Which drumsticks are best for a beginner?

Choosing a pair of sticks can be slightly mind-boggling, so here’s a simple guide to help make sense of it.

Start out with a pair of 5A drumsticks

If you want the quick answer to the question… “What’s the best type of sticks for a beginner?” The simple answer is – you can’t go far wrong with a 5A hickory pair of sticks (hickory is the type of wood they’re made of, and 5A is the model number).

5A drum sticks are the most commonly recommended “starting point” for a decent sized, medium-weighted, average-thickness type of drum stick. It’s a safe bet if you are just starting out on drums. The 5A sticks suit a relatively broad range of musical styles and are versatile for many playing situations.

Drumstick brands

Drumstick brands

All the major drumstick making companies produce a ‘5A’ drumstick, although there is some minor variation between them. It’s a bit like clothing or shoe sizes; there is no absolute agreement across all the different manufacturers what 5A model of drumsticks should be like. It doesn’t change the fact that the standard recommendation is to start out with a pair of 5A sticks and see how you get on. Popular brands of sticks you’ll find in most drum shops are Vic Firth, Vater, Promark, Ahead and Zildjian.

You don’t have to choose 5A sticks – there are hundreds of other models to choose from. We cover this in more detail in another guide. However, here’s a beginner’s guide to what variations are possible across the different types of drumsticks.

Anatomy of a drumstick

Here are the main parts of the drumstick:

Drumstick Anatomy

Butt

The butt of the stick is the “weightier” end and it is opposite to the tip end. It acts as a counterweight to the tip of the stick. The butt is where the diameter of the stick is measured. A thicker drumstick will create a heavier and louder sound, whereas thinner sticks are lighter and can be quieter.

Tip

The tip of the stick is the end which is usually used to strike the drums (although it is certainly possible to use the butt end if you so wish!). There is usually a choice whether you want the tip to be made of wood or nylon. That’s a personal preference depending on the style of music you play. Nylon tips tend to be brighter on the cymbals. The tip is shaped for different tonal qualities.

Tip shapes:

Drumstick Tip Shapes

Tear Drop
Versatile for a range of sounds from tightly-focused to more diffuse.

Oval
The larger surface-area tip shape produces a ‘beefier’ and fuller tone.

Barrel
The bigger contact area produces a broader and more diffuse tone.

Round
Tightly focused sound with especially crisp articulation on cymbals.

Neck / Shoulder / Taper

The neck is the area below the tip where the stick tapers out to the shoulder. The shoulder part of the stick is often used for cymbal crashes and washes. The length of the taper between the neck and the shoulder influences the sound and feel of the stick. Short-tapered sticks have a stiffer feel whereas longer tapering sticks can suit a more delicate sound.

Shaft

The shaft is just another name for the main body of the drumstick. The shaft can be used to play certain sound effects or specific stick techniques, for example the cross-stick sound.

Wood

Drumstick wood type

Commonly used woods for drumsticks are hickory, maple, oak, exotic woods, or synthetic wood substitutes.

Hickory is used because it is relatively rigid and yet absorbs shock. It is quite a dense type of wood.

Maple is a softer, less dense wood than hickory and therefore it is lighter. It suits quieter playing levels.

Oak is a dense wood and is probably the most durable of the three main types of wood. If you are a heavy-hitter and easily get through pairs of drumsticks it might be worth trying the harder wood.

Learn to play drums in London

Elephant Drums is based in London, UK. We do private drum lessons, run drumming events, and help all sorts of people get into drums. We teach all levels from beginner to advanced.

8 Comments

  1. Thanks, this was super helpful!

    Reply
  2. Now I’ll know what drum sticks I should get. Thanks heaps

    Reply
  3. Apparently the “b” as in 5B stands for Band, and the “a” as in 5A is from the word orchestrA (the A from the last letter of the word). It was so that they didn’t have the confusing mix of number and letter 5O. Band sticks are the heavier sticks and orchestra sticks are lighter.

    Reply
    • are u sure for what u explain bout type of stick come from that 5B means “BAND” n 5A means OchestrA?..sorry jz asking,its thats true theory or jz ur opinion?because i should know..

  4. Just starting to play drums thanks for that info really helpful

    Reply
  5. This is a great post. Thank you so much for sharing your information.

    Reply
  6. Thank you, insightful!

    Reply
  7. Some great tips your sharing thanks 👍

    Reply

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