[pearldrumbum]

Hi, i was wondering if anyone had any advice for me. I've been playing for 6 years now, self taught, so im sure my problem is technique problem....

I break waaayyy too many sticks! I dont really consider myself a "hard hitter" I play mostly rock/alternative/punk type stuff, as well as worship music at my church, but i dont think i play that hard, i deffinately know players who play a lot harder than me and they dont seem to break so many sticks. I've tried all types of different kinds of sticks and it doesnt seem to make a differnece in how long they last.... so ive pretty much settled on vic firth extreme 5B's because i just like teh size and feel of them.

has anyone had this same probelm and if so how did you fix it? I'm sure its how im playing because the hardest hitter i know plays with size 7A sticks and i've never seen him break one!

Thanks!
Jesse

	Vic Firth Drumsticks Shop for Vic Firth Drumsticks at Musician's Friend

[skinslapper]

On average, how many sticks do you go through, in say, 3 months? That's about how long it takes me to wear out 2 pairs of sticks and even then they're not usually broken.

There is a good chance this is techniqe, but if it is that bad you'd probably find yourself more worried about the number of cymbals you were going through. Try to iscolate the power to the stick to just your wrist. Drummers who look powerful from their arm movements are still just moving their arms to postition, then swiping with their wrist at the last minute. If you're throwing the stick with the full force of you arm, then you're just waisting energy, sticks, cymbals and heads.

Unfortunately, I don't think it'll be too effective for me to try and explain good stick grip and handling here. I think you'd probably be better off getting some lessons, but you should be able to find some diagrams or other info, either on the net or in some beginners books/dvd's.

Good luck, let us know how you get on.

[shazaam]

yea, like skinslapper said it's probably the way you gripping the sticks/technique of hitting everything. I used to break sticks, well perty often but sometimes iono how or why I'll be able to make a pair of sticks last for 2-3weeks or longer and then only one'll split. But yea, make sure you're using your wrists more than arms

[pearldrumbum]

wow, 2 pairs in 3 months? I go through probably a pair for every 3 or 4 hours of playing.... and its getting really expensive...

I do rimshots on almost every hit with my snare hand, but that usually isnt the first stick to break. I tried paying attention to weather or not i hit the rims or edges of my cymbals excessively and it doesnt seem like i do. I angle my cymbals towards me just slightly and i dont have them way up in the air. In fact theyre about as low and as i can get them without them hitting the drums so i know im not cutting my sticks up too much on the edges of the cymbals.

I do tend to use my whole arm as opposed to just my wrist though, ill try to work on that some more

[lastditch]

Originally Posted by pearldrumbum

wow, 2 pairs in 3 months? I go through probably a pair for every 3 or 4 hours of playing.... and its getting really expensive...

I do rimshots on almost every hit with my snare hand, but that usually isnt the first stick to break. I tried paying attention to weather or not i hit the rims or edges of my cymbals excessively and it doesnt seem like i do. I angle my cymbals towards me just slightly and i dont have them way up in the air. In fact theyre about as low and as i can get them without them hitting the drums so i know im not cutting my sticks up too much on the edges of the cymbals.

I do tend to use my whole arm as opposed to just my wrist though, ill try to work on that some more

Yeah,I would do a bit of experimentation with the angles of your snare,toms and cymbals and see if that helps.Try your adjusting the height on your throne as well.I know this much movement is tough but something is not right with something.lol.Vic Firths hold up pretty well,a pair every rehearsal!!Crazyness!Buy some triggers or mic's and a PA!!

[shazaam]

another thing, if your sticks are cracking/splitting then you're hitting the cymbals wrong or atleast that's what I've figured out. My sticks are shredded from my cymbals but they still take a while to crack/shatter. I play with 2b's right now but today at a friends I played ith the most skinniest sticks I've ever used, skinnier than 5A's which I think have to be the skinniest stick ever besides a timbale stick lol. But yea, I was hitting everything perty hard or atleast I thought I was and yea, next to no damage to the sticks But yea, don't hit crashes with the tip of the stick, hit with the body more or less and don't use you arm a whole lot when hitting the ride cause you'll toque the stick and split it. And also it's probably not the case here, but get sticks that the grain isn't gonna be the cause of the shatter, I think it's supposed to be nearly straight up and down.

[skinslapper]

There's a good chance the full arm movement and the rim shots are what's doing you in. I've never been a big fan rimshots, and I've never gone through that many sticks, especially in that size.

Be warned, rim shots will also wreck your hoops and even the shell itself. I know the power can be advantageous, but a drum is not meant to be played that way.

[mouse]

Where do the sticks break, at the tip, shoulder or where they strike the rim, this may point to a problem?

Do you have a loose grip that lets the stick bounce or do you hold it tightly and absorb the shock along with the stick, could be what is doing it, and can cause health problems?

[guss]

1 stick every 12 months(thats how long ive been playing with cymbals) fater sticks might help...and try loosening ur cymbals.

also like the book tital: cheeper by the dozen.

[guss]

also i pick up sticks to practice with from concerts, and they are free@@@ also buy cheeper sticks to practice with(did u say u do that)?