Drum Sticks Guide

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

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.

Wood

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.