Which sticks for the drum set?

As a drummer, it's important to find the right sticks to realize the full potential of your skills and drum set. The selection of sticks on the market can be overwhelming, but it's worth taking the time to compare the different options. In this article, I'll cover the general basics and present my top 3 best drum sticks for rock and metal.

How do the various sticks on the market differ?

The first thing to be listed here are the distinguishing features of the sticks on the market. The available sticks differ in the following parameters:

Material

• Wood (sorted by heaviness, with birch being the heaviest)

  • Birch

  • Oak

  • Hickory

  • Maple

• Metal

Tip

• Wood

• Nylon

• Rubber (for quiet play)

• Tip shape

  • Tear Drop

  • Acorn

  • Ball

  • Oval

Length

• length

• middle

• short

Diameter (in the parenthesis the designation that is usually written on the sticks)

• thin (7), light weights for e.g. Jazz

• medium (5), ordinary sticks for e.g. Rock / Pop

• thick (2), very durable, for rock / metal

Application

• S for e.g.: loud applications on the street

• B for bands, marching bands

• A for orchestra applications

The most common formats are

• 5A

• 5B (classic beginner stick)

• 2B

• 7A

So you see: the combination possibilities are endless.

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Here is my personal selection of the top 3 sticks for rock/metal

Choosing the right sticks is something very individual. The only thing that helps is to try them out. For me, these are the best sticks:

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1. Vic Firth - Gavin Harrisson

Gavin Harrisson is an absolutely exceptional drummer, in my opinion one of the world's best rock drummers. I can't believe what he plays.

The sticks are really heavy and long, they're half tree trunks. But once you get used to them, they're unbeatable. They have a very good weight balance and are great for powerful play because of the weight. You shouldn't expect too much from the blue anti-slip coating, but it doesn't do any harm either.

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2. Vic Firth - Gregg Bissonette

relatively heavy and long compared to a standard 5A/B - but that's why I like them. These were my standard sticks for years.

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3. Vic Firth - Gregg Bissonette Back Beat

similar to the "normal" Gregg Bissonette", but a bit lighter and with a special anti-slip coating, but you should not hope for too much. However, it does not do any harm either.

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(*) The links marked with an asterisk (*) are so-called affiliate links. If you click on such an affiliate link and buy through this link, I get a commission from the respective online store or provider. For you the price does not change.