Drum Stick Holder

(Styles and Buying Guide)

If you are considering purchasing a drum stick holder, there are a few things that you should consider before hand. First off, you should know that there are three basic options for holding a spare set of drum sticks.

There are clip on, clamp on, and gig bag options. Each one has it’s own advantage and which one you choose should be determined by your needs. I’ll offer a little bit of advice on each one and then you’ll have the opportunity to shop for whichever kind you decide on.

Clamp On Holder

I believe these are probably the best option for live performance use. As you can see in the pictures above, these holders clamp directly onto your hardware.

They offer a stronger hold than any clip-on holder will and they hold more sticks than one that clips onto your stands.

One disadvantage, which really isn’t even a big one, is that you are fairly limited in where you place these. Basically, the only place you’re going to put this is on your hi hat stand.

It’s not really a big deal, since that is where most drummers prefer to place their spare sticks anyway. I prefer a different method which I will get into below.

Clip On

The clip-on drum stick holder seems to be one of the worst options. They are generally cheaper to purchase, but they aren’t quite as useful.

For one thing, they don’t hold as many sticks as the others do, which really isn’t a big deal unless you drop or break a stick often when you perform.

The main disadvantage is the clip on system. They aren’t held as solidly to the hardware as clamp on models. When you’re going to grab for a stick, you don’t want your holder slipping on you.

That being said, the clip on stick holder system is also one of it’s greatest advantages. You can clip it pretty much anywhere. If you prefer your holder to be mounted to your floor tom legs or rack system, it may be easier to do with these than a clamp-on stick holder. It’s still not my preferred method though.

Here are a couple of the most popular sellers.



The Stagg Music Dual holds two pairs of sticks. It clips conveniently just about anywhere on your set.



The Pro-Mark Depot holds drumsticks in perfect position out of the way yet right within reach when needed. It clamps easily to a cymbal stand and the chrome tubes are adjustable making it easy to take advantage of closer placement options like the bass drum hoop, that you can’t use with clamp mounted holders.

Bag Holder

This is the stick holder option I prefer for holding my drum sticks. They have the placement flexibility of clip ons and can hold many more sticks than either one of the above.

They also hold all of your sticks for transport and storage whereas the other holders really only work in live performance situations.

This is also the only option that allows me to place the drum sticks exactly where I prefer them.



I place my drum stick holder right above the bass drum and wrap the cords around the drum lugs to keep it in place. It’s not the most common placement for a drum stick holder, but it works best for me.

If I drop a stick, it’s going to be the one in my right hand. Always. It’s also most likely going to be while I’m rolling across the toms and snag a cymbal. It happens.

I don’t want to drop a stick while I’m playing a fill on the floor tom and have to reach all the way over to my hi hat for another one.

It attaches to my bass drum tension rods for a snug fit and after folding down the top 1/4″ of material, I have easy access.

Purchase Your Drum Stick Holder

Now you’re ready to check out the clamps, holders, and bags available. There are some basic black holders, but you can also find graphic designs and signature series items too.

Use the gray arrows to flip through the products. They’ll open in a new tab so you can keep browsing.





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