DRUMSTICK

Drum stick or drumstick is an object used to strike drums and other percussion instruments to produce sound. Some specialized drum sticks are called beaters, mallets, or brushes.

Snare drum sticks are usually made of wood, often hickory, oak or hard maple. Other used materials include aluminum (covered with a PVC sleeve to avoid damage to cymbals), fiberglass and carbon fibre. A typical drum stick is around 1.5cm in diameter and 41cm long, although drummers have a wide range of shapes and sizes to choose from. Many drummers are very particular about the exact shape, size, weight, balance, density, and grain of their sticks. All of these qualities attribute to the "feel" and sound of the stick.

Snare drum sticks may be designed for use in particular performance contexts. Sticks that are smaller in diameter or balanced farther towards the tip may be intended for orchestral playing that requires fine control and soft dynamics. Sticks for street playing (e.g. drum corps and marching bands) are almost always thick and weighty, to promote extended production of sound at extreme dynamics. Sticks used for drumsets are typically thin and light to allow the drummer more speed and control.