round with maple. The Vics have a really short shoulder and wide body and seem good for strength building. But I feel like when I get a handle on the rudiments and when I go to my regular sticks, it throws me off. The 8As were recommended by shop guy and they were a mistake. I have big hands and those things like to go flying.
For practice pad I like to go with marching snare or marching tenor sticks, they're much thicker and make good workout sticks. I find thin sticks extremely difficult to practice rudiments on a pad, they make good ride cymbal sounds but you pay for it with maneuverability
my favorite model: promark simon phillips 707
I love the quest loves. They are long, slim, and feel great.
extremely unique stick for sure!
That’s what she said
?uestlove used Vic Firth Hickory American Classic 7As before he got his signature sticks. I caught one he signed and threw after a Roots show in 2008.
@@pitchfolkmedia916 sweet!!!
Vic Firth Titan 5B is the best for me
VIC FIRTH Bolero SD2 !!! Thick, light and round tip ;)
Great choice!
I'd love to see you guys try to get Benny Greb's drum sound
No problem 😉
I love how the ride cymbal in this vid sounds. What brand, type and size is it?
It’s a 19“ Zildjian Kerope
Hey I play rock (stuff like System of a Down and nirvana)music and my stick recently broke, does anyone know what sticks I should buy?
How should we name the Buddy Rich or Matt Garstka model’s tip? It’s not the usual kind of a teardrop tip) or what about “upsidedown” “teardropped” barrel tip for trip hop?))🤣
The Jack Dejonette model is the ultimate drum stick.
Im using the VicFirth sd2 bolero
👍🏻
What kit is that?
What type of drumsticks would you recommend to electronic drummers? (my drums are all rubber btw, they don’t have mesh.)
Ones made of wood.whatever you like
I play electronic drums. The answer is: Whatever stick feels most comfortable in your hands. The material and tip shape is practically irrelevant with electronic drums. Just try various sticks till you find something that feels comfortable and has the right action for your personal tastes.
Use nylon teardrop tip drumsticks on e-drums. Mesh is much better then rubber.
Maple. Light as can be so your kit doesnt play at 127 velocity, when you get excited.
Played with Promark 747s and 5b millinium for 20 plus years. Then I got my hands on some Vaters and Vic Firths. My favorite sticks are the 7a nylon tip Vater Manhattans and 5a Novas by Vic Firths and the grip sticks. I've bought so many different kinds of sticks over the last few years to experiment I realized I definitely enjoy lighter sticks with the balance in the middle or at the grip. Heavy top weighted sticks slow me down are uncomfortable now for me, so many of my sticks will sit and collect dust.
Just switched from Vic Firth X5B to Vater Power 5A
ahead 5B, best I have ever played with.
👏🏻
Vic Firth 5As and 5A Freestyle all the way.
💪
AS5A all the way!!
Ok
Vater 2B and 5B’s nylon tip American hickory for me all day only stick that has withstood my abuse rather well second choice are the promark 2B nylons Japan oak
Take baxk everything but my vic firth 3a wood tip
Freestyle 😁
what about using a rolling pin
Power 5b vater and or Morgan rose alien freak cause why not but really any thing that'd thicker than a 5b and a little longer
Why not use the 5A sticks...they are the most used size. And you did not mention that Nylon tipped sticks necks are almost always smaller around than a wood tip. This makes them mose prone to breakage at that point.
A drummers sticks should feel like an extension of their hands.
Try as many different types as you can.
Factor in the type of music you are playing.
Also - understand that there is No Universal sizing system. Meaning, a 7A from Vic Firth might be slightly different than a 7A from Pro-Mark.
Experiment as much as possible.
We need a roger Taylor drum kit sounds
ok 🙂
Vater Mangini model
aj5 arent available
People use sticks? I just punch the drums.
😂
i play suuuuper hard and break all the time
please have someone else for the voice overs
Longer stick will produce darker lower pitch. While a shorter stick will produce higher brighter sound!
Every time you moved to the bell, you didn't hit with the tip. 🤷🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️ They sounded completely different on the ride, and exactly the same on the bell. If you're comparing tips, you have to use the tips.
Mans holding a log
Just buy a Vic firth