Just as a pianist utilizes many keys to play tunes, you also need to use a variety of drumsticks to achieve various effects. When discussing choosing a drumstick, many things will influence your decision, which can be overwhelming.
That’s why you should not miss our review of the top 7 best drumsticks for beginners. We spent a lot of time testing the popular drumsticks on the market.
So it is inevitable that at least one of the products on our list will satisfy you!
The Best Drumsticks for Beginners
#1. Vic Firth American Classic 5ADG – Best For Overall
Product’s highlights
This classic drumstick is extremely popular and is one of the most recognized sticks in the world. Not only is this model one of the best drumsticks for beginners, but it also works well for all levels of drummers.
We believe that almost every drummer, from beginner to advanced, should have at least one of these drumsticks in their collection.
Compared to the budget models, the Vic Firth American Classic 5ADG is much more balanced and durable.
The material of this product is hickory wood, the most excellent wood material. It’s not too heavy but mighty. But if you are a very heavy drummer, we recommend choosing something made of oak.
What We Like
- Ideal for rock drummers.
- Unrivaled durability.
- Best all-around option.
- Very standard for weight, size, and wood.
Things To Consider
- You may prefer a thicker stick.
#2. LA Specials 5A Hickory Drumsticks – Best For Value
Product’s highlights
The wooden oval tips of these drumsticks can respond, recover and feel great. So you can expect them to last even if you use them for heavy hits.
By providing a comfortable and long-lasting feel, it deserves to be in any beginner’s collection.
These drumsticks are also made from Hickory wood, a popular material, thanks to its responsiveness, elasticity, durability, and vintage feel.
This trio of high-quality drumsticks is available at an affordable price with their great sound. They will work well for many playing styles and genres, including acoustic and electronic drums.
What We Like
- Good feel.
- Medium-sounding sticks.
- Not bad for the price!
- Great for value
Things To Consider
- Pairs are not perfectly matched by size and weight.
#3. ProMark Classic Forward 2B Hickory – Best For Reliability
Product’s highlights
The ProMark Classic Forward 2B Hickory drumsticks are pretty similar to the Vic Firth Hickory Classic. These drumsticks are of superb quality, making Promark famous.
You can’t go wrong with these Promark sticks. They are great American wooden sticks with a wooden tip to give you the extra punch you need. They have a well-balanced response, and the overall recovery is excellent.
In terms of build quality, hickory wood is the most used wood for drumsticks because of its excellent quality. You can expect these sticks to last a long time.
What We Like
- Good build quality
- Versatile oval tip
- Ideal balance and rebound
- Durable
Things To Consider
- Not ideal for grown-ups
#4. ARLX 5A Wood Tip Drumstick – Best For Jazz Or Rock Band
Product’s highlights
The ARLX 5A wood drumsticks are standard 5A drumsticks with a natural finish. They are very comfortable in the hand when used on the rock-based drum.
These sticks are highly resistant to slip, thanks to the traction hold. They are the perfect choice for drummers playing in a marching band.
If you want drumsticks that are fast and light for every work that has to do with Jazz orchestrated pit work or rock band, the ARLX 5A wood drumsticks are the way to go.
If you are a beginner looking for something to practice with, you can use them as well.
What We Like
- Resistant to slip.
- Ideal for Jazz or rock bands.
- Perfect for beginners.
- Comfortable and easy to use.
Things To Consider
- Tips may wear down relatively quickly with hard playing.
#5. WOGOD 5A Black Wood Drumsticks – Best For Symphonies
Product’s highlights
These 5A drumsticks are made of durable and high-quality materials, making them one of the most durable models.
They feature strong toughness, especially in anti-wear and anti-vibration performance. These models have a specific resistance to corrosion and bending.
The lengths of these drumsticks are suitable for all playing styles and all finger sizes. What’s unique about these sticks is their lighter construction, which is much better than the average 5A drumsticks.
The WOGOD 5A Black Wood Drumsticks are also perfect for jazz bands, symphonies, or orchestras. As a rookie drummer, you can’t go wrong with them.
What We Like
- Durable
- High-quality materials
- Anti-wear and anti-vibration performance
- Resistance to corrosion and bending
Things To Consider
- Some find size can be uncomfortable
#6. Antner Drum Sticks 7A – Best For Kids
Product’s highlights
The material of the Antner Drum Sticks 7A is maple wood, a material known for being exquisite, lightweight, and durable. Therefore, you can take these sticks during this time without any problems.
Also, the surface of this model has been smoothed to provide a comfortable grip. Thanks to that, you can use it for longer performances without feeling tired.
These sticks come with oval tips, giving a quieter and warmer sound to produce a clear cymbal. Moreover, these sticks are narrower and lighter, making them ideal for new drummers, kids, students, or beginners.
What We Like
- Durable.
- Ideal for kids.
- Comfortable grip.
- Quieter and warmer sound.
Things To Consider
- Not ideal for grown-ups.
#7. Donner 5A Drumsticks – Best For Snare Drums
Product’s highlights
The Donner 5A Drumsticks are made from high-quality maple wood. As a result, they are durable, lightweight, and really take a beating.
These sticks feature teardrop tips delivering deep, dark sounds. You can use them for perfect performance with electronic and acoustic drum kits.
These drumsticks do not stand up in terms of feel and balance as the Promark or Vic Firth Hickory drumsticks. But the price brings them up several levels as the value-for-price ratio is exceptional.
We recommend purchasing the uncolored versions as the paint from the colored versions can flake off on your cymbals and drum edges.
What We Like
- Best suited for snare drums.
- Decent overall quality.
- Great for value.
- Available in many colors.
Things To Consider
- Durability is questionable.
Drumsticks – Buyer’s Guide For Beginners
Material
Drumsticks can be made from a variety of materials. Each material can give the drumsticks special features related to different sounds and styles of drumming.
The following are the most common materials in the drumstick world.
Wood
Wood is the most common material in making drumsticks. The oldest wood materials are hickory, oak, and maple. These materials are perfect for every grip and playing style.
Oak is tough and thick, making it an ideal material for heavy, powerful drumming. Also, maple is the lightest with low density, perfect for fast playing.
Hickory is softer than oak but sustained and harder than maple. Generally speaking, it is the most common wood used in making drumsticks.
In addition, Hickory is highly elastic and effective in reducing the degree of hand fatigue. As a result, the Hickory wood drumsticks are ideal for beginners.
Persimmon is the most delicate material, ideal for unique drum uses, like concert sticks for snares. It is heavy, dense, and wood, allowing it to produce a dark and deep sound.
Carbon Fiber
One of the biggest advantages of carbon fiber drumsticks is that they are super durable. These drumsticks last significantly longer than wooden models.
However, they are often more expensive than wooden drumsticks, making them more suitable for professional drummers rather than beginners.
Size
For rookie drummers, we recommend considering the 5A, 7A, 2B, and 5B drumsticks. As we can see, the name of each drumstick contains a number and a letter. What do they mean?
The Numerical Part
The number in the names of these drumsticks refers to their thickness. The higher this number, the thinner your drum stick and vice versa. For example, 2B drumsticks are thicker than the 7A.
The Letter Part
The letter ‘A’ was initially related to orchestra drumming. So the A-drumstick was used by the large orchestra drummer because of its softness and thinness, ideal for lighter drumming sessions.
The letter ‘B’ comes from the word “Band.” The reason is the B-stick used by band players, which is still popular today. This type is typically larger than A-drumstick, perfect for drummers who prefer more power.
In addition, you should also know that there is also the S-drumstick, which was first used by street bands.
Taper
The drumstick’s taper is the part where the drumstick gets thinner or narrows between the shaft and tip.
The length of the taper, including long, medium, or short, dramatically affects your stick’s rebound and balance.
Drumsticks with a short taper will give you less rebound and more weight toward the tip. Meanwhile, ones that have a long taper will give your stick a lighter feel and a better rebound.
Tips
The tips also affect the sound type and quality of the drumsticks. Drumstick tips come in many different types, but we will focus on more common models.
The nylon drumstick tip is ideal for a drummer who prefers a resonating, bright tone. It can be less harsh on playing surfaces than the wooden tip, making it an excellent choice for a drummer that plays on his electronic drum set.
The wood tips are the most popular. It typically offers a neutral combo of proper articulation and rich sounds on various drum set elements. Also, different woods will produce different sounds. It means your sound options are limitless!
The swizzle drumstick features a dual tip, with a regular drumstick tip on one end while the other is enriched with a tiny synthetic ball. This mix will give you a warm and smooth mallet sound on cymbals and tom drums.
Grip
The butt of the drumstick is its bottom. This part can also be called a grip. It is also where your stick is heaviest. Many drummers take advantage of it when they prefer a fatter, deeper sound out of the snare.
Whichever drumsticks you choose, you want them to be slip-resistant. It will be very beneficial for drummers who want to play hard but don’t want their drumsticks to be thrown somewhere.
FAQs
Should I use 5A or 5B drumsticks?
Many factors contribute to making the right drumstick for you, such as arm length, hand length, and wrist strength. So the best way to find the right drumstick for you is to try them out.
Most musical instrument stores will allow their customers to try on musical instruments. So don’t be afraid to try any type of drumstick until you find the one that works best.
Are 5B Drumsticks Suitable for Beginners?
The 5B is one of the best sticks for beginners who are heavy hitters. It will produce a louder and heavier sound. So if you prefer to play mainly Metal or Rock, it is the way to go.
How Do I Pick My First Drumstick?
You can read accurate and honest reviews of drumsticks to see which one is best for you. For example, you might consider one of our recommendations.
Also, it’s best to go to an instrument store and try on each model until you pick the one that suits you best. You can also consult skilled drummers you know or get advice from a salesperson.
Which is better, 5A or 7A drumsticks?
The answer depends on the drummer. The 5A stick is heavier than the 7A stick, but both of them are of the same thickness.
As mentioned above, the numbers on the sticks give you an idea of the weight of the drumstick, while the letters tell you about the thickness.
7A drumsticks are typically used for jazz, marching bands, or other lighter musical settings. 5A drumsticks are ideal for playing almost any music style.
The Bottom Line
You’ve reached the bottom of our article. There are various drumsticks on the market to choose from, and there is no real correct answer for what is the best drumsticks for beginners. The key is to find something that works best for you.
Hopefully, this article has made your entry into the world of drumming easier. Read our reviews carefully and choose something that will make you shine!
