Drumsticks are one of a drummer's most important tools. They're our direct connection to our drum set. Without the right drumstick, many drummers can't play comfortably or to the best of their abilities.
Over the years, I've talked with drummers - from beginners to pros - who've had problems 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 issues during live performances. And in almost every case, it turned out that each drummer was simply using the wrong size drumstick. Once they selected the right size drumstick, all of their problems vanished.
A lot of drummers select sticks based on how fast they can play with them. Many of us want to blaze around the drumset displaying dazzling single stroke rolls. So it would seem logical to select the lightest drumstick with the least amount of mass in order to play with superior speed and agility, correct?
Not necessarily.
The primary reason why you may get hand cramps is because you're using a drumstick that's too thin and light for your playing style. The harder you hit, the looser your grip should naturally become. This will prevent injuries and allow the drumstick to absorb more of the impact. However, if you play hard with a thin and light drumstick and try to loosen your grip, one of two things usually happens: 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 relaxed manner and play hard: it's physically not possible, and the outcome 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 play hard, you'll immediately develop cramps.
The best answer is to find 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 alter 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 problems 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 auditioning new sticks on a practice pad, try a model that's a little heftier than you think you need. You'll be surprised to learn that you'll be able to play with authority, ease, and plenty of speed/power. Your drumsticks will also probably even last a bit longer (saving some cash 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 drumstick. Today, he still uses a large drumstick, his Zildjian Dave Grohl Artist Series model, which is well-suited for his raucous style.)
Should you have any questions or need specific ideas regarding your stick decisions or dilemmas, feel free to reach out. I'm always here to help!
Over the years, I've talked with drummers - from beginners to pros - who've had problems 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 issues during live performances. And in almost every case, it turned out that each drummer was simply using the wrong size drumstick. Once they selected the right size drumstick, all of their problems vanished.
A lot of drummers select sticks based on how fast they can play with them. Many of us want to blaze around the drumset displaying dazzling single stroke rolls. So it would seem logical to select the lightest drumstick with the least amount of mass in order to play with superior speed and agility, correct?
Not necessarily.
The primary reason why you may get hand cramps is because you're using a drumstick that's too thin and light for your playing style. The harder you hit, the looser your grip should naturally become. This will prevent injuries and allow the drumstick to absorb more of the impact. However, if you play hard with a thin and light drumstick and try to loosen your grip, one of two things usually happens: 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 relaxed manner and play hard: it's physically not possible, and the outcome 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 play hard, you'll immediately develop cramps.
The best answer is to find 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 alter 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 problems 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 auditioning new sticks on a practice pad, try a model that's a little heftier than you think you need. You'll be surprised to learn that you'll be able to play with authority, ease, and plenty of speed/power. Your drumsticks will also probably even last a bit longer (saving some cash 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 drumstick. Today, he still uses a large drumstick, his Zildjian Dave Grohl Artist Series model, which is well-suited for his raucous style.)
Should you have any questions or need specific ideas regarding your stick decisions or dilemmas, feel free to reach out. I'm always here to help!
About the Author:
Victor Salazar is the owner
of Vic's Drum Shop, an internationally respected drum and percussion retailer in
Chicago, Illinois. The vast knowledge of drum equipment that he's accumulated over his forty
year career has made Vic a superb resource for beginning drummers, drumming
hobbyists, professional drummers, and many of the world's premier drum
stars.
of Vic's Drum Shop, an internationally respected drum and percussion retailer in
Chicago, Illinois. The vast knowledge of drum equipment that he's accumulated over his forty
year career has made Vic a superb resource for beginning drummers, drumming
hobbyists, professional drummers, and many of the world's premier drum
stars.
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