Find the Rhythm with the Best Drum Sticks

Vater’s Pro Rock sticks are slightly thinner than most rock sticks but still have the necessary length to achieve a good amount of power. The smaller shaft makes them lightening fast, great for fills and feels amazing for Rock because these sticks don’t take a lot of effort to create a big sound. They can really drive a band while the thin shafts are versatile enough for other genres. These sticks have oval tips which draw a big sound from anything they hit and durable enough to resist chipping. Even with the thinner shaft, a single pair will last you a long time.

Vic Firth’s 2B drumsticks are a little thicker and a bit shorter than most other Rock drumsticks. Choose these when your hands are feeling fatigued and you need something a bit easier to control than a longer pair drumsticks. The fatter shafts give them a lot of power and they’re balanced to feel a bit bottom heavy. Since they’re shorter than normal sticks, I feel like I can control these sticks with less effort. I usually only use these sticks for Rock music, but other notable drummers have used them for Jazz. The overall shape of these sticks is ideal for building technique, so they’re recommend for use by students. They have a teardrop tip creating an articulate attack on cymbals and a big sound on drumheads making these sticks great for any setting requiring a lot of sound production.

The 17” length gives these Vater’s 1A drumsticks a lot of power making them ideal for Heavy Rock or even Metal. The shafts aren’t too thick but they produce a lot of volume along with a late taper adding bulk for rim-shots and crash cymbals. Even with the added length, these sticks feel very light making them very easy to control while helping you maintain endurance over the course of a gig. They have an acorn tip which produces clean bounces and buzz strokes and these durable sticks can actually be used as a rudimental snare drum stick because of the length and balance.

Jack DeJohnette will go down in history as one of the top Jazz drummers of all time and his signature sticks produced by Vic Firth are the most unique sticks available for Jazz. Superior to all other Jazz sticks, they’re sized similar to Vic Firth 5A but a bit longer with a medium taper (feeling like a late taper because of the length.) While bigger than typical 5A sticks, they also feel much lighter. Their signature white finish allows you to locate them easily in a stick bag and gives them a smooth feel in hand. Their unpainted teardrop tip won’t leave paint marks on drumheads and they’re also some of the most durable sticks you can own. Their great feel and exceptional cymbal sound make these the best overall pair of drumsticks for Jazz you can buy.

Vic Firth’s 8D sticks are basically 7As with extra length making them feel more significant in the hand than 7A sticks (which can sometimes feel like toys.) The small size is very appropriate for Jazz music because it keeps movements small and controlled, allowing you to really play out during fills without letting the volume get out of hand. The teardrop tip sounds great on the ride cymbal, especially on the snare drum and these sticks work great for heavy hitters looking to lighten their sound for Jazz music. More durable than most thin sticks, with the Vic Firth name you know you’re getting nothing but quality and consistency.

Vater’s Manhattan 7A drumsticks are longer than most 7A drumsticks but still have a light Jazz feel. Their round tips are different than most 7A sticks allowing for detailed snare playing, sound great on the ride cymbal and they help to smooth out buzz rolls common in Jazz fills. They have a mellow sound on the toms and seem to embrace the head with each stroke; the impact doesn’t feel as harsh, but you still feel a strong sense of control.

These drumsticks are less flexible than most Jazz sticks so they’re ideal for technical players. Vater sticks are some of the most durable drumsticks available and mine seem to last longer than other brands with their tips not chipping as much. The longer size and round tip makes these some of the most unique drumsticks on the market.

Vic Firth’s 5A drumsticks are probably the most versatile and popular sticks available; particularly nice for Jazz yet feel great in any musical genre. These sticks are the perfect “medium” stick, because they aren’t too big nor are they too small with a teardrop tip for the ideal sound on drums and cymbals. I like these because they produce more of a controlled sound than smaller Jazz sticks. There’s enough weight to allow drummers to execute advanced rudimental passages which sound great in jazz fills. Vic Firth creates some of the best quality sticks around so you can be sure each pair of these you pick up will be consistently great.

747 drumsticks are great for Metal music because they’re fast and loud while lasting longer than other brands. They feel very light for sticks which produce so much volume, and are similar to a 5A stick in shaft girth but have a thicker taper. They’re also a little longer than typical 5A drumsticks for producing a lot of volume. The large oval tips draw full tones from drums and cymbals as well as being resilient to breaking even when subjected to the most violent Metal playing. Fast, loud, and durable, these sticks are simply great for playing Metal.

Vater’s durable Power 5A drumsticks are thicker than the average 5A and a bit longer with a solid, dense feel in the hand. While these sticks seem to be a bit top-heavy, this balance works well for fills and fast playing. Their round tips really cuts through on cymbals, producing a more pointed attack than sticks with oval tips. The Power 5A sticks are also available with nylon tips but I prefer the sound of wood tips. These sticks are also versatile enough to use for other genres of music because they’re not too big.

Vic Firth’s Extreme 55A is a combination of a 5A and a 5B; a meaty stick with enough thickness for Metal music. They’re 16.5” long for extra volume, but still can be controlled. These sticks are very light with a hollow feel making them great for fast playing. The tear drop tip of the drumsticks delivers a pointed attack on cymbals along with a medium taper which feels great for Metal as well as all genres of music. The great overall balance and even weight makes these a great pick for metal drummers everywhere.

Ahead’s FatBeat 5A drumsticks are the best sticks for Metal players constantly breaking sticks and are sick of buying replacements. These all-metal sticks feel a lot different than their wooden counterparts because they don’t have a natural bounce and feel very light so you don’t need to work hard to create a lot of volume.
Aheads Fatbeat 5As are actually thinner than the other sticks I’d recommend for Metal, but create a lot of sound because of their all-metal manufacture. While they can’t be broken with normal use, these sticks can be bent but they feature replaceable plastic tips and a plastic covering wrapping around the shafts. If you can get used to the feel, these are the best sticks for Metal music.

Vater’s durable Power 5A drumsticks are thicker than the average 5A and a bit longer with a solid, dense feel in the hand. While these sticks seem to be a bit top-heavy, this balance works well for fills and fast playing. Their round tips really cuts through on cymbals, producing a more pointed attack than sticks with oval tips. The Power 5A sticks are also available with nylon tips but I prefer the sound of wood tips. These sticks are also versatile enough to use for other genres of music because they’re not too big.

747 drumsticks are great for Metal music because they’re fast and loud while lasting longer than other brands. They feel very light for sticks which produce so much volume, and are similar to a 5A stick in shaft girth but have a thicker taper. They’re also a little longer than typical 5A drumsticks for producing a lot of volume. The large oval tips draw full tones from drums and cymbals as well as being resilient to breaking even when subjected to the most violent Metal playing. Fast, loud, and durable, these sticks are simply great for playing Metal.

Vic Firth Rock drumsticks are dependable, heavy-duty drumsticks. Almost impossible to break because of their extreme thickness, these weighty sticks are great for heavy Rock and slower Metal tunes. They’re also great sticks for practicing because their grips don’t fade. They have a very short taper which can withstand heavy rim-shots while the rock solid oval tips will not chip on you.

Ahead’s FatBeat 5A drumsticks are the best sticks for Metal players constantly breaking sticks and are sick of buying replacements. These all-metal sticks feel a lot different than their wooden counterparts because they don’t have a natural bounce and feel very light so you don’t need to work hard to create a lot of volume.
Aheads Fatbeat 5As are actually thinner than the other sticks I’d recommend for Metal, but create a lot of sound because of their all-metal manufacture. While they can’t be broken with normal use, these sticks can be bent but they feature replaceable plastic tips and a plastic covering wrapping around the shafts. If you can get used to the feel, these are the best sticks for Metal music.

Vic Firth’s Steve Gadd signature drumsticks are extremely versatile and while it’s rare to find barrel tips which don’t chip, these certainly last a long time; they’re actually a bit shorter making them less likely to chip. These tips are denser than longer barrel tips but still have a great sound. A special black coating protects the shafts from dents and while the sticks themselves are fairly short this prevents them from breaking as easily. The sticks also have a medium taper which has a nice balanced feel in your hand. These sticks can be used for almost any genre of music and are durable enough to last any drummer for a long time.