Tips for Drummers #4 –
How to Select the Right Drumsticks
With so many drumstick options out
there, finding drum sticks that
fit your playing style is an often overlooked process, as most players
understandably put their focus on finding a drum set and cymbal configuration
that allow the full expression of their musical personality. However, finding
the right pair of sticks is no trivial matter; this is where the rubber meets
the road (or the stick meets the drum). Playing with a well-balanced set of
sticks that feel right will definitely help improve your playing comfort and
bring out the best sounds in your kit and cymbals.
So, how do you
know what type of stick to try? Do the woods used make a difference in the
sound of the drum or cymbals? Do you need different size sticks for different
musical applications?
Here are 2 articles
we found that will answer these questions and more.
Article 1: How to Choose the Right Drum Sticks, The Hub
The traditional
method of numbering drum sticks, using numbers such as 3S, 2B, 5B, 5A, and 7A,
comes from the earliest days of drum stick manufacturing, when a number and
letter were assigned based on the stick's size and application. The numerical
part signifies the circumference of the stick. In general, the lower the number
the larger the circumference, and the higher the number the smaller the
circumference.
The letter suffixes "S," "B," and "A"
originally indicated the recommended application. "S" model sticks
were designed for "street" applications such as drum corps and
marching bands. "B" model sticks were intended for "band"
applications such as brass bands and symphonic orchestras. "A"
stands for Orchestra. "A" model sticks were designed for big band and
dance orchestras.
Drum stick anatomy states that the butt end functions as
the counterweight to the tipped end of the stick. Used in reverse to the tip,
the butt end can be used for extra volume and more power.
The most popular
woods used in drum stick making today include hickory, maple, and oak. Maple,
the lightest wood used for drum sticks is low in density, and lends itself to
lower-volume situations and light, fast playing. Hickory is by far the most
popular wood used in drum stick making, and is denser, heavier, and more rigid
than maple. Hickory also is excellent at absorbing shock, which reduces hand
and wrist fatigue, qualities that also make hickory the wood of choice for
making baseball bats. Oak is a very dense hardwood that's extremely durable,
and is heavier than hickory. Some drummers seek out sticks made of exotic woods
such as rosewood or bubinga.
Synthetic sticks are made of a variety of materials
including polyurethane and aluminium. They are extremely durable, and some, such
the 'Ahead aluminum drum sticks', have
replaceable tips; something you can’t do with wooden sticks.
Stick tips come in four basic shapes, each with unique tonal qualities, and
in a choice of wood or nylon. Round tips deliver
a focused sound that's especially good on cymbals, ranging from the tight ping
sound of small round tips to the broader, fuller tones of larger round tips. Barrel tips have a larger contact area for a
broader, more diffuse tone. Pointed or triangle-tipped sticks produce
a focused medium tone. Teardrop or olive-shaped tips produce
a range of sounds from tightly focused to diffuse depending on how they are
held. Nylon tips are popular with many drummers
for their increased durability and brilliant, distinct sound, while some
players prefer the softer, warmer sound of wood tips.
http://bit.ly/ChoosingDrumsticks
Article 2: How to Choose Drumsticks, By Nick D'Virgilio
There is
speculation of drums being hit by sticks from the earliest time of man, but
there is real evidence from 7th-century Asia of a single-headed drum being hit
by a stick. Double-headed drums being used with sticks started to make their
way in the Middle Ages; moreover, in the 18th and 19th centuries, military
drummers marching along in battle played a vital role. From things like
providing structure for the company to march to, and signaling vital orders,
drums and the tools used to hits those drums have been around for a very long
time. They have grown into precision implements that come in myriad different
sizes, shapes, and materials. The drumstick as we know it today has been around
for less then 100 years; the nylon tip was invented in 1958. From that point to
the present day drumsticks have evolved into hundreds of different styles and
configurations making it possible for drummers to find their exact fit.
Most drumsticks
are made out of wood; maple, hickory, and oak are the most popular wood types.
These days there are synthetic materials like plastic and graphite used for
sticks that help them last longer then wood sticks; they have a very different
feel and sound.
Action Points
1. Choose the right wood. The feel has to do with how the stick transmits or absorbs vibration
and how much it flexes.
2.
Pick the right tip. If you like a bright attack
on the cymbals, then try out a nylon-tipped drumstick. Wooden tips have a
darker sound with less effect on the cymbals.
3.
Choose the shape. Smaller creates a more
articulate sound while larger tips create bigger and deeper sounds.
4.
Choose the thickness as this changes the sound.
Ultimately, once you go through this process and find the
right stick, you will probably never change. However, some drummers use a
variety of sticks for different styles of playing. In general, heavier sticks
are the obvious choice for rock and R&B styles where a strong back beat is
called for. Lighter sticks tend to be favored for jazz, folk, and acoustic
styles. Many drummers also like to use heavier sticks for practices than they
do for their performances in order to develop strength and stamina. For playing
a wide variety of styles and all-around use, 5A sticks with nylon tips are a
good choice. For beginning drummers, 2B sticks are great for developing
precision and technique.
Keep playing and find a good fit for your style, and
remember the mantra of all great drummers: practice, practice, practice.
BlueTimbre is a
Music hub with Music Education spaces, Jam Room and Recording studio located in
India. BlueTimbre provides complete end-to-end Music Education solutions for
schools. BlueTimbre management team comes with a decades of cumulative
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