The 7 Best Drumsticks for Electronic Drums (2024)
You can use almost any drumsticks with electronic drums, however, certain types of sticks can protect your electronic drum heads better over the long run. For instance, there are great nylon-tipped drumsticks from renowned manufacturers.
Wooden tips may splinter over time. This can harm electronic drum heads, particularly those made from mesh (which is currently the most popular head type on e-drums). If you’re stuck with only wooden drumsticks, don’t worry too much. However, it’s the long-term consequences of damaged wooden sticks that will cause damage to mesh heads and rubber heads.
My top recommended drumsticks are the Vic Firth American Classic Extreme 5AN Nylon Tip sticks. These are high-quality and popular sticks with nylon tips for extra protection and longevity.
My second recommended drumsticks are the Vic Firth American Classic eStick sticks. These sticks are affordable, quality, and purpose-made for electronic drumming.
Note: If you play on both acoustic and electronic drum sets, it’s better to use a separate pair of sticks. Drumsticks can splinter and chip on cymbals and rims, which may wear out mesh heads a lot quicker than normal.
Contents
- The 7 Best Drumsticks for Electronic Drums (2024)
- 1. Vic Firth American Classic Extreme 5AN Nylon Tip
- 2. Vic Firth American Classic eStick
- 3. Zildjian 5B Nylon Black Dip Drumsticks
- 4. Vater 5A Nylon Tip Hickory Drum Sticks
- 5. Promark Classic Forward Hickory 5A Nylon Tip
- 6. Meinl 5A Hybrid Hickory
- 7. Zildjian 5A Anti Vibe Sticks Wood Tip
- What kind of drumsticks are best for electronic drums?
- Do you need specific drumsticks for electronic drums?
- It’s Better to Use a Different Set of Sticks to Your Acoustic Set
- What size drumstick should you use for electronic drums?
- What are the best brands of drumsticks for electronic drums?
- Can you use brushes on electronic drums?
- Summary
The 7 Best Drumsticks for Electronic Drums (2024)
Let’s compare these in more detail.
1. Vic Firth American Classic Extreme 5AN Nylon Tip
I have always found the Vic Firth American Classic Extreme 5AN Nylon Tip drumsticks great to play on my electronic drum kit. The nylon tips, of course, offer a big advantage of not splintering over time when compared to those with a wood tip. These will last a long time and perform great with your electronic kit.
Based on my own experience of using many different Vic Firth drumsticks (including these), they tend to be very well-matched and balanced, which serves as a big advantage when compared to budget drumsticks.
This is a classic pair of sticks for a reason and is trusted by many drummers across the globe. Most people already use a 5A model, but with the added nylon tips, it just feels right on the e-drums.
2. Vic Firth American Classic eStick
The Vic Firth American Classic eStick drumsticks are specifically made from electronic drumming. Vic Firth is one of the top drumstick brands in the world and they are certainly one of my favorites. They’re also very popular in the electronic drumming community.
These drumsticks combine the best of the 5A Extreme series and the Classic SD1 series. They are designed with a longer shoulder taper that allows for a very light feel that is perfect for e-drumming.
3. Zildjian 5B Nylon Black Dip Drumsticks
Zildjian is also a very reputable brand for drumsticks. The Zildjian 5B Nylon Black Dip Drumsticks have a black dip design and look very cool. The black dip coating design adds more grip when playing but the main point is the nylon tip that is ideal for e-drumming.
The added grip control allows for a loose grip and shock absorption, therefore, providing better longevity and relaxed playing. They are also quite durable due to the hickory wood design that adds power to your playing.
4. Vater 5A Nylon Tip Hickory Drum Sticks
Vater is another super brand for drumsticks, and they also tend to be extremely durable. The Vater 5A Nylon Tip Hickory drumsticks are quite similar to the Vic Firth ones on this list. They have nylon tips and are also very well-balanced.
If you are a fan of Vater drumsticks then these are a good, budget-friendly option to consider. Plus, they are quite durable and the acorn nylon tips are great for e-drums.
5. Promark Classic Forward Hickory 5A Nylon Tip
The next option on this list is from ProMark. The Promark Classic Forward Hickory 5A Nylon Tip drumsticks are made with hickory wood have nylon tips and come in lots of different sizes, so you can pick whichever ones suit you best.
The well-balanced design with oval nylon tips is suitable for e-drumming with an added touch of responsiveness and durability due to the medium taper. ProMark makes quality drumsticks and these sticks are no different.
6. Meinl 5A Hybrid Hickory
The Meinl Stick & Brush 5A hybrid pair features slightly elongated long-taper shafts that give great response on both acoustic and electronic drum sets. The unique barrel tips are better suited for e-drum playing and will be less likely to damage the drums in the long run.
Made from American hickory, the durability and overall strength of this pair are quite high. There is also a Maple option if preferred by the drummer although hickory promotes longevity. Not only that, but this pair is very affordable so the value-for-price ratio is superb. Definitely an option worth considering!
7. Zildjian 5A Anti Vibe Sticks Wood Tip
The Zildjian Anti-Vibe 5A drumsticks are another affordable pair made from Hickory but with a little twist. The Anti-vibe construction is basically done by drilling a hole through the stick’s center at the butt and the hole is filled with anti-vibration rubber.
What makes this pair such a good choice is the fact that it minimizes fatigue as the rubber absorbs most of the vibrations. So, if you want wooden tip drumsticks that make practice a bit easier and less fatiguing, the Anti-Vibe pair is your best bet.
What kind of drumsticks are best for electronic drums?
Drumsticks with nylon tips will protect your electronic drum heads much better over the long run. However, if you currently only have wooden tip drumsticks then these will certainly do fine as long as they are in good condition. There are also some purpose-made drumsticks like the Vic Firth eStick Drum, which are definitely worth considering.
Do you need specific drumsticks for electronic drums?
You can use almost all kinds of drumsticks with electronic drums. However, wooden tips on drumsticks may split and can do damage to the electronic drumheads, especially those made from mesh. However, if you’re using drumsticks with wooden tips, don’t worry too much, as long as the drumstick itself isn’t damaged.
It’s Better to Use a Different Set of Sticks to Your Acoustic Set
It’s better to use a different set of drumsticks if you use both an acoustic drum set and an electronic one. Your drumsticks can chip against the cymbals and rims of an acoustic kit. These chips can potentially damage the mesh heads on your electronic drums faster than usual. In essence, if you’re playing both types of drums, keep two separate sets of sticks to ensure the longevity of your drum equipment. It’s important to protect the pads on your e-drums as much as possible.
What size drumstick should you use for electronic drums?
5A or 5B-sized drumsticks are often recommended for beginner drummers, and this also applies to electronic drum sets. However, it’s a matter of personal preference for the drummer.
What are the best brands of drumsticks for electronic drums?
Vic Firth, Vater, Zildjian, ProMark, and Ahead all make high-quality drumsticks that are suitable for electronic drums.
Can you use brushes on electronic drums?
Brushes work the same way on electronic drums as they do on acoustic ones, as long as you’re using an electronic drum kit that is advanced enough to recognize them (e.g. Mid-Level to Advanced Roland kits can handle brush strokes very nicely).
Summary
There are numerous options on the market regarding quality and suitable drumsticks for e-drums. While wooden tips are good for e-drums, they can split and cause damage to your mesh heads which is why nylon-tipped sticks are so popular.
My top recommended choice is the Vic Firth American Classic Extreme 5AN Nylon Tip sticks, a high-quality and popular option with nylon tips for extra protection and longevity.
My second recommended choice is the Vic Firth American Classic eStick sticks, which are affordable, quality, purpose-made for e-drumming.
