Equipment Selection
practice pad selection
A practice pad is a very worthwhile purchase and a great piece of equipment to have. It allows the player to practice anytime and almost anywhere with little sound and the same bounce response as a snare drum. As with any purchase, there are some for sale that are better than others. Here are the ones that Mrs. Stewart recommends.
Left: Vic Firth PAD 6" practice pad. This practice pad features a rubber base and a mounting thread for use on a cymbal stand. This practice pad is excellent for taking on the go because of its compact size. $20
Right: Vic Firth Heavy Hitter Stockpad 12". The Stockpad has the feel of a contemporary marching snare drum. The bigger practice pad is excellent for beginners because it gives them a bigger target to hit. $44
Drumstick Selection
Drumstick Anatomy
The bead or tip is the top end of the drumstick that hits the drum. Tips come in many different shapes and materials used for different styles of playing.
The shoulder is where the taper in the stick begins. How much the stick tapers and where the shoulder begins affects the balance of the stick.
The shaft is the main part of the drumstick.
The butt is the end of the drumstick that isn't usually used on the drum.
An excellent drumstick is the perfect combination of balance, response, and feel in your hand. A stick's design - it's diameter, length, weight, type of wood, taper, and tip - all determine the way it feels in your hand when you play and the way it reacts with the drum. The best drumstick for you will depend on what style of music you will perform and what kind of drums you're using. To play your best, choose the stick that feels the best and best suits your musical purpose.
What do the numbers mean?
The diameter of a stick is fundamental to its feel in your hand. A thicker diameter creates a bigger sound and will last longer. A thinner diameter is lighter, faster and plays with greater ease. Shorter and lighter sticks produce a more delicate sound and may require more effort to play louder. Longer and heavier sticks produce intensity and allow louder play with less effort. The number and letter on the stick refer to its weight and diameter (7A, 2B, 5A). The higher the number, the lighter the stick. The letter indicates the stick's diameter, so a 5B stick is thicker than a 5A stick (as you can see in the picture above).
The three main stick weight categories are 7, 5 and 2. Although, drumsticks can be on a scale from 1-9.
7 Series Sticks: Generally used for jazz, marching bands, or any lighter musical setting.
5 Series Sticks: Slightly thicker and heavier than the 7 series and are the most commonly used drumstick worldwide. They are versatile enough to be used in most styles and genres.
2 Series Sticks: Considerably heavier than 5 and 7 series and are usually used by hard hitting drummers in rock and metal bands.
Custom Drumsticks: Most reputable drummers have a signature stick made by stick companies that they have tailored to suit their style and preferences (like the Tom Gauger stick on the right side of the picture).
Bead or tip types
The tip of the stick is the part that comes into direct contact with the drum, so it has a significant impact on the production of sound. There are many different variations of these tailored to drummer preferences and playing situations. The size of the tip's point of contact with the instrument determines tone and articulation.
Wood tips generally produce a warmer sound, and nylon tips often produce brighter, more articulate sound and are more durable.
There are several different shapes of drumstick tips, including round, diamond, teardrop, acorn, arrow, and barrel. Round tips always strike the drum with the same surface area, so they are the most consistent. Round tipped sticks are the best for beginners.
length & material
Drumstick lengths generally run from approximately 15 to 17.5 inches and are categorized from small to double extra-large. The player will use the thicker stick when needing to project, like in marching band. The length of the stick you will be comfortable with depends on the size of your hands and what kind of drum you will be playing. A drumset needs a longer stick to cover a greater distance, whereas a concert snare drum does not need to cover a great distance, so we do not need the length.
Drumsticks are often made of wood, although some are constructed of carbon fiber, plastic, or aluminum. Weight, density, texture, resonance, and flexibility vary from one type of wood to another. The most popular woods in drumsticks today are oak, hickory, and maple.
Oak: Dense and heavy, oak sticks are very durable and usually last longer than those made with other types of wood. It is a dense wood, so it will take less effort to play loud but will not absorb shock as well.
Hickory: Most popular wood for drumsticks. Hickory sticks last a long time and are responsive and sturdy.
Mrs. Stewart recommends Vic Firth SD1 ($10) as good starting sticks.
percussion kit selection
Percussion Kit
Snare Drum
Bells
When purchasing or renting a percussion kit, there are a few things to keep in mind. To be successful, the snare drum and the case needs to be of good quality, and it needs to include a snare drum, bells, drum sticks, mallets, practice pad, and a stand for the drum and bells. Usually, the drum sticks and practice pads that come with a percussion kit are not very good, so it is good to supplement the percussion kit with a better practice pad and a better pair of sticks.
The two percussion kits Mrs. Stewart recommends are:
Mapex Percussion Kit ($735)
Pearl Percussion Kit ($374)
Snare Drum Anatomy
Top of the snare drum
The rim is the metal hoop that holds the head onto the drum.
The batter head is the top head of the snare drum that comes in contact with the drum sticks.
The tension rods are used to tighten the head and tune the drum. The tension rods go inside the rod casings.
The shell is the outside casing for the drum, and it can be constructed of wood, metal, or synthetic material. Concert snare drum shells are made from wood.
The snare strainer turns the snares on and off. It also houses the tension adjustment knob, which changes how much pressure the snare puts against the snare head.
Bottom of the snare drum
6. The snare head is the bottom head of the snare drum. It is made of thinner material, so extra caution will need to be taken not to puncture it. This side of the drum doesn't come in contact with the drum sticks.
7. The snares run across the snare head and are made out of wire, gut, or cable. They rattle across the snare head, producing the characteristic snare drum sound.