New Stick Discovery For Developing Technique

david · Kitten Joined: 17 Jan 2004 Posts: 136 Location: UK

Guys

Wanna share this with you.

For a long time I used heavy sticks in the believe that it would assist my technique, esp development of Moeller, due to the better bounce you get from bigger sticks.

Recently I tried some much lighter sticks (the Jack DeJohnette ones). I found that at first I couldnt play as well. Figured out what was missing.

Gravity.

With the sticks being lighter, I realised that I had to do more work, esp finger control, to get the bounce. Figured I'd go with this for a while, as it seemed to be nature's way of telling me to work on my finger control.

When I got back to where I was in terms of technique with heavier sticks, I then went back to 2B's and found that I could play better because my finger control had improved dramatically due to having to compensate for less gravity help.

So I have concluded:- if you want to work on your chops go and get some 7A's lol. It will be insane at first, but you then have to figure out what to do with your hands/fingers to get the bounce going. And this is great for developing chops.

Wink

Dave

bytor · Admin Joined: 12 Aug 2003 Posts: 5306 Location: Kansas

Thanks for the insight, man. I used to always play 5Bs and sometimes 2Bs, myself, but recently I've been practicing more with 5As and you're right -- the feel does seem to be more articulate. Just the slightest difference in how I hold the sticks seems to make a pretty big difference in the response of the stick. I've pretty much given up playing with 2Bs now. They just seem clunky compared to smaller sticks, and it's not like I need the volume provided by them, either. Some guys probably do need that volume, but if you don't, it seems to me that there's no reason to play with such big sticks unless you just have huge hands and they feel right.

Anyway, I'm just saying that the 5As felt surprisingly good to me after I played with them for a little while. I'll definitely keep some 5Bs in my arsenal for when I want a little more volume, but working with smaller sticks can really help develop stick control with the fingers rather than the wrists, imho.

Zildjian! · Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2004 7:01 am Post subject:

It's true that heavier sticks can give you more rebound, but I do prefer lighter sticks (or even rods/brushes) in general, due to the fact that it's a little bit harder to control the dynamics of your playing with heavy sticks. Still, it's definitely a good thing to point out Very Happy

Mutetalkinghead · Pit Bull Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 351

i agree, but if your trying to strengthen your wrists, doing locked grip or german palms down or whatever. Defenately go with big sticks (like some white ralphies) i try to practice with both, thas just me tho.

Josh02053 · Kitten Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 127

I use pretty light sticks. Since I play jazz, left hand syncopation is quite common. It is much easier to accomplish this with a smaller stick. I used to use 2Bs, but now I use 5a or something close to it.

mfran · Fierce Puppy Joined: 24 Dec 2003 Posts: 230 Location: CT

david · Kitten Joined: 17 Jan 2004 Posts: 136 Location: UK

Its interesting isnt it mfran.

I've experienced much the same with bass drum pedals.

I always find that my feet improve when i start to play a new pedal (in a shop or whatever).

i'VE ALWAYS FELT THAT THIS WAS ATERRIBLE INDICTMENT OF MY FOOT TECHNIQUE

bytor · Admin Joined: 12 Aug 2003 Posts: 5306 Location: Kansas

Hey guys and gals. Just got my new sticks in the mail today -- 3 pairs each of Vic Firth American Sound 5As and 5Bs. They're fantastic! They're hickory with a small round wood bead and have a great feel. I think I actually like the 5As slightly better, but both sizes have a great feel. I got both sizes because, as Mfran mentioned above, volume settings are not the same in different places and under different circumstances. I recommend these sticks to anyone, though. I LOVE the round tips. Check them out:

http://www.vicfirth.com/product/amsound.html

holycow · Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 12:58 pm Post subject:

This is a basic technique that should of been tought to you from day one. Did I hear somebody here actually plays with 2Bs! Cripes! Thats like playing with baseball bats!

Here is another trick for you beginer/intermeds that greatly improved my accuracy and timing:

too many drummers over camber thier snare and toms (angling them heavily so they face the drummer, rather then the cealing) Years and years ago I decided to set my toms and my snare completely flat/level, and tried playing on them, them for kicks. At first it was tough and my sticks met the rim very often. What happened, was that I found I actually had to pay WAY WAY more attention to my strokes then before, which did wonders for my timing and my technique.

Now I play with my drums ALMOST dead level and it feels very aweseme. Every other drummer that has sat down on my kit looks at me funny when they look at the camber on the drums.

http://dramabomb.com/images/brandon2.jpg

You can only tell so much from this shot.. but as you can see, they are only at about a 1 or 2 degree camber.

Try it!

Zildjian! · Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 1:20 pm Post subject:

rawrock · Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 4:34 pm Post subject:

Round tips are the best! They can be hard to find though. I used to use the travis barker's(Zildjian) cause I liked the size and the round tip and the quick taper, but have since switched to the American Sound 5Bs and they lasty quite a bit longer. I highly reccomend round tips. They have an awesome rebound, and since they're round there is less area contact with the tip against cymbals, so you can get an awsome crisp sound. Especially from your ride. Smile

bytor · Admin Joined: 12 Aug 2003 Posts: 5306 Location: Kansas

Zildjian! · Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 9:25 am Post subject:

Moral of the story:

American Sound sticks > Other sticks

Case closed Wink

_________________
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Zildjian Cymbals
Vic Firth Sticks

mfran · Fierce Puppy Joined: 24 Dec 2003 Posts: 230 Location: CT

Ox · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 9:46 am Post subject:

I went the "from big to small" route. As a kid I used 2B's, I got this from an old Jackie Chan Kung *Have a Nice Day* movie. He had to use a huge writing brush to write small characters on a standard size sheet. I thought about the concept of using larger/heavier stick to form muscle strength and control.

I went down to 5B's (still to large for me), then to 5A's down to 8D's. I found the 8D's were breaking to frequently, so I went back up to 5A's.

I guess either concept works. I did find odd when I jumped down to 5A's form 5B's. But the 5B's wood tips don't produce the same stick sound that you can get form 5A's on the hats and ride. I loved the stick sound from the 8D's, those sounded awsome, but again to little and weak.
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ALOHA!