Buying Drum Brushes

drum brushes

Using drum brushes adds a different dynamic to your playing. The way the bristles sweep across a snare drum is very different from sticks and can produce unique tones, textures and grooves. Drummers often use them to play soft music such as jazz but you can also use them in rock, metal and gospel to accent certain parts of a song or to get a swishing sound. They are also a great way to practice rudiments without needing to play the kit.

The way you handle a brush is important too, and many drummers develop their own technique for this. Many drummers hold the brush in a similar manner to how they would hold a stick, but there are also variations in how you grip and move the bristles around the drum head. It’s best to find what feels comfortable and works well for you. Drum brushes are available in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be made from a variety of materials. Most use wire bristles but some have nylon or plastic ones instead. This difference doesn’t really change the sound they produce but can alter how the bristles are arranged and their spread. This in turn can affect the tone of your sweeping and how they interact with your drums or cymbals.

Another variation is the size of the handle, which can make a big difference in how you feel about holding and controlling them. Some have a larger diameter handle which can feel more substantial in the hand, while others have smaller handles that are more compact and feel lighter to use. Some even have adjustable o-rings that allow the drummer to control how much the bristles spread, giving them more or less control over their width.

When deciding which type of drum brushes to buy, you will also need to decide what material you prefer and what your budget is. You can purchase a pair for as little as $10 or as much as $50. The most important consideration is how the brushes interact with your drums and cymbals and the overall sound you are looking to achieve.

While you can use brushes on all your drums, the main one that they are most commonly used on is the snare. When played correctly, brushes can create a very unique sound and are an essential part of any drummer’s arsenal.

A lot of drummers avoid using brushes because they believe that you can’t create the same sound with them that you can with sticks, but once you learn how to properly use them, you will discover a whole new dimension to your drumming. By experimenting with different techniques, you can create anything from a traditional swing to something more creative, like a beat that sounds like it was recorded on a South Indian mrdangam drum or a thrash metal song from Slayer. With a little bit of patience, you can quickly become an expert at brush techniques and use them to enhance any style of drumming.