Bo Eder
Platinum Member
So I've been heartily playing away in a live situation for the last four days. I've been dealing with having to play on strange drumsets causing physical problems, and thanks to a pinched nerve in my neck somewhere, my chiropractor is trying to help me deal with tingling hands due to a lack of circulation not due to any kind of carpal tunnel syndrome.
I've noticed when I'm really slamming (where I'm really trying to play the drumset oppressively loud - almost beyond where it would sound good), my hands are just taking a beating. A few times I've gone to sticking my hands in ice because they feel a bit swollen.
I've played regular old Vic Firth 5A's now for the past 20+ years. I'm wondering if maybe it's time to jump up in size, maybe to a 5B. I remember my first snare drum lessons when I was 8 or so, and the teacher hand picked out a pair of Ludwig 2B sticks to work out with on a pad. It was like when you're in grade school and you get those big fat pencils because they're just easier for smaller hands to handle.
I know probably most of you have different sized sticks in your bag already, but I've never operated that way. I've always bought a brick of sticks when I needed them (a 12-pair package of one size) but I never felt the need to carry different sized sticks. I always felt if I needed the extra weight, I'd flip the stick over and play with the butt-end.
But has anyone here gone to bigger sticks and has it helped you with over-exertive playing? I'm assuming it would help the same way I went to a 26" bass drum because I didn't want to have to beat a bigger sound out of a smaller bass drum. Just thought I'd get an opinion before I go to the shop tomorrow and pick up a few pairs of 5Bs to try.
It's funny now that I'm older I'm actively looking ways to make my heavy, loud playing easier on myself.
I've noticed when I'm really slamming (where I'm really trying to play the drumset oppressively loud - almost beyond where it would sound good), my hands are just taking a beating. A few times I've gone to sticking my hands in ice because they feel a bit swollen.
I've played regular old Vic Firth 5A's now for the past 20+ years. I'm wondering if maybe it's time to jump up in size, maybe to a 5B. I remember my first snare drum lessons when I was 8 or so, and the teacher hand picked out a pair of Ludwig 2B sticks to work out with on a pad. It was like when you're in grade school and you get those big fat pencils because they're just easier for smaller hands to handle.
I know probably most of you have different sized sticks in your bag already, but I've never operated that way. I've always bought a brick of sticks when I needed them (a 12-pair package of one size) but I never felt the need to carry different sized sticks. I always felt if I needed the extra weight, I'd flip the stick over and play with the butt-end.
But has anyone here gone to bigger sticks and has it helped you with over-exertive playing? I'm assuming it would help the same way I went to a 26" bass drum because I didn't want to have to beat a bigger sound out of a smaller bass drum. Just thought I'd get an opinion before I go to the shop tomorrow and pick up a few pairs of 5Bs to try.
It's funny now that I'm older I'm actively looking ways to make my heavy, loud playing easier on myself.