Don’t try to go all out with these; they aren’t built for heavy hitting and you’ll likely snap some of the dowels if you wail with them. Mallets are used both for pitched percussion, such as xylophones and marimbas and for cymbals. The ball on the tip can be made of rubber, plastic or be wrapped in cloth or cotton, depending on which instruments you're playing. However, if you wanted your drumming to stand out more and be more obvious when playing with a band, you might choose to go with a brighter sound.

Here atMusicRadar, we are experts in our field, with many years of playing, creating and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything music gear related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides. If you just want to get started as a newbie but want to spend as little as possible (without having to play your drums with a fork and spoon), these are your best bet.This size tends to feel very comfortable in your hands, and that’s why 5As are so loved by the vast majority of drummers. They’re also all very similarly priced. So, the best thing to do is try out each option from the different brands to see which ones you like the most. Wrap Up Round or ball offer a very clear tone that is bright, crisp and clean and feels a little sharper. The surface that touches the drum produces a distinct tone. The surface that touch the drum is always the same no matter the angle, which means that the beats will always sound the same. It's always very tempting to skip all the beginner's steps and throw yourself in the deep end of the pool because you obviously want to play cool, impressive music, but even though it might seem like a slower process to go through all the basic stuff we assure you it's always worth it. After all, you can't build a skyscraper without a solid foundation!

If you’re looking to reduce the decibels even more, read this article and learn about low-volume heads, mute pads and more. Vic Firth Practice Tips Vic Firth Practice TipsZildjian are also an extremely well regarded drum company (who are now merged with Vic Firth) so they’re a trusted choice amongst drummers.

Just as a brief overview – tip shape affects the tone that you produce on the drum (warmer or brighter). Of course as a beginner drummer, this is a great time to experiment and find out what works for you. This means that you can compare two different brands, even if the numbering system that each company uses is slightly different. Nylon - this tip produces the brightest sound and are the most durable. Great for added projection and cymbal definition.If this is a little overwhelming right now, don’t worry. Focus on the size first – choosing the tip shape and taper length is a bit more technical and requires a bit more experience. Something to also take into consideration is when the music was composed. Nylon tips were invented in the 1950's and if the music was written before that point some would argue that it would be wrong to use such novelties. This is fresh wood that hasn’t yet been dried. This allows Vic Firth to dry the wood themselves to achieve the desired result.