Drum Sticks

Kit & Gear

Also called sticks, 5A, 5B, 7A.

Drum sticks are matched wooden dowels, usually hickory, maple, or oak, with a shoulder that tapers to a tip. Numbers and letters describe size: 5A is a do-anything middle weight, 5B is heavier for loud music, 7A is light for jazz and small hands. Nylon tips resist wear and sound slightly brighter; wood tips feel warmer and wear down over time.

Stick choice is part of your sound, not just your grip. Heavy sticks move more air, so they push volume and durability but blur quiet notes and tire you faster. Light sticks give control and speed, and crack sooner if you hit a ride cymbal like a crash. A beginner doing a bit of everything should start with 5A and change only for a reason.

Buy two or three matching pairs from the same box and check them by rolling the tips on a flat surface. A stick that wobbles is warped. Tap pairs together near the shoulder and listen for matching pitch. Sticks are cheap; inconsistent sticks quietly mess up your dynamics.

Hold the stick fulcrum between thumb and first two fingers and let the back end sit loose in your hand. If you're strangling the grip, the stick can't rebound and every stroke costs extra effort. Buy sticks by the dozen once you've found a model you like, because your touch will improve faster than your sticks break.