Hickory Drumsticks

Hickory drumsticks are probably the most commonly used and widely available drumsticks on the market. American Hickory is the perfect wood, combining strength and weight for excellent sound, projection and shock absorption.

If you’ve read through the other lessons, you already know how Drum Stick Sizes work, as well as how the Wood Tip and Parts of the Drumstick affect the sound. Now, we’ll compare two of the most commonly used types of wood (hickory and maple) in producing drumsticks and how they impact the sound and feel of drumsticks.

Hickory sticks are the most popular style of stick on the market. They are denser, heavier, and more rigid than Maple drumsticks. They absorb the shock much better than other woods do. There is also a distinction to be made between Brown and White hickory. The brown hickory is found closer to the center of the tree which makes it much denser and heavier than the white.

Maple drumsticks are lighter and less dense than the hickory sticks are. It’s great if you like the feel or grip of hickory sticks, but don’t like the weight. Their light weight makes them perfect for faster playing or lighter sounds.

If you’re having trouble deciding on which type of drumsticks to get, I have a guide on How To Choose Drum Sticks that might help you out. You might also be interested in learning how the type of wood you choose affects the sound of your drums. I’ve included the tonal qualities of birch and maple in these lessons on drum shells.

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