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Author Topic: Different size sticks in each hand?  (Read 403 times)
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MMapex
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« on: March 28, 2007, 11:12 AM »

After dropping a stick while playing, I picked up a different size stick.  I had a vic firth 5AN and picked up a different brand 5A drumstick.  One stick was maple and one was hickory, one was longer, fatter, and  had a different shoulder....but I liked it.  It got me thinking why do we insist on having the EXACT same weight distribution and dimensions between sticks that are in different hands.  My hands do not work the same way, I use different fulcrums and far from the same technique. 

For the record, I'm still going to be using pairs of stick instead of individuals but  I'd like some thoughts on this.
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« Reply #1 on: March 28, 2007, 11:29 AM »

On a drumkit, two different-sized sticks can work out okay, as we often use different hands for different functions. I did this for a while, using a heavier, larger stick in my left for more forceful backbeats, and a smaller stick in my right to help change how I was "mixing" the sound of my kit. I did this after noticing how much more prominent the kick and snare are in most pop music compared to the hihat and ride cymbal.

But if you do much one-surface work, such as orchestral snare etc., it makes much more sense to have identical sticks.
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« Reply #2 on: March 28, 2007, 02:43 PM »

I mix things up plenty.  Not usually two different sized sticks, but different tools, a stick and brush, mallet and dreadlock, brush and bass guitar string, etc.   
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« Reply #3 on: March 29, 2007, 09:35 AM »

Yeah, if I need a little extra 'pop' for 2 and 4, I'll use a fatter stick with my left hand.  Some people flip the stick and use the butt, but I don't like tearing up my sticks like that. 

If I do this, it's usually for groove purposes only, which means I won't play a lot of fills, if any at all.
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« Reply #4 on: March 29, 2007, 01:21 PM »

It's all about feel. Tiny changes in stick size, throne height, hihat position etc can make drastic differences to how you 'feel' behind the kit. Be creative and enjoy it I say.
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« Reply #5 on: April 07, 2007, 10:35 AM »

Im not real sure that this is even legal in most states. The stick police can and will issue tickets to any drummer P.W.D.S. (playing with different sticks). Ive actually done this from time to time. I used a stick that I liked for cymbal sound which was a Peter Erskine and a Dean Markley of some sorts for my rimshots. it makes sence to me. I havent done this for years. Good question though.
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