Buy Cheap Drumsticks Online: Pros and Cons

You'll be hard pressed to find a drummer who isn't interested in cheap drumsticks. As any drummer can attest, drumsticks simply don't last forever, and considering the abuse they take on a regular basis, it's probably a minor miracle they last as long as they do. But regardless, replacing drumsticks (and even keeping a few spares around) isn't just a luxury, it's a necessity. Without drumsticks, a drummer can't play his instrument, and that means the show can't go on. Regardless of your skill level, from beginner to a seasoned touring veteran, keeping sticks in your hands is of ultimate importance.

When looking for cheap drumsticks, I've always had the best luck online. Of course I have a solid decade of professional touring experience under my belt, so I know exactly what kind of drumsticks I want without shopping around and trying new brands and sizes. But even if you've just picked up the 'skins recently, you can still find what you need online and save some decent money in the process.

Online retailers don't mark their product prices up nearly as high as local music shops. And while I do understand that local merchants need to cover their costs in ways online stores don't, I've never felt that paying upwards of $20 for a pair of drumsticks that I can buy online for under $10 is ever justified. Again that's coming from a guy who goes through a couple of sticks per show (which can mean upwards of three or four pairs per week). Maybe your situation and philosophies are different, and if that's the case, by all means, buy where you feel most comfortable. While I still support my local music shops, I simply can't afford to buy drumsticks at Mom & Pop retailers - I'd be bankrupt in months!

Where To Buy Drumsticks Online

Fortunately there are several places that stock drumsticks, and almost all of them carry a huge selection to choose from. Because drumsticks are like pants: What fits one drummer isn't going to fit another. Here are just a few of the places I've personally bought cheap drumsticks:

Amazon

What doesn't Amazon have? Seriously, this mega retailer seems to have anything you could imagine, and often times at a price far cheaper than anywhere else. I've never had any problems buying drumsticks online through Amazon, though admittedly I've never purchased any through their third-party system (non-Amazon shops selling through the Amazon computer system), so I can't speak to that side of the system.

What I do know is that usually Amazon usually has some very competitive prices, if not the best. For instance, I normally play Vater drumsticks (size "Rock") and I usually pay about $5.50 per pair online at Amazon. That's compared to nearly $20 at my local music shop - for the same exact sticks.

Another added bonus of buying at Amazon is I can shop for other unrelated products, and save money on bulk shipping when I add them all together. Again this is just a pirk I like, since I do lots of online shopping anyway. If that's not you, then it might not be that big of a selling point.

Musician's Friend

Musician's Friend has been around since I broke into professional drumming, and until just a few years ago, I almost always ordered my drumsticks here. Unlike Amazon, Musician's Friend only sells musical instruments and products - by the boatload! This company has pretty much any musical-related item you could ever imagine, from drum sets to kazoos.

The prices at Musician's Friend are usually just a tad bit higher than Amazon - but don't surf over to Amazon just yet, because Musician's Friend often offers free shipping. Sure you usually have to purchase a certain dollar amount before the company offers this, it's usually not very high - often times as low as $20 to $25, depending on the month. Once you figure shipping costs, you might find that it's cheaper to buy drumsticks online at Musician's Friend.

For reference, the same pair of Vater Rock wood-tip sticks I mentioned earlier cost $6.99 at Musician's Friend, about $1.50 more than Amazon at the time I'm writing this article. But at the same time, Amazon charges between $2.99 and $3.99 on most orders, which certainly makes them more expensive. But again, that's assuming you spend enough at to qualify for free shipping from Musician's Friend.

Other Places To Buy Cheap Drumsticks Online

Though I haven't purchased drumsticks from any online company other than Amazon or Musician's Friend for the better part of a decade, many people swear by other online retailers, such as:

• zZounds.com
• SamAsh.com
• SameDayMusic.com

You could also include eBay on this list, if you're into auction sites like that. I've purchased numerous pieces of musical equipment on eBay, but never sticks. I suppose if I could find a deal on some brand new, sealed sticks, I'd consider it.

 http://www.infobarrel.com/Cheap_Drumsticks_-_Buy_Drumsticks_Online_And_Save#axzz1bHz0PUKW

Ahead Drumsticks

Those forward-thinking individuals at Ahead Drumsticks have dipped their toes into the social networking tidal wave that continues to flood the Internet. In an effort to encourage young drummers to play Ahead’s advanced aluminum-and-polystyrene drumsticks – which are both recyclable and durable as all get out – the company has just launched an initiative entitled “Generation A,” which centers around a new website where any drummer can upload and post his or her name, photo, and band contacts. Naturally, a new “Generation A” Facebook page has also been created. (Parental permission is required for “Generation A” members under 18.)

Learn how to play the drums from DVD lessons

As many of us may realize, music education is not like what it once was - when to be a good music pupil or virtuoso of an instrument, you had to be somehow aligned to a usually old, in-demand, highly skilled, and sometimes expensive educator.

With the advent of DVD technology, which came on the scene in 1995 from the efforts of Phillips, Sony, Toshiba and Time Warner, the quality of and access to multimedia products from around the world has increased dramatically. This invention has certainly catalyzed communication, education, and other aspects of modern life, too numerous to mention.

Drum instruction

One other area which has experienced increased efficiency, is that of music instruction, specifically in the area of drumming. Drummers and luminaries concerned with every aspect of percussion have been published, some in books, some in DVDs and some in packages which include both a book and a corresponding DVD.

Drumming systems and methods

These DVDs are integral in spreading the interpretations and unique insights which an individual percussionist or drummer may have of one of the many established genres of drumming around the world.

This is also very convenient as students may purchase the material and benefit from expert instruction in the comfort of their own homes anywhere in the world. These DVDs are designed so that the learning experience is interactive and step by step in nature.

Quite a few drummers develop their own techniques and drumming systems, which are systematized ways they have come up with for teaching rhythmic and general musical concepts and skills to students around the world.

Modern Drummer Magazine and Modern Drummer Festival 

Accordingly, there are several establishments which promote, and are driven by this kind of business. One such organization is Modern Drummer, arguably the cream of the crop of drumming magazines around the world. It usually endorses different drum and percussion releases of top drummers from around the world.

Modern Drummer magazine also stages an annual festival, Modern Drummer Festival, which showcases the talent and musicianship of several hand-picked top drummers and percussionists from around the world who usually do solo and band performances. These are all available on DVDs.

Some drummers, however, produce DVD films which capture mostly their performance of their favourite tunes and rhythms, with also some cursory details about their own playing secrets and approaches.

Drum lessons in video

There is a wide cross-section of genres and aspects of percussion for which there is available DVD instruction. These may range from: snare drum methods, to djembe drums, piano methods, playing the xylophone, double-bass drum techniques, Latin clave techniques, Jazz drumming, reggae drumming, rock, pop, and R&B drumming just to name a few.

Peter Magadini, Jazz drummer

There are several publications that address drumset technique and drum rudiments which are readily available today. I have used several myself, for example, Peter Magadini's critically acclaimed Jazz Drums DVD. I've also used his books, Learn To Play The Drumset, volumes one and two.

They really gave me a high level of exposure to a mixture of the genres of drum kit rhythms that are out there, and are somewhat written from Peter's own rich Jazz and rock influence. As a result, they're ideal for beginner to intermediate level jazz and rock drummers; this is also true of the Jazz drums DVD.

I've also learned valuable, fundamental lessons and skills from Peter Magadini's book, Polyrhythms and the Drumset. This book has also gotten rave reviews from the drumming fraternity, and from individual drummers who have studied from it.

Aaron Spears, hip-hop, r&b, gospel, and gospel-funk drummer

I am currently using a DVD from a rising star in the drumming industry who has played for numerous top music acts, namely: Usher, Alecia Keys, James Brown and American Idol.The DVD is entitled "Beyond the Chops", DVD one. Aaron put it together to shed light on his unique playing style, mind-blowing drum licks and rolls, and his early gospel influences.

He also performs some of his favourite cover and original tunes, and gives an informative breakdown of the things he applies and conceives at each part of the songs.

Buy drum lesson DVDs online

The Modern Drummer catalog and other online sources such as Amazon, lists the plethora of such books and DVDs that are available to you as an eager drumset or percussion student. These are probably available even in your vicinity in a music store or drum shop near you.

There are also some sites that have hit middle-ground between ethics and copyright issues, which offer free downloads of such DVDs.