Everything You Need to Know about Drumsticks

A drummer’s basic tools are his drumsticks. The more you know about the variety of sizes, shapes, tips and woods offered, the more versatility you can add to your playing. For example, one gig may call for bright, crisp cymbal sounds and that’s when you pull out your nylon tip drumstick. Another gig may call for a warmer, darker cymbal tones. Don’t run out to buy a new cymbal…just change sticks. This is when you pull out your wood tip….OR….Regal Tip new E-series stick. Know the tools available to you to improve your drumming style.
Your perfect drumstick is a combination of balance, response and "feel". All of the elements below are critical in the make up of the stick

The Shaft:

The largest part of a drumstick, the Shaft, is made up of its length, diameter and weight; three related elements that influence the stick’s comfort, control, durability and dynamic capabilities.

Diameter

Examples:

JAZZ

16” length x .525” diametera
Thinner, lighter shafts are often used for softer volume playing styles.

DANIEL ADAIR Performer Series

16” length x .580” diameter
Medium size shafts can be used effectively in a wide variety of settings since they also allow drummers to achieve increased intensity without overpowering the band. “This stick gives me the best of both worlds, the 16" length gives me a great balance point, while the .580" diameter is perfect for a blend of articulation and endurance. I use the same stick whether I'm playing rock in arenas, or fusion in the studio.” Daniel Adair.

METAL X

17” length x .635” diameter
Thicker, heavier shafts help facilitate louder, more powerful playing.

The Neck & Taper:

Historically drumsticks have been classified by the strength and responsiveness generated by their neck and taper. “A” model sticks had thinner necks and longer tapers for lighter, more intricate “orchestral” playing, while “B” and “S” model sticks had thicker necks and shorter tapers for more powerful “band” or “street” playing. Today, although these designations are a bit inconsistent and outdated, determining the size of the taper and neck remains a fundamental way of differentiating between various models of drumsticks and their intended usage.

Examples:

Lewis Nash

16” length x .530 diameterLong Taper/Thin Neck offers increased speed & stick response for lighter, more traditional playing. "My signature stick might be considered a light "finesse" stick by some, but I've also used it effectively for years in large ensembles and big bands. I'm in the recording studio quite often, and every recording I've ever made has been with this type of stick."
---Lewis Nash, drummer, educator, bandleader

Ride

16” length x .565” diameter
Shorter Taper/ Medium Neck offers more durability at the neck and a more front-heavy feel.

2B X

16.25” length x .625” diameter
Short Taper / Thick Neck provides increased power and strength in high energy, high volume drumming.

The Tip:

Shape, size and material are the three determining factors in the feel and sound produced by the tip.

Material

The material of the tip plays a significant role in the sound produced on the cymbal. For example, wood tips produce a darker, warmer sound. The traditional, durable nylon tips produce a brighter, clean sound. Regal Tip, however, has recently changed our way of thinking about the sound produced by both wood and nylon tips by introducing the “E” Series, ribbed nylon tip. This new innovation, unique to Regal Tip, offers the durability of nylon but the sound of wood…the best of both worlds.

For a comparison of nylon vs. wood vs. E-series, click here:

Shape & Size

Examples:

Rock Wood

16” length x .555” diameter
Tear Drop: Warm, lower-pitched, fuller tones.

5B “E-Series”

16” length x .600” diameter
E-Series Teardrop: Exclusive design of Regal Tip, offers the warm, lower-pitched tones of wood with the durability of nylon.

7B

Oval: Broad, midrange tones. “One of my biggest concerns used to be that wood tips would just turn to mush. I like rounded tips that are a little more "forgiving" as I'm slamming away. I also like a shorter taper going into the tip as I'm brutal on the front third of a drumstick. I can't use more traditional tips. Even though they sound wonderful, they're not as sturdy as what Regal Tip has me set up with now.”
Deen Castronovo, Journey.

5B X wood

16.25 length x .590 diameter
Acorn tip: Produces a rich, dark sound.

9A wood

16” length x .555: diameter
Barrel Shape tip: Perfect for fat, punchy sounds.

Ping

16” length x .525 diameter
Round Tip: For bright, definitive cymbal sounds.

Quantum 1000 wood

16” length x .550 diameter
Large Round Tip: For a fatter, broader sound.

Material – Hickory vs. Maple

The two most popular materials from which to make drumticks are U.S. Hickory and Maple.

Examples:

8A Hickory

16” length x .555 diameter
Hickory is considered by most to be the best wood for most of stick styles due to its strength and weight. The majority of professional drumsticks today are cut from white sapwood U.S. hickory.

8A Maple

16” length x .555 diameter
Maple is the second most popular wood for drumsticks. This wood is lighter and therefore is often the choice for concert percussion and light jazz models.

Weight:

Because wood is a product of nature the weight of each individual piece of wood from which drumsticks are cut can vary since the density of the wood will vary from tree to tree. Therefore, one 8A model stick can be heavier than another 8A model stick, which is why Regal Tip matches sticks by weight before pairing them. The weight that you choose to play is a personal choice often driven by the style of music you are playing. So, when trying out sticks, weight will also become a factor in your selection.

Tip: Here’s a simple tip on picking sticks within the weight range you prefer. This isn’t 100%, but is a general guideline.

Let’s say that you like to play the Regal Tip Metal X model drumstick. This is a long (17” length), thick (.635” diameter) stick. Because of its size, it’s already a fairly heavy stick. You may like the feel of the larger diameter in your hand but you want a lighter weight stick. You can look for this model in a lighter weight. The first thing you should do is to check the butt end of the sticks. You will notice lines running across all in the same direction. These are the growth rings…one produced each year of growth. Generally…not always…but generally, the more growth rings, the lighter the stick. The fewer growth rings, the heavier the stick. So, if you want lighter weight sticks in the Metal X model, start by pulling out the sticks with the greater number of growth rings on the butt end. For heavier weight sticks, pull out the sticks with fewer growth rings.

FINISH

There are several different finishes on the market today, from natural, to wax to clear coat varnishes and lacquers. Regal Tip's uses a special 5-step finish resulting in a superior gripping stick.