- Drumsticks are available in a variety of different sizes. The size refers to the thickness of the stick and is marked by a number such as 5B or 5A. Selecting the best size depends upon the type of music your play and your playing style. Thicker sticks are good for rock music that requires heavier styles of drumming. Thinner sticks work best for jazz, Latin-style or acoustic forms of music that require a lighter touch. Rock drummers commonly use 5B sticks while metal drummers may prefer 2B sticks. 5A is the standard size for jazz although some jazz drummer like 7A sticks that are very thin. Heavier sticks are more durable but thinner sticks are more responsive and flexible.
- The drum tip makes a significant contribution to the overall sound as well. Made of wood or nylon, drum tips come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Nylon tips -- which last longer -- produce a crisp and brighter sound. They provide a little more versatility and speed than wooden tips.
Wood tips are available in a full tear drop shape, a barrel shape, a small round tip and a large round tip. The large round tip produces a fatter sound while the smaller round tip produces higher sounds. The tear drop shape is good for lows and rich cymbal sounds. The barrel tip produces a broader versatile sound that works well in the studio. - Drumsticks are made from maple, hickory and oak. Hickory and oak are stronger woods which make the sticks more durable and reliable. Hickory and oak are also denser woods so the sticks are more rigid and less responsive than maple, which is a finer grain wood. Maple sticks are best for jazz and music that requires a lighter touch. Hickory and oak sticks are best for drumming that requires a heavier touch. Finally, the finish on the sticks makes a difference as well. The finish may be a varnish or a lacquer. Varnish sticks provide a better grip, which works well for drummers who sweat a lot.
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