The Right Stick for the Right Job: Selecting Drumsticks that are Best Tailored for Your Style of Drumming
by Victor Salazar
Drumsticks are one of a drummer's most important tools. They're our direct connection to our drum set. Without the correct drumstick, many drummers can't play comfortably or to the best of their abilities.
Over the years, I've spoken with drummers - from beginners to professionals - who've had issues with their drumsticks. Either they were experiencing cramps in their hands or their drumsticks were literally flying out of their hands because they were unable to hold onto them while playing. Interestingly, many of these drummers only experienced these situations during live shows. And in almost every case, it turned out that each drummer was simply using the wrong size stick. Once they chose the right size drumstick, all of their problems disappeared.
A lot of drummers select drumsticks based on how fast they can play with them. Many of us want to blaze around the set displaying dazzling single stroke rolls. So it would seem logical to get the lightest stick with the least amount of mass in order to play with superior speed and agility, right?
Not necessarily.
The main reason why you may get hand cramps is because you're using a stick that's too thin and light for your playing style. The harder you hit, the more relaxed your grip should naturally become. This will prevent injuries and allow the drumstick to absorb more of the impact. However, if you hit hard with a thin and light stick and attempt to relax your grip, one of two things usually occurs: either you develop a cramp or you lose the ability to hold onto your stick.
You can't grasp a thin stick in a loose and comfortable manner and play hard: it's physically not possible, and the result will be sticks that will fly out of your hands. Conversely, if you try to hang on tightly to a light and thin stick while you hit hard, you'll quick develop cramps.
The best resolution is to choose a heavier and larger drumstick: you won't have to hold it as tightly and it won't go airborne on you. You'll also be pleasantly surprised that you won't lose speed/power/accuracy despite the increase in mass and weight.
In terms of why drummers have specific problems that only happen in a live scenario, it's because many drummers unknowingly morph their playing approach. Their adrenaline surges, their blood pumps, and they reflect the crowd's energy by hitting harder than they normally do during rehearsals and practice sessions.
That's when the glitches kick in, and as you can imagine, playing live is the worst time for things to go wrong with your performance. Heavier sticks offer a solution to these common problems.
To see if heavier sticks are ok for you, try this experiment: when you're trying out new drumsticks on a practice pad, use a model that's a little heavier than you think you need. You'll be surprised to find out that you'll be able to play with confidence, ease, and plenty of speed/power. Your sticks will also probably even last a bit longer (saving some bucks is just an added perk of using the right drumsticks).
(BTW, Dave Grohl drums hard, plays with speed, and almost never seems to miss where he's hitting. While in Nirvana, he used Aquarian Power-Sleeve 2Bs, a durable, heavy stick. Today, he still uses a large stick, his Zildjian Dave Grohl Artist Series model, which is well-suited for his energetic style.)
Should you have any questions or need specific feedback regarding your drumstick decisions or dilemmas, feel free to reach out. I'm always here to help!
<a href="http://www.vicsdrumshop.com/victor-salazar/">Victor Salazar</a> is the owner
of <a href="http://www.vicsdrumshop.com/">Vic's Drum Shop</a>, an internationally renowned drum and percussion retailer in
Chicago, IL. The vast knowledge of drum gear that he's accumulated over his 40
year career has made Vic a valuable resource for beginning drummers, drumming
hobbyists, professional drummers, and many of the world's premier drum
superstars.
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New Unique Article!
Title: The Right Stick for the Right Job: Selecting Drumsticks that are Best Tailored for Your Style of Drumming
Author: Victor Salazar
Email: dirasu.749841.0@articlesamurai.com
Keywords: drum,drumming,drummer,drumsticks,drum stick,drum sticks,dave grohl,Aquarian,Zildjian,Vic's Drum Shop,Victor Salazar
Word Count: 600
Category: Music
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