My 5 Favorite Drum Sticks!
There are way too many kinds of sticks out there. How in the world are we supposed to know which size is best? Let me offer a few guidelines that might help you out, and I’ll tell you what my favorite sticks are.
Here’s what I have in my stick bag:
- 7A hickory sticks
- 5A hickory sticks
- 5A maple sticks (lighter weight)
- 5B hickory sticks
- 5B “barrel tip” hickory sticks
Yeah, I have other stuff besides these exact sticks in my bag, but this list sums up my essentials that I actually use regularly. Let me explain what I use each pair for.
7A
These are my least used pair of sticks, but I’m including them because I used to use them very often. These are great jazz sticks, especially if you’re playing light jazz (jazz combo, jazz trio, etc.). I did a lot of that in college, and this was my stick of choice. I don’t play as much jazz now, but whenever the occasion arises I still reach for these.
5A
These are the quintessential average, all-purpose, can’t-go-wrong-with-these stick. If you don’t know what kind to get, just start with a pair of these. They feel great, and they work well for lighter playing AND heavier playing. I use these for any medium-volume gig, and I’ll reach for them often when I’m practicing or working on my pad.
5A Maple
Vic Firth calls these sticks their “Heritage” sticks. They have a whole series of these, and the only difference between the regular sticks and the heritage sticks is the wood type. The dimensions are all the same, but the sticks are made of maple rather than hickory. That means the stick is a little bit lighter, which can be extremely practical. I love using my maple 5a’s for any lighter gig where I need to be careful to keep volumes low. Drum sticks are still drum sticks, and they’ll make a lot of noise, but using a lighter stick really makes it easier to play lighter.
5B
These are my go-to sticks for any loud gig. Basically my rule-of-thumb is this: If I’m playing rimshots on the snare, let’s use 5b’s. I love the feel of a rimshot with a 5b, because it just lays into the snare so well. It’s a heavy enough stick that you can feel like you’re just “dropping it” into the drum, yet you’re getting a solid smack. It’s a good stick for rock drumming.
5B Barrel-Tip
I have to add this stick in not because I believe it’s a necessary part of the collection, but because I want to encourage you to test out different tip-types. Most sticks have the traditional tear-drop or acorn tip, but a barrel tip is literally shaped like a barrel. It provides a little bit more surface area making contact with a ride cymbal, so it actually creates a slightly different cymbal sound. (This is where tip-type plays an important role. You’re not going to hear a difference on a drum, but you’ll definitely notice when you ping a ride.) Of course, you can also compare the extreme tip differences of a wood versus nylon tip. It’s fun to experiment with these things so that you can find what your tastes naturally lean toward.
We all love nerdy gear stuff, and I know I always want to know what kind of sticks other drummers are playing. I hope this gave you some ideas!
If you want to see what else is in my stick bag (besides sticks), check out this video I did a while back. I show off all my favorite mallets, rods, and brushes as well.
Stephen
