Happy owner of a drum kit and cymbals? You just missing drumsticks to start playing.
Drummers mostly use maple or hickory drumsticks. Hickory is a dense, strong yet flexible type of wood with great shock absorption. Maple is a bit lighter, making for a lighter sound.
Drumsticks come in various standard sizes. The most popular sizes are 7A, 5A, 2B and 5B. The 7As are the lightest, thinnest sticks of the range. They’re often used by jazz drummers, for instance. The 5A is a bit longer, thicker and this heavier, typically about 5 grams. This is the most popular type of stick, used in pretty much all styles of music. If you like the feel of this slightly thicker and longer stick but still want more weight, then go for the 5B model. The 2B are the heaviest standard size drum sticks.
All drumsticks are available with wood (W) or nylon (N) tips. Wooden tips may start splintering after a longer period of playing. Nylon tips don’t. They also make for a brighter sound, especially on cymbals. Some drummers like that; others prefer the warmer, more natural sound of wooden tips. Timbale sticks have no tip.
Wire brushes
Are mostly used by jazz drummers, sweeping them over the head of their snare drum. Cajon players use them as well, tapping the and sweeping the front board of their instrument. Wire brushes come with metal or nylon wires, the metal versions sounding a bit brighter. Telescopic wire brushes allow you to retract the metal wires in the handle. Great to protect the vulnerable wires when not in use, and it also allows you to adjust the sound by adjusting the spread of the wires. A tighter spread produces a more focused sound.
Polybristle brushes
Or multirods are available with all kinds of different bristles or rods. Drummers often use them to create a different sound, matching the mood of a certain song, or in low volume situations.
Timpani mallets
Have a wooden handle and a large, round tip. The tip can be made of soft or hard felt or other materials. Drum set drummers can use timpani mallets for beautiful rolls on cymbals, or melodic patterns on toms and snare drums (snares off!). Similar mallets are made for marching and orchestral drums.
Vibraphone and marimba mallets typically have a thin rattan handle. The rubber or felt core of the head is wrapped with wool. These mallets are available in different hardnesses.
Drumsticks, brushes and mallets are the essential tools for all drummers and percussionists. Stagg offers you a fine collection for all purposes.
