All of us at some stage in our life dream of being a part of a rock band as a drummer. The swish of the sticks against the drums and the cymbal creates such a powerful sound that it mesmerizes the young and the old. The massive drum set is an instrument to behold and admire. The person behind the drums, playing it with force and passion, is our idol who we want to emulate. But in all this, the most overlooked item is the pair of drumsticks. We forget that if there were no drumsticks, the magnificent sound of the drums that enthralls us would not exist. There are different bamboo materials of which drumsticks are made of. Whether you want the sticks for jazz, or for folk or for loud performance, you can choose accordingly.
What Are Drumsticks?
Drumsticks are defined as percussion mallets or in layman’s word, hammer-like objects when struck against a percussion instrument produce sound. They are always used in pairs. A drumstick is created from a single piece of wood. The type of wood most often used is hickory. It is also crafted from maple and oak wood.
The shoulder is the slightly convex-shaped part of the stick that tapers towards the bead. The body of the drumstick is the shaft which is cylindrical-shaped. The butt is that end that the drummer has his grip on.
There are 2 types of grips in which the drummer can hold the sticks:
- Traditional grip: The left hand and the right hand use different grips
- Matched grip: Both the hands have matching grip
Significance of Numbers & Letters While Buying Drumsticks:
When you decide to buy a pair of drumsticks, you need to know the type that is most suitable for you in terms of its weight and diameter. In fact, this also depends a lot on the thinness of the bamboo stick, and through this you get lighter and lower volume of playing a musical instrument. The dimensions of drumsticks are indicated through numbers and letters. The weight is specified by a number and the diameter by a letter in which the diameter of A is lesser than B. also, to be noted is if the bead is made of nylon or wood. If at the end of the number-letter pair, an N is added that means that the tip of the stick is made of nylon.
With these specifications mentioned, the process of selecting the right pair becomes easier. The drumsticks are numbered from 1 to 9 in the weight category, but the most popular categories are:
- 7 series drumsticks: Most commonly used in jazz and marching bands
- 5 series drumsticks: This is the most popular stick size that is used globally
- 2 series drumsticks: Professional drummers in hard rock and metal bands prefer this stick
Most Popular Drumstick Brands:
Once you decide to buy your very own pair of drum sticks, it is always better to find out the manufacturing brands that have sold superior quality sticks over the years, created a niche in the drum sticks market, and most importantly earned the trust of customers. You also need to check the grip once you buy the drum sticks. The right grip allows you to play the drums properly, and you also get the best rhythmic outcome in this manner. Listed below are some of them:
- Vic Firth
- Zildjian
- Promark
- Vater
- Regal Tip
- Finley
- Meinl
- Innovative percussion
- Millennium
Conclusion-
Drumsticks are the most underrated musical instrument, but one cannot undermine their significance in the world of music. These two slender sticks have together with the drums woven magic and shall continue to do so in the future. But you should check the brand, durability and price before you buy the drumsticks.
