logo
  • Home
  • Main Categories
    • Accessories
    • Amplifiers
    • Band & Orchestra
    • Bass
    • DJ & Karaoke
    • Drums & Percussion
    • Guitars
    • Keyboards & Synthesizers
    • Live Sound & Lighting
    • Microphones
    • Studio & Recording Equipment
    • Traditional Instruments
  • About
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Drums & Percussion
Last updated: 27 Oct 2021

Get the Best Bang with the Best Electric Drumsticks

Best Overall
logo
ARLX 5A Wood Tip Drumsticks
Shop Now
Runner Up
logo
Vater 5A Wood Tip Hickory Drumsticks
Shop Now
Honorable Mention
logo
Vic Firth American Classic 5A Drumsticks
Shop Now
Also Consider
logo
Donner Maple Wood Black Drumsticks
Shop Now
author-image
By Derek Sautter
Published 6:18 pm

A set of drumsticks may not seem like a purchase that needs a lot of thought, but there are actually a couple of considerations including quality, design, and material that can drastically impact the sound of your drum playing! If you're a beginner, you should know that a set of drumsticks can make or break the sound you want to achieve. While there is only a little-to-no difference between the sticks used for acoustic or electronic, it's still important for you to weigh in the tip, taper, length, and particularly, the material of your drumsticks when you're buying them for your electronic kit. In addition to hooking you up with a list of the finest electric drumsticks of 2021, we'll also be spilling the secret sauce that'll answer all your whys and hows about them in this buying guide. Let's get started!

Detailing Our Favorite Drumsticks for Electronic Drums of 2021

1

ARLX 5A Wood Tip Drumsticks

– Best Overall
img
Check Latest Price
THE SCOOP

This drum stick is made from North American hard maple. It has a natural finish that’s both comfortable and slip-resistant, making it perfect for youth rock bands and drummers! 

Moreover, it’s loaded and durable, giving you a strong sense of gravity – which means, it’ll bounce back well when you’re hitting it! It works excellently for jazz orchestral pit work.

Pros
  • It feels snuggly in the hands
  • Offers a balanced, rich sound thanks to the oval tip
  • The coating on the sticks is gloss-free, reducing slippage
Cons
  • The tips are not covered so can cause more wear to electronic drums fitted with mesh-heads
2

Vater 5A Wood Tip Hickory Drumsticks

– Runner Up
img
Check Latest Price
THE SCOOP

You can get these drumsticks in three size variations. However, if you’re a beginner, we’d suggest you stick with the 5A ones we’re reviewing. Our favorite part about these drumsticks? You can buy it with both wooden and nylon tips! The Vater VHP5AW drumsticks are 0.580″ in diameter and sport a healthy weight. 

Pros
  • You can buy these with a nylon tip
  • They’re comfortable for 5A players but feature half-inch extra length to make them more snuggly
  • You can buy these in two other sizes
Cons
  • These are a bit longer and heavier than usual 5A sticks
3

Vic Firth American Classic 5A Drumsticks

– Honorable Mention
img
Check Latest Price
THE SCOOP

These drumsticks come with a teardrop tip that really helps you get the best sound out of those cymbals! These are those ideal drumsticks with the ideal size and weight for an all-around year performance – you need to have a pair of these in your kit!

Moreover, they’re crafted from premium-quality USA hickory, have 0.5″ diameter, and sport a lacquer coating. 

Pros
  • The teardrop tip helps with rich cymbal sounds, even on electronic kits
  • The sticks have a medium taper
  • They help you feel that realistic bounce
Cons
  • The tips aren’t covered so will deliver extra tear to mesh heads
4

Donner Maple Wood Black Drumsticks

– Also Consider
img
Check Latest Price
THE SCOOP

These strong and durable 5A drumsticks are made up of North American maple wood! If you’re looking to improve your response and need a pair that’s fast, resilient, responsive, and fuels your drumming passion, this is what you must go for! 

They come in two beautiful finishes; black and classic. We’re particularly rooting for the black ones since they’re beautiful, have a non-slip polished finishing, and reduce carry fatigue!

Pros
  • They’re available in two colors
  • These drumsticks come with a carry bag
  • You can buy multiple pairs of these at an affordable price
Cons
  • Your minimum order has to be two pairs
5

FF Elaine Maple Wood Tip Drumsticks

img
Check Latest Price
THE SCOOP

If you’re looking to horde drumsticks or need to buy in bulk – these babies are excellent! They come in a bundle of 12 pairs for only $22.

Just like the previous ones on this list, they’re also around 0.55 inches in diameter and are 16 inches long. However, you can also go for the 2B, 5B, and 7A variations if that’s what you prefer. Moreover, they’re made up of hard maple wood, are lightweight, and have a non-slip, good-gripping polish!

Pros
  • They’re affordable, come in a bundle, making them perfect for students
  • They’re durable and lightweight
  • You can buy them in 7A, 5B, and 2B variations as well
Cons
  • The tips of these sticks are a little tough 
6

Vic Firth American Classic 5B Drumsticks

img
Check Latest Price
THE SCOOP

We’ve included the 5A drumsticks from Vic Firth above in our list and we couldn’t help but include the 5B ones too! We didn’t want to miss this one for somewhat experienced drummers who are used to the added thickness or rock heads looking to get a similar-to-acoustic feel for their playing out of their electronic kits!

These ones also feature a teardrop tip and are crafted from premium US hickory. Apart from this, they’re perfectly balanced, paired-well, and shall pass your resonance tests without a hassle! We love these!

 

Pros
  • The wood/finishing on these is super nice and comfortable
  • They’re 5Bs so you get more power out of your hits – although it does not matter much in electronic kits but helps you get louder sound and proper feel
Cons
  • Not meant for the light-handed beginner sweethearts
7

Avedis Zildjian Black Artist Series Drumsticks

img
Check Latest Price
THE SCOOP

Available in three beautiful finishes, these drumsticks are famous for being designed by the famous pop icon Travis Barker.

The black one features a beautiful silver metallic logo that looks like a dream. And not just that, thanks to the round wood bead, beefy neck, and excellent throw and balance, the pair helps you play like a dream too! It’s not too thick and neither is it too long – ideal for beginners!

Pros
  • It’s one of the coolest looking pair of drumsticks out there, designed by Travis Barker himself
  • Excellent for aggressive playing styles, thanks to the beefy neck of the sticks
Cons
  • The coating makes the sticks slippery when playing
8

AIEX Classic Maple Wood 5A Drumsticks

img
Check Latest Price
THE SCOOP

You can buy these drumsticks in a bundle of three pairs! They’re made up of high-quality maple wood and they’re flexible, durable, and offer a fast response.

They’re polished to look good but at the same time, they’re not slippery, so that’s a plus point. The best part? These drumsticks come with a beautiful waterproof pouch that helps you carry them from gig to gig without exposing them to environmental elements.

Pros
  • You can buy them in a bundle (3 pairs/6 pcs)
  • They are extremely lightweight, making them ideal for electronic kits and beginner players
Cons
  • They’re thick sticks with non-smooth polish – good for some, uncomfortable for others
9

Vic Firth Drumsticks for Kids

img
Check Latest Price
THE SCOOP

This is a secret; if you want to get a pair of drumsticks for your electronic kit, a great way to start is by getting kid drumsticks because they’re not as brutal to the drum heads as traditional sticks! For instance, these drumsticks by Vic Firth are designed for younger and aspiring acoustic drum players. They’re shorter and thinner but have excellent balance and playability!

They’re made up of premium USA Hickory and feature a vibrant color! Length-wise, you’re looking at around 13″ and diameter-wise, this is a bit thinner than 7A. 

Pros
  • You can buy these in two colors; blue and pink
  • They’re small and excellent for smaller hands
  • They’re as durable as larger sticks and don’t chip
Cons
  • Thin sticks can be difficult to get used to, especially for beginner drummers
10

Antner Maple Wood 7A Drumsticks

img
Check Latest Price
THE SCOOP

Last on our list but not the least, are these 7A drumsticks that are 0.5″ in diameter and 15.5″ long. We love them because they’ve got a smooth, non-slip polish. They’re made up of maple wood, feel snuggly, but at the same time, they’re lightweight!

These drumsticks come in a bundle of three pairs and you can flaunt them in the black velvet pouch they come with. They’re great and we believe they’ll be gentle to your electronic kits!

Pros
  • You can get these sticks in black, red, blue, and wood finishings
  • These sticks have an oval-shaped wooden top that provide a warmer and snuggly comfort when playing
Cons
  • These are not ideal for kids

Buyer's Guide for Finding the Finest Drumsticks for Electronic Drums

Recently ordered an electronic drum kit? Confused if you can start jamming right away with your normie, traditional drumsticks, or do you have to buy a dedicated one for your electronic drums? You'll find out soon enough.

More often than not, if you're buying an electronic drum kit, it'll come with a pair of drumsticks. But that may not always be the case.

Whether the kit you're buying comes with a pair or not, there actually are a few secrets, tips, and tricks about buying drumsticks for electronic drums that we're going to let you in on - to help you get better sound, let you get a better feel for your playing, and for the longevity of your kit.

Is There a Difference Between Drumsticks for Electronic Drums and Acoustic Drums?

Well, yes and no. Confused? Don't worry, we'll break it down for you. 

With acoustic drums, players are generally very careful with their drumsticks. One has to consider the correct balance, length, thickness, taper, tip, material, bounce, response, comfort, and polish, etc.

However, when it comes to electronic drums - all the aforementioned acoustic ingredients are required, and more. Also, if you have an electronic kit, you don't have to worry about forceful hits, the right shape, or a proper tip to create the right sound. After all, you're only playing pre-recorded samples through a module so you only particularly have to pay heed to your comfort and make sure that your stick hits the drumhead with a decent impact.

To break it down, you need to be extra careful when buying a drumstick for an electronic drum. Some drummers prefer getting that 'real'/'acoustic' feel when playing an electronic kit so you'll have to factor in a combination of the right drumhead with sticks to get it. 

Also, it goes a long way to be mindful about not damaging the drumheads on your electronic kit. Apart from this, you may want to think about the taper, length, and material of your drumsticks. 

To sum it up, yes you can use the same drumsticks for both acoustic and electronic kits but if you end up being too careless, you might damage your electronic kit.

What Do You Look For When Buying Electronic Drumsticks?

We didn't want you to be in the grey, scratching your head so allow us to make things a bit simpler. You need to start from:

Beaters/Rods/Brushes

Don't even think about it - using specific sticks like rods and beaters has no effect on the sound of your electronic kit.

Plus, using brushes on your electronic kit? That's almost like playing your acoustic guitar with a brush. So, any specific shapes, designs, beaters, rods, or brushes - avoid wasting your money on these because they aren't going to help you play like that lead guy from whiplash.

Length

Experimenting with different lengths of drumsticks goes a long way - especially if you're a beginner and starting out. If you have a long drumstick, its center of gravity will be weighted towards the tip. In other words, the balance will be inclined towards the front of the stick.

If you have a shorter stick, the center of gravity will be at the back end of the stick. So, normally, shorter sticks are usually more stable but longer ones have a sharper bounce.

If you're a beginner looking for the right drumsticks for an electronic drum, we suggest going with 16 inches in length.

Diameter

You want your drumsticks to feel snuggly in your hands, you don't want them to be hollow-ish in your palms. The latter one would be uncomfortable, cause you to grip them harder, and result in sweating.

We always suggest starting from 5A drumsticks - they're usually around 0.5" in diameter. Once you've used these, you can decide if these work for you. More often than not, these will work for you, and just in case they don't, you can always order new ones and adapt. 

Material

Most sticks are made from hickory and that's what you too are going to end up with at some point - which is great. 

However, there are drumsticks are made up of plastic and carbon fiber too. You don't want them since they're fairly stiff and will likely cause damage.

Taper

When it comes to electronic drums, you need to go with a stick with a medium taper - since that's a safe choice.

Confused? We'll explain.

The taper of your drumstick is the slightly thrashed, narrow part on the side of your stick that works around to balance your stick. With time, it gets thinner and has an impact on your playing. A long stick with a short taper will always make your stick fall towards the drum. 

So, if you're a loud drummer, go for a shorter taper. If you want a quick response and fast movement, you need your stick to be long-tapered. 

Tip

When you're playing an acoustic kit, you can immediately hear the difference in the sound with different shaped tips. However, that's not the case with electronic drums.

Instead, in electronic drums, what you need to be mindful of is to have some sort of nylon or rubber covering on your drumstick's tip. This is essential especially if you have mesh heads on your drums. A wooden tip will cause more wear to them than covered ones!

Electric Drumstick FAQ

Q: How long is a standard drumstick?

A: There's not really a fixed standard length for a drumstick, at least not a single length. There are multiple types of drumsticks out there and the length of each is anywhere between 15" and 17.5". However, the '5A' drumstick is used most often - it's around 16" in length.

Q: What are the different types of drumsticks?

A: In most brands, you can expect to find the following sizes: 7A, 8D, 1A, 5A, 3A, 5B, and 2B. 7A is ideal for jazz and it's thin. 8D is the same as 7A but a bit longer. 1A is believed to be the longest drumstick type. 5A is known as the standard drumstick. 3A is slightly thicker and longer than 5A. 5B is shorter but thicker than 3A. Lastly, the 2B is the thickest of them all and is used for thrash metal and rock!  

author-image
By Derek Sautter
Derek is a professional musician who specializes in percussion and works with the independent WGI group Cap City Percussion. With a Bachelors of Music from Capital University, specializing in Music Industry studies, he consistently finds himself playing and teaching percussion to anyone who has the will to learn. Derek is also a former member of DCI groups Legends (2014-15) and Colts (2016-18); he is also the percussion technician and instructor of the drum line at Olentangy High School. You may find him playing a gig throughout the greater Columbus, Ohio area.
You May Also Like
img
Get on Amazon and Grab One of these Drum Sets
img
Best Hi-Hat For Completing Your Drum Set
img
Cheap Electric Drum Kits for Beginners
  • Contact
  • About
logo
Copyright American Songwriter © 2023
  • Privacy Policy