Definitely not 2B. When it comes to drum sticks, I’m relatively picky. There’s a wide range of stick sizes (yes, 2B is one) and choosing the right ones can be tough. When I first started playing, I used 5A sticks, which are pretty light. On the plus side, you gain some speed because there isn’t much weight holding you back. On the negative side, if you’re like me and you enjoy beating the ever-loving crap out of your drums, you’ll end up going through sticks like they’re tissues.

Eventually I made the switch to 5B sticks. They’re quite a bit heavier and thicker than 5A’s so they won’t break as often. Of course, it suddenly felt like I was swinging around a couple of tree branches and I couldn’t pull off some quick fills like I used to. What to do?

Matt Brown introduced me to Vic Firth’s 55A sticks. They’re right in between the 5A’s and 5B’s. They’re sturdy like a 5B but light like a 5A. Our local Guitar Center didn’t even have them in stock so we both constantly had to order them. After a little while, they finally started stocking them.

Just a little insight into how I do what I do. If you’re an aspiring drummer and are just starting to learn, I’d recommend starting with 5A. If you’re looking to start a workout routine and want forearms of steel, 5B is the way to go. Otherwise, if you haven’t found your happy medium, check out the 55A’s. Just don’t buy them all up because I need some.