Top 7 Quietest Drumsticks

Drumming is based on the balance of force applied when the drumstick hits the drum. Therefore, the sound is the responsibility of the drummer to balance the power they use when playing the drum set. This is not only challenging but, at times, impossible.

Playing at a low volume will compromise the sound quality of the drums. The quality of the sound generated from the drums will be affected when drummers try to control sound originating from their drum sets.
A quiet drumstick can help quickly reduce the noises you hear from your drum set, even when playing with all energy.

This article will share with you the top 7 quietest drumsticks you can find in the market. These are drumsticks that will give a quality sound when you play your music.

What Makes Drumsticks Quieter

The drumstick design will determine crucial factors such as the sound quality and level of noise produced by your drum sticks.

Generally, the difference between a quiet and loud drumstick is determined by the size of the drumstick.

Thicker drumsticks will produce more noise compared to thinner drumsticks. Therefore, if you wish to get the best out of a drumstick, consider buying thinner drumsticks. They will make lesser noises.

Basically, thinner drumstick requires lesser effort to play as compared to thicker drumsticks. As a result, you won’t use much effort to play your drumset and reduce the chances of making noises.

Other manufacturers produce drumsticks that give a softer and gentle sound when playing. They achieve this by adding a bristle at the drumstick tip, replacing the round tip that hits your drum.

In this article, we will share with you the best quiet drumsticks that you need to play your drumsets with all the comfort and convenience you and those around you.

Vic Firth American Jazz 5 Hickory Drumsticks

The Vic Firth American Jazz 5 Hickory Drumsticks are the thinnest stick in the entire Vic Firth catalog. Built with outstanding balance, they are lightweight and easy to play.

Vic Firth AJ5 American Jazz Drumsticks have a long taper in the hickory shaft, allowing the neck specifications to be sizable enough to create dark cymbal sounds.

The small teardrop tip keeps everything in focus. These drumsticks are ideal for the player looking for that great feel and ultimate rebound on the drum and ride cymbal.

Vic Firth American Jazz 7A Hickory Drumsticks

A scaled-down American Classic drumstick with an outstanding balance, these drumsticks are perfect if speed and touch are your main priority when drumming.

The Vic Firth American Classic 7A Hickory Drumsticks have a thin profile and lightweight feel and are preferred by players who value speed and articulation. Made by Vic Firth – you know you are getting value for money.

Why would you choose the Vic Firth 7A? They are made from select hickory that is ideal for drumsticks. They are durable, reliable. You can use them for a long time because they undergo a rigorous manufacturing process that goes above and beyond expectations. The drumsticks that don’t make it are used to heat the kiln.

Vic Firth Peter Erskine Signature Drumsticks

These are signature drumsticks designed and created through extensive research by the legendary American jazz drummer Erskine Peter. He was a member of the jazz fusion groups Weather Report and Steps Ahead.

The long taper and back-heavy feel contribute to the best rebound in a stick. In addition, the shape of the tip lends a very articulate, delicate sound to cymbals, particularly the ride.

The Vic Firth Erskine Peter is a great stick but helpful for very light playing, and it doesn’t have to be strictly jazz. They have a light feel, and the delicate tips give a greater degree of dynamics control. 

These are a great pair of sticks with excellent rebound and a clear, articulate sound that you can play very quietly.

Vic Firth Steve Gadd Retractable Signature Wire Brushes

These are another set of signature drumsticks designed and created with Steve Gadd, one of the most well-known and highly regarded session and studio drummers.

These have uniquely designed retractable wire brushes, which are easily distinguishable by bent wires. Each wire is slightly angled up about a half-inch away from the tip, allowing the bent section to lie flat and effortlessly glide over drumheads for optimal sound and feel.

This adds surface area to the brush sound without pushing the brushes down onto the head (giving you a smooth stroke without much effort), and it keeps the brush tips from sticking to coated heads.

The effortless smooth stroke and the light gauge wires make them ideal for that perfect swish sound noise controlled by the drummer.

Promark B600 Nylon-Brush Nylon-Bristle

The Promark B600 has a plastic handle with retractable nylon bristle brushes that won’t bend out of shape. This construction allows the B600 to simply produce pronounced sounds.

The brush is made with white nylon bristles thicker than usual, making it a more responsive stick. Its bristles are also longer than many similar brushes on the market.

These Promark drumsticks are lightweight, so you don’t need much energy to play your drums. As a result, the noise that comes from vigorous playing is reduced.

Vater Drum and Percussion Brushes (VBM)

If you are looking for drumsticks of high quality, consistent and straight, look no further. These drumsticks will give you a unique feel when you play with them.

These drumsticks are thin to give a quiet and clean enhanced sound. The drumstick comes with a nylon tip that ensures the drumstick doesn’t break, crack or fall off when playing.

All Vater Drumsticks are tone and weight-matched by computer analysis. So, you can expect excellent sound quality when you are using the Vater Drum and Percussion Brushes.

Something else you will like about this drumstick is its comfortable grip and polymer. This gives a great feel and unique sound when playing your drums.

Vater VSPSB Bamboo Splashstick Multi Rods

The Vater Bamboo Splashstick Multi Rods are the same physical design as Vater’s original Splashstick but constructed from Bamboo dowels. The Bamboo offers superb durability and some added weight for a solid feel without excess volume.

These drumsticks have an outstanding balance and rebound while naturally producing a lower volume even if you get a little overzealous, making them ideal for playing a lower-volume gig.

Bamboo is also the fastest growing plant on Earth, making them sound friendly and a very eco-friendly percussion product.

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Factors To Consider When Buying Quiet Drumsticks

Choosing quiet drumsticks comes with some critical factors that you need to consider before deciding to ensure you get the best drumstick for your use.

Types of Drumstick

The type of drumstick has a specific characteristic, and there are 4 types of drumsticks:

• Sticks – These are the standard basic drumsticks that you see most often used by drummers.
• Rods – These are quieter than sticks but louder than brushes and are the preferred drumstick for low-volume sound acoustic performances. 
• Mallets – Are used on a variety of percussion drum sets and can produce a range of sounds.
• Brushes – These are considered the quietest and capable of producing soft sounds.

If your main concern when buying a drumstick is the noise it will make, then brushes will be your best choice, and we have included the best three in this article.

Size of the Drumsticks

The size of a drumstick can play an essential part in the noise reproduction as the drummer is using force to hit the drums.

The length of a drumstick usually ranges from 15 to 17.5 inches. The length of a drumstick depends on the size of your hands and simply what feels right for you.

The best way to guarantee your drums will produce a quieter sound is to ensure the sticks are thinner. A thinner drumstick will require less force.

The weight and diameter are indicated by a number and letter, respectively, 7A, 2B, 5A. The higher the number, the lighter the stick. So, for example, a 5B stick is thicker (larger in diameter) than a 5A stick when it comes to the diameter.

The primary letters used are A, B, S, and D.

• The letter A stood for “Orchestra” – suitable for low-volume performances.
• The letter B stood for “Band” – marching and concert bands.
• The letter S stood for “Street” Band.
• The letter D stood for the “Dance” band.

We recommend you look at buying drumsticks labeled “A” for a quiet sound in this situation.

Types of Materials for Drumsticks

The most common preferred material is Hickory. This material is capable of absorbing shocks and is light compared to oak.

• Maple is another material used to make drumsticks. It’s flexible and lightweight and can provide excellent sound quality.
• Hickory is of medium weight and durable.
• Maple is lightweight and quick.
• Oak is heavyweight and durable.

Aluminum/polyurethane sticks provide extra rebound and are incredibly durable.

When choosing a quiet drumstick based on its material, you should consider Hickory or Maple materials. These will give you a more satisfying and more tranquil play.

Conclusion

It’s not easy to play the drums quieter without the right equipment, but there are a few steps that you can follow to make practice a little bit easier. Choosing one of the listed sets of quieter drumsticks will help as it’s still essential to practice on a full kit when possible.

Still, hopefully, our list of quiet drumsticks will go some way to making your practice regime quieter and will help you on your quest to becoming a better drummer without annoying the neighbors!

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