1. Straightness
2. Density
3. Tip shape
4. Length
5. Wood type
6. Diameter
7. Balance
8. Taper

We will now describe the less self explanatory points in more detail.

Tip shapes
The main factor affecting the overall sound the stick will make on drums & cymbals.
Here is a list of different available tip shapes and the sounds they will produce:

1. Tear drop; rich dark tones, focused lows.
2. Barrel; full punchy sound, for loud volumes.
3. Ball; clean bright & articulate sounds.
4. Acorn; full, fat sound very responsive.
5. Oval: broad mid-range sound.
6. Nylon tips; brighter than wood & more durable.

Wood types
The key element to drum sticks response & durability, here are some examples:

1. Hickory: one of the more popular woods used for making drum sticks. Hickory is denser, heavier & more rigid than maple. Hickory can absorb a great amount of shock, which reduces hand fatigue.
2. Maple: a lighter and less dense wood can provide the feel of a big stick without the extra weight. Mainly used for light fast playing in low volume situations.
3. Oak: Denser than hickory & maple, also heavier than its predecessors & extremely durable, but unfortunately pricier.

Stick Shape
Last but not least there are 4 more components that make up a drum stick and here they are:

1. Length: affects the balance & playability of the drum stick.
2. Thickness: affects durability & overall weight as well as the feel of the stick in the hand. They are more durable & heavier, thinner sticks lighter & more sensitive.
3. Shoulder: affects weight distribution of the stick and has an effect on the sense of rebound.
4. Taper: affects the feel & performance of a stick. A long taper provides more flex & a great response, a short taper is stiffer & offers additional strength.

Drumstick Categories

1. Drum sticks
   Used mainly on acoustic drum sets includes many different varieties, sizes, tips etc; Some examples, 5a , 5b, 7a ,7b, signature sticks, could be made out of hickory, oak or maple.
2. Percussion sticks
   To be found mainly in Latin music, an example would be timbale sticks a stick with no tip or taper. Conga sticks half stick half leather strap which acts like a hand and slaps the skin. Birch dowel sticks tied together also used on acoustic sets.
3. Drum brushes, and derivatives
   Wire brushes primarily for jazz & softer gigs. Nylon brushes louder than wire but softer than dowels. Birch dowels louder than nylon brushes but just softer than sticks.
4. Mallets
   Mainly found in orchestral (ref.5) & marching bands (ref.6) but pretty much used in all aspects of drumming.
5. Orchestral.
   99% mallets for example marimba mallets, vibraphone mallets, xylophones mallets, timpani mallets, etc. Mallets very similar to mallets used in marching bands. (ref.6)
6. Marching
   Consists of lighter weight drum sticks usually with a very rounded tip, also hard headed mallets with aluminium shaft, big soft mallets with wooden handles for marching bass drums, yarn woven marimba & vibraphone mallets, xylophone mallets a thin wooden shaft & hard plastic tip.
7. Traditional Japanese
   Similar to timbale sticks but shorter & thicker.
8. Alternate materials
   Usually made out of a hard plastic or graphite.Mainly found in rock drumming, these sticks are comparatively expensive but manufacturers claim that they last between 8 & 10 times longer than wood sticks. Makes: Aquarian, Carbostick, Ahead.

Stick Accessories

1. DRUMMERS GLOVES
2. STICK RAPP

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is there letters written on some pairs of drum sticks?
The letter on the stick refers to the thickness of the drum stick the higher on the alphabet the letter a,b,c the thinner the stick.1a is thinner than 1b.

What is the sound difference between wire brushes & nylon brushes?
Wire brushes are a little crisper & clearer sounding on cymbals & drums as apposed to nylon brushes which are more durable than the wire brushes. If you have not mastered the art of using brushes start with nylon brushes they will be easier to start with.

What are signature drum sticks?
They are drum sticks that have been designed by a professional to his specifications. The signature sticks usually then carry the designers signature hence the name. They are also sold commercially.

Why are some sticks so much more expensive than others?
Pricing of drum sticks depends on a few criteria 1.)The straightness of the sticks. 2.) If the sticks have been lacquered. 3.) The quality of wood used (durability) and 4.) the quality of the finish.

What is the difference between wood tip & nylon tip drum sticks?
Wood tip sticks are a little warmer sounding were as the nylon tips are brighter on the drums & cymbals.

USEFUL INFO

1. Latest drum stick developments: Dipped sticks; handles dipped in a liquid rubber. Anti-vibration sticks; sticks with a rubber insert in the shaft to relieve stress on wrists & fingers.
2. Increase the life span of your drum sticks by tilting your cymbals slightly downwards as apposed to the cymbals being mounted parallel to floor, tilt them downwards.