How to Chose Drum Sticks

How to choose the right pair of drum sticks

All professional drummers who are interviewed in magazines always mention the importance of their drum sticks to their playing technique.  Do stick really make such a big difference? We think they do.  Read on to find out why.

Another quote often heard in a room full of drummers (no jokes here, please) is that the drum stick should be an extension of the arm.  Think about that for a second – when playing you are moving your upper arm and elbow and wrist, and the connection with the drum skin or cymbal is made by the tip of the stick, so everything is connected and made in one movement.  Now you see the importance of the stick, but how do you choose the right one for you?

There are a few things to consider: length, thickness, and weight.  The reason that Vic Firth 5A sticks are so common is that they are a good standard weight and length, but they don’t work for all drummers.  Some drummers have longer arms, hence need slightly shorter sticks.  Jazz drummers don’t hit the drums as hard as metal drummers so do not need mega thick sticks.

Do consider the type of music or gig that you will be playing, if you are playing a short 5-song set of hard rock then a good heavy still will be fine, however if you are playing for an hour and a half at Wembley a lighter stick might help keep you going a bit longer!

The best tip of all – go and try as many sticks as you can, and find out which sticks your favourite drummers use.  I’ve recently changed sticks to a pair I thought I’d never ever use (Vic First Steve Gadd Signature) – they are short, black, and light, but somehow just felt amazing (should I mention that I am a hard hitting pop/rock drummer and these still are for total jazzers) and honestly they have changed my drum playing life.

My stick bag does hold not only Gadd but Weckl (much longer), 5A, 2B, and Rutes, depending on how I feel that particular day.

The right sticks can make a massive difference to your playing, think of them as a pair of shoes – if they feel right you’ll be comfortable – and this can only be a good thing.