The shape of the drumstick tip and its material is the main factor that will affect the final sound of the drumstick on cymbals. In the following article you will learn about wood and nylon tips, the most common shapes and how they affect the final sound. First, a few words about the kit - especially the snare drum.
The effect of the shape of the tip on the sound of the drum:
In this case, a fairly simple rule applies. The size of the drumstick tip is directly proportional to the resulting sound. A small tip, therefore, will give a weaker sound, and vice versa. Furthermore, the shape of the tip has a certain influence. A round tip produces the same sound in all its positions, whereas in the case of an oval tip the resulting sound depends on the angle of incidence and the contact between the bellows and the tip surface. The larger the surface area, the sharper, and more obscured the sound. In practice, this means that if you want maximum control over the sound, you use mallets with a smaller tip, if you want to play punchy and dynamic, you use a larger tip. Another factor is the density of the wood. Sticks made from harder materials produce a brighter sound compared to the more subtle and veiled sound of sticks made from softer materials.
The effect of the shape of the tip on the resulting sound of the cymbals:
Every drummer tries to find his own specific and unmistakable sound - especially in the passages where he plays the cymbals. While the different quality and level of workmanship of the individual cymbals has a major influence on the final sound, it is also shaped by the tip of the drumsticks used. In order to understand the meaning and function of the different tip shapes, it is necessary to go into acoustics first.
A basic rule of thumb tells us that the smaller the contact point the drumstick has with the cymbal, the more the cymbal produces higher frequencies. The same applies to the density and hardness of the drumstick material. The harder the wood, the more pronounced and clearer the sound enriched with higher frequencies. To better explain this, let's imagine such an ideal drumstick for this demonstration. Theoretically, it should be made of a high-density hardwood with a tip that is triangular in shape. The weight of the drumstick combined with the hardness and the triangular tip gives us a clear and clean sound on the cymbals. We will demonstrate this in the following example, where the touch surface of the tip is shown in red in the figures.
The triangular tip of the drumstick has the smallest contact point at a certain angle of contact with the cymbal. It therefore sounds better at higher frequencies and gives a clear and distinct sound. The problem here, however, is that the force of the strike acts on a very small point, and the drumstick wears out faster and more quickly, producing higher pitched notes. This wear can be partially avoided by choosing a drumstick with harder and stronger wood. It can then be completely eliminated by choosing an artificial tip. However, it is important to know that an artificial tip, due to its hardness, produces a completely different sound spectrum, with the accentuation of higher and sharper tones.
Now change the angle of the drumstick on the cymbal so that the triangular tip hits the whole surface. The sound loses its higher frequencies and changes from bright to muffled. This type of tip therefore gives the drummer considerable control over the resulting sound.
The round-headed stick always has the same area of contact with the cymbal, whatever position it is in. Its sound is therefore always constant, and changing the angle of impact does not affect it. On the other hand, the size of the tip has a significant effect on the resulting sound. The smaller it is, the higher the tones of the sound spectrum it produces.
The oval tip has a larger touch point than the round tip and produces a darker sound. Compared to the triangular tip, it is more obscured than the situation in the first picture, where the tip hits its edge, but compared to the situation in the second picture, where the triangular tip hits its entire surface, the oval tip produces a brighter sound. Plus, its shape is more resistant to chipping and wear.
Bottom line:
The shape of the tip and its point of contact with the cymbal affects the resulting sound. Furthermore, the angle at which the drumstick hits the cymbal is important. This is because when the cymbals are spaced correctly, you have the ability to control the angle of the stick's impact, which, when using the right tip, gives you control over the resulting sound of the cymbal. The size of the tip and its shape is also important. A smaller tip gives a cleaner and brighter sound spectrum, which becomes more obscured, and darker, as the tip gets larger. In addition, with most tip shapes, the sound spectrum can be controlled by the tilt of the drumstick.
Wood versus nylon:
As you usually know, you can find both wooden and nylon tips. Nylon tips are great for working with a particular sound in lighter technical passages and make it very easy to work with the cymbal, its response and overall feel. This is especially useful in jazz, swing, orchestra, or dance music. The hardness of the tip is stable and the tip gives the same sound at all points of contact with the cymbal. With wooden tips, it can sometimes happen that when you turn the mallet you play with a part of the head that has a lower density, which will affect the resulting sound. On the other hand, nylon produces a slightly different clinking and sharper sound spectrum which can ultimately be a detriment. Wooden tips, on the other hand, produce a more obscured darker sound, suitable in rock or similar styles. Here the drummer has control over the final shape, where the result can be altered by changing the angle of the mallet. Their overall sound is not as penetrating. Here the most important thing for the choice of the tip is the drummer's requirement for the final sound, or his criteria, what he actually wants from the drumstick, or what feeling he wants to express with his playing. The main advantage of nylon drumsticks over wood is that they have an almost infinite lifespan and will not chip. This can dramatically change the resulting sound of wooden tips - the more worn the tip is, the darker and more indistinct the sound it produces.
Overview of the most used tip shapes:
TEAR DROP
(also, teardrop-shaped or ovoid). has a large surface contact with the cymbal. Drop-shaped tips are the most common tips found on drumsticks. If you are looking for a drumstick tip that can produce a full and rich warm bottom end tone with a greater proportion of lower frequencies and can work beautifully for a variety of musical styles, then drop-shaped tips are definitely worth your consideration in this case.
BARREL
gives a clear and articulate cymbal sound and a deep, round and punchy sound over a wide range. If you desire a fuller sound that is punchy and loud, then barrel-tipped drumsticks are the way to go. You'll get the benefit of the wide sound that this tip produces, and that's because the barrel shape will make contact with a larger surface area of your drums and cymbals. The thick sound and extra volume can also sound great for those of you who play in a rock band.
ACORN
Another quite popular drumstick tip is the acorn, and that's because acorn-tipped drumsticks offer a full tonal response on cymbals and a very clean and defined sound on drums. If you've ever used a drumstick with this tip, you'll know that the tone is definitely full, rich and thick, but there's a darkness to it as well. In particular, this shape gives the drummer response and articulation precisely because there is increased contact between the acorn tip and the cymbal if the drummer can work with the slope of the drumstick on impact.
ROUND
gives a clear and clearly articulated sound, depending on the resulting tip size. A small ball produces higher frequencies, while a larger ball enriches the sound with lower frequencies. This type of tip is popular with jazz and funk players The stick tip is designed to hit drums, cymbals and hi-hats at any inclination of the stick
OVAL
Oval-tipped drumsticks are actually the most versatile because they have a wider range of sound and their dark and warm tone lends itself to most styles. Oval tips produce a full sound. This means that if you choose this tip, you are most likely to get the most rounded frequency response, i.e. your highs, mids and depths. You'll also notice that oval tips have more bounce, and compared to the bright tone and defined sound of round tips, this type actually has a softer tone due to the larger surface area of oval tips. However, it is worth mentioning the fact that with floor toms, the smaller oval tips do not sound as full as the larger oval tips. Overall, drumsticks with this tip are suitable for rock and for more punchy or power playing.
TRIANGEL
depending on the angle of incidence, it produces a wide sound spectrum from very distinctive tones with higher frequencies to dark and obscured sound. It is suitable for drummers working with sound.
Arrow
Sticks with this tip have a more tapered shape compared to the other tips on our list, which can give your sound versatility. The large surface area that this tip provides is great for pulling a lot of complex overtones out of your cymbals. By changing the angle of incidence, you can get light and crisp tones, but the flat surface can also get a woody sound specifically from ride cymbals. When it comes to drums, arrowheads create, a fuller and fatter sound.
Unique
It is not easy to characterize the sound of these tips, as there are many variations and unique shapes under this designation, mostly designed for special applications. They are mainly suitable for experimenting and finding your own unique sound.
Barrel round
It gives a balanced and punchy sound regardless of the impact angle of the drumstick on the cymbal and drum membrane. Used for fast and extreme playing in metal and derivative styles. It is more resistant to chipping than a conventional round-tipped stick
Taj Mahal
These tips are thicker at the beginning and taper at the top. This varied shape allows you to get more sound out of the mallet depending on the angle at which you strike the cymbals. They work well in rock and metal music.
Nylon
produces a clear clinking, cleaner and more penetrating sound than a wooden tip. This is more or less the same regardless of the shape of the tip used, and is mainly due to its hardness. Compared to wood, a nylon tip has almost unlimited durability. Some manufacturers use knurled tips to soften the sound. They also reduce the resulting header stiffness. The result is a more subdued and subtle sound, approaching the character of an all-wood headstock
BUTT
They weren't a stick in the mud. It produces a punchy powerful tone - suitable for expressive and hard playing (rock, metal). Most drummers turn the drumstick to achieve the punch, only a small number use drumsticks with this ending. They are ideal for heavy and hard playing, and because they are unconventional in their own way, blunt drumsticks are the perfect tool for experimenting with new sounds, on drums and cymbals, Of course, blunt drumsticks tend to be more durable, especially when it comes to reliable rimshots. This is a percussive technique where you strike the stick on the edge and center of the drum at the same time to create the accentuated backbeat of the snare drum.
Conclusion:
All of these tip shapes fall into three geometric groups: round, oval, and triangular, and affect the sound as much as the material. If the surface is small (such as a barrel or round tip), expect a brighter sound. The opposite is true for a larger surface (e.g. oval or drop-shaped tip).
Like everything else about drumstick tips, there are no right or wrong tips. Some are better than others for certain sounds or applications, but none are the best. It's all a matter of personal preference and what matches the sound you're looking for. And to find it, you have to keep trying, experimenting and picking the best model.
Resources used:
Marc Zoutendijk- Anatomy of drumstick
Regal Tip - information on the website
Zildjian - catalogue 2001, information on the website
Vater - information on the website
Modern Drummer
Drum Magazine
Beatsture - drumstick sizes
Drumeo
Range of Sounds
Catalogs and information from other companies, insights and observations from practice, comments and notes from professional drummers, and other resources.