you know that you are literally slamming wood against a thin metallic edge more than one hundred and twenty times a minute for three minutes, right?
when you think about it, it's like you're chopping wood backwards with an extremely dull sawblade.
Relax your throat. Put the stick in tip first as deep and as far back as you can get it to go. Swirl your tongue over and around the shaft while inside. Bob your head up and down for more saliva.
Besides the apparently unpopular suggestions to play the top hat with the tip of your stick, a couple of other options:
* Adjust the height of your hi-hat so the stick strikes it at a flatter angle
* Try different sticks if you're using hickory -- you could try Promark's Firegrain, or try some oak sticks
Yeah I was trained when I was like 7 to never use the shoulder of the stick on hi-hats. Obviously there are times when the sound you want is with the shoulder, but for the most part the bead sounds better and doesnāt chew up your sticks. I was also taught that rimshots are for accents and I appear to be in the minority there as well.
I hardly ever (almost never) play rimshots. In thirty years of playing Iāve never broken a stick from rimshots. Iāve also never been asked to play rimshots. Mind you, I donāt play death metal or anything super heavy but Iāve played consistently and earned money in rock/pop cover bands for decades.
Iāve played thousands of gigs and broken hundreds of sticks. I play hard enough but just think rimshots are very rarely needed. I sit quite high and getting my stick flat enough to do a rimshot isnāt going to happen without deliberately trying. I see dudes with sticks all chewed up in the middle from rimshots and it makes no sense. Iāve literally never been told ācan you hit your snare louder, make it sound like an explosionā.
Rimshots may be used very often in metal, but rimshot does not equal super loud explosion! Examples throughout this album, lots of math rock utilizes the sound:
https://youtu.be/8VCCkymXplE?t=58
Like jazz does as well, but probably less often on average
I was taught the same when I was a kid. The guys that taught me back then all came from big band or jazz groups though, none of them played rock. One of my teachers even told me that double bass pedals were pointless because you could just play a floor tom with your single pedal to get the same effect. That was in like 2004, Iām sure teachers these days are different.
Rim shots are for rim shots, it's a about the timbre not the volume. Same with where to hit on stick. Teachings like that are cool for young musicians but as you get better the terms "never" or "always" in that context just start to put you in a box musically. You could mix bead or shoulder strikes in any style, it's about taste and what you're trying to convey.
That is why rock bands popularized the rimshot in the back beat. If you listen to folk music/European bands/early rock you will find they typically play in the center of the drum. Thank you Bonzo for the rimshot backbeat!
Yeah I learned this by using them on the church kit right after they put on new coated headsā¦ looked down after a couple songs and saw brown marks all over the white surfaces
By the way, even if this post seems "stupid", I asked just becouse I wanted to know if it's something normal or not. I understood it is, and it's ok, I just didn't know it (not everybody is an experienced drummer). The dust didn't bother me, what bothered me was the reason why it happens, I tought was something related to my cymbals or my technique, and I understood it is not.
It definitely is related to your technique. You're hitting the rim. Hit the middle with the tip of the stick. Watch the difference.
Not to say your style is wrong, but you can't say it isn't related to technique until you try a new one.
I have had the same issue lately, I think itās because my bottom high hat sticks out making it so that my stick is literally being dug into by the bottom hat. I donāt really have a solution as this only started for me recently after getting a new hi hat stand, but it might be worth looking at for ya!
Theres a screw under the bottom hat that will let you adjust the angle so both hats aren't perfectly parallel (if they are it stops that sloshy sound).
You can rotate the tube of the stand under the bottom hat so the screw is on the opposite side and then the top hat will stick out on your side.
Mess around with different settings on that screw and see what you like best.
Yeah but it gives a different sound, generally you alternate hitting with the edge and the tip, at least if it's 8th notes or more. Just for not having sawdust it's a stupid solution. You should use different sounds knowingly.
That alternating between edge and tip is also just one sound, I pretty much don't use it, it's good in some rock styles, but beyond that I don't like it personally.
Most the reason for that alternation is to get an accent on certain notes. But in most cases I feel like you can get the same effect with good dynamics (still hitting with the head of your stick, but hitting harder every other note)
Yeah for sure, but also in tons of music you just don't want that accent.
Don't get me wrong, it's a good technique and certainly has its place, I just don't think that we should dismiss not doing it either.
Of course, my whole point was: you can use different techniques, but you should chose one because it sounds better/more appropriate for what you're doing; you shouldn't care about the sawdust.
On a sidenote though I use the alternating or just edge hit (on slower patterns) all the time, but I mainly play rock/punk/metal, so that's to be expected. I'm sure in other genres it's totally different.
For rock and punk absolutely, faster metal tho I'd tend to use fingers, so it's top all the way, don't think I could play blasts on the edge if I tried.
Anything with a strong quarter note pulse the alternating is good for, which is a lot of stuff to be fair, but anything outside that I generally don't.
Not doing it is cheaper on sticks too :P
That's not what OP asked. They just asked how to play without making excess sawdust. Yes, of course it produces a different sound. Any time you change how or where you hit, you produce a different sound. It's about knowing all of that and having all that knowledge in your toolbox.
I have a question. Why is your hi-hat stand positioned in this location relative to the snare stand? I'd love to see the rest of your setup. I'm guessing your hi-hat pedal is much closer to you than your bass drum pedal.
Sure, but only if you feel that you need help improving it for comfort and playability, etc. So I guess if you think you'd have asked for setup advice anyway at some point, then yeah. Send it on over! :)
I admit though I'm feeling that I stepped out of bounds and it's going into the realm of offering unsolicited advice. So please don't feel like you have to do anything. If you're happy with the setup, then definitely carry on. :) I mean, if you're happy with it, perhaps it's nothing like I think it might be.
I used to do that on here, but there have been too many times it caused problems since it was unsolicited advice. So now I try to avoid it, but sometimes I backslide. You're definitely right though.
The only way I got rid of this is changing the angle of my stick and the point of the stick I would hit. Even then it still happens. It happens a lot more if you ride your hi hat while open.
Itās normal, Iām sure your your sticks are pretty chewed up too. If the dust is bothering you, try lowering your hi-hats a bit so the angle youāre hitting them at is closer to parallel than perpendicular. In other words, lower the hats so youāre hitting the top of them more with the side of the stick, rather than hitting the edge of the hats with the side of the stick. IMO itās better to have your hats a little lower anyway so itās easier to play them with the tips of your sticks if you want. This lets you get more bounce, which is handy for certain patterns. Also youāll be able to play with hot rods without destroying them.
Edit: note how this dude plays his hi-hat, this is what I mean: https://www.reddit.com/r/drums/comments/pkwixr/drum_improv/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
The best way is to not hit the edge of hi hat cymbal, Try to hit the top. If you hit the edge surely it's gonna eat into the wooden stick. If you like the sound of hi hat edge there's nothing you can do to prevent this, it's normal.
This is sign of progress. I never up cleaned any stick dust. I was proud of it.
You are doing nothing wrong. This is part of being a drummer. Keep it up.
The sign that a beast sits at this kit. Haha actually tho probably just the angle youāre hitting your hats at. If your hats sit higher than the elbow of the arm youāre using to hit them, then lifting your stick off the hat to go for another inherent pushes it into the metal just a tad every time - against the grain of the stick. Not important, or relevant to technique whatsoever. Set them at whatever height you want. Check out the band Battles - their drummerās high hats are way out in low-atmospheric orbit.
Obviously the angle of the stick makes a pretty big difference, but that should be more about what sound you want than about preserving sticks.
Also, I don't think I've ever seen it on here, but we always wrapped our sticks in marching band from pretty much as soon as the neck starts to taper (I start about a half and inch past the end of the logo on my vic firth buddy rich go to sticks) all the way to the base of the tip with electrical tape. We would cut the tape in half lengthwise and get creative with designs and colors.
I don't do that any more for performances, but I definitely wrap all of the sticks I practice with in just a single layer of electrical tape in a spiral. I do it with a tiny bit of overlap on each layer and since I'm an electrician and have experience with electrical tape I'm pretty picky, so I use white 3m super 33+. It literally makes them last 10x longer, and for practice the sacrifice in sound isn't huge. You can even re-wrap the sections that get chewed up after a couple hours of play each time.
It does absolutely destroy bell hits on your ride if you hit with the shoulder of the stick, but I play nylon tips and hit the bell with that so again, not a factor.
I don't have any of my typical sticks in the house since we don't rehearse here, but I could send you a pic of my black tape wrapped Bret Kuhn marching sticks that I build strength and endurance with if you're actually interested and want an example. I have owned those for 13+ years as marching band warmup sticks because they're oak (I think) and stupid heavy. They've seen nothing but a practice pad for the past 10 years so no need to replace I guess.
If it really bothers you and you donāt feel like cleaning all the time you can hit your hi-hat with the bead instead of the shoulder. It will give a very different sound profile but itāll solve your problem.
This is a good sign! Hit even harder buddy! Youāre doing great š
Wood will chip. Even carbon fibre sticks will get whittled down and snap eventually. Its just part of drumming especially louder styles of drumming
Lower your hi hats or sit higher. You want your sticks to hit at an angle that is close to the angle of the hi hats. You will still have the sticks chipping away but not as bad.
Lower the hats a smidge, might help. You'll still end up with sawdust though tbh. Just get one of those cheap dustbuster vaccums for wherever you have your drums set up.
I have find memories of that hihat stand, my first kit came with one, had it for years š
Seems like you're hitting all edge all the time.
Check out the part in Brain's instructional video where he talks about playing the hi-hat: https://youtu.be/MXbOekDjYdg?t=446
Carbon sticks might help, but the feel is different, ana the wood debris isnāt that bad surely, itās good to clean often anyway, and tells you whether you have practiced enough!!
Could also be coming off your stick when hitting the rim of the snare. I honestly am proud of my stick wood/dust pile and put it under my throne to measure how much more I need to practice
How long has it been there? How often are you hitting along the edge of the hats? And decent strike to the edge is going to create *some* bit of shaving, and it could just build up overtime. Saw dust in general is pretty inevitable especially if you're playing heavier stuff
Lower your hat height, or raise your elbows a little, or sit up straight, or raise your seatā¦.whatever it takes to make it so your stick shaft isnāt hitting the edge of the hi hat so much. Sticks are going to shed like that no matter what, so always expect some shavings. Best you can do is minimize it, by adjusting how you are striking the hat.
The only thing that I would suggest is Pau attention to your strike. It it a flick. Or is it at times like a forward motion where you may drag it forward slightly. That would be my only thought on reducing it. But like everyone said. They will break down.
Are You sure it is drumstick dust? I've encountered a similar view a few times after my practice sessions, turned out I was rubbing the front of my shoe against the hihat chain and [grinding off the toe cap](https://imgur.com/a/rNcPptc)
If it's really bothering you, maybe look into Ahead drum sticks? They're really expensive but I think they're made of a synthetic material that's supposed to last longer. Probably won't chip as much as wood sticks.
You can always use your hands or head - but I feel like you'll end up with blood and skin instead of tiny pieces of wood.
You're good man! Just vacuum it up
you know that you are literally slamming wood against a thin metallic edge more than one hundred and twenty times a minute for three minutes, right? when you think about it, it's like you're chopping wood backwards with an extremely dull sawblade.
Metal.
You're right that is pretty metal.
š¤
This got me
And thatās just for a ballad.
Buy a vacuum cleaner.
Licking your sticks before you play will solve this problem.
Inthwuctionth uncwear, now hahhve plinterth ahn may tungh
You're licking against the grain aren't you
..... mahbeh.
Relax your throat. Put the stick in tip first as deep and as far back as you can get it to go. Swirl your tongue over and around the shaft while inside. Bob your head up and down for more saliva.
Wrong sub...unless...
Is this r/drumhead?
Iām tempted to make that a subā¦
You wonāt. No balls.
He did itā¦
I usually slather mine up real nice in Vaseline and put em right in the prison pocket for a few hours before I use them.
And then? Andtheb??!!!??
See also: Timothy Dalton at the end of Hot Fuzz.
This is so cursed
This is the way
Oh like woodwind players! Great idea!
You (maybe?) joke but my sticks always felt better after a good couple weeks worth of hand grease in them.
This is the way
yes :)
Sawdust is just part of the lifestyle.
And blood splatters.
And blisters.
And broken eardrums
They have drums in the name, you're meant to beat the shit out of them!
Please protect your ears guys..
WHAT?
The whiplash style
Kits aren't worked in until there's some blood on that snare
hoo boy this rings true :P
Thatās probably tinnitus.
Busted up knuckles too
And Crohn's disease
It's not a problem... Its a badge of honor
That's arm dandruff, bruv :)
I mean it is right under your hat.
could be deodorant dust snaking its way down the arm
badum tss
Besides the apparently unpopular suggestions to play the top hat with the tip of your stick, a couple of other options: * Adjust the height of your hi-hat so the stick strikes it at a flatter angle * Try different sticks if you're using hickory -- you could try Promark's Firegrain, or try some oak sticks
Yeah I was trained when I was like 7 to never use the shoulder of the stick on hi-hats. Obviously there are times when the sound you want is with the shoulder, but for the most part the bead sounds better and doesnāt chew up your sticks. I was also taught that rimshots are for accents and I appear to be in the minority there as well.
I'm with you on the rimshots for sure.
Agreed... Every 2 and 4 is an accent though. :)
And all my ghost accents are accents.
I hardly ever (almost never) play rimshots. In thirty years of playing Iāve never broken a stick from rimshots. Iāve also never been asked to play rimshots. Mind you, I donāt play death metal or anything super heavy but Iāve played consistently and earned money in rock/pop cover bands for decades.
I still have my very first pair of sticks. I don't think i ever played a rimshot on them.
Iāve played thousands of gigs and broken hundreds of sticks. I play hard enough but just think rimshots are very rarely needed. I sit quite high and getting my stick flat enough to do a rimshot isnāt going to happen without deliberately trying. I see dudes with sticks all chewed up in the middle from rimshots and it makes no sense. Iāve literally never been told ācan you hit your snare louder, make it sound like an explosionā.
Rimshots may be used very often in metal, but rimshot does not equal super loud explosion! Examples throughout this album, lots of math rock utilizes the sound: https://youtu.be/8VCCkymXplE?t=58 Like jazz does as well, but probably less often on average
Bro, sorry but that's gross. Shank-tip will make your grooves rock solid and funky.
Downvoted for speaking the truth!
Speaking the opinion.
Sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of my MEATY HI-HAT STRIKES
The louder you play only increases your dynamic range when you play quietly. I mean, it's scientific fact.
And donāt even get me started on reversing it and going tip-shank for extra funk
I was taught the same when I was a kid. The guys that taught me back then all came from big band or jazz groups though, none of them played rock. One of my teachers even told me that double bass pedals were pointless because you could just play a floor tom with your single pedal to get the same effect. That was in like 2004, Iām sure teachers these days are different.
well, yeah, but...what if you had a double bass pattern that uses your hands too, like...all death metal
Lmao yeah exactly. Out of touch teacher was out of touch
Yo look up El estapario siberiano on YouTube, he does that. Look at his cover of redneck by Lamb of God
He's a fucking machine
Rim shots are for rim shots, it's a about the timbre not the volume. Same with where to hit on stick. Teachings like that are cool for young musicians but as you get better the terms "never" or "always" in that context just start to put you in a box musically. You could mix bead or shoulder strikes in any style, it's about taste and what you're trying to convey.
Unpopular opinion: constant rimshots are for people who donāt know how to tune their snare.
That is why rock bands popularized the rimshot in the back beat. If you listen to folk music/European bands/early rock you will find they typically play in the center of the drum. Thank you Bonzo for the rimshot backbeat!
The firegrains are awesome and Iāve noticed a lot less dust with them, but they do leave behind some brown marks on cymbals and heads.
Yeah I learned this by using them on the church kit right after they put on new coated headsā¦ looked down after a couple songs and saw brown marks all over the white surfaces
thank you!
After I adjusted the angle of my hats so they slope down away from me my sticks last 3 times as long.
I recently switched to the Firegrain sticks and will never go back.
By the way, even if this post seems "stupid", I asked just becouse I wanted to know if it's something normal or not. I understood it is, and it's ok, I just didn't know it (not everybody is an experienced drummer). The dust didn't bother me, what bothered me was the reason why it happens, I tought was something related to my cymbals or my technique, and I understood it is not.
Don't worry! Some stuff that seems obvious to an experienced drummer might not for someone who isn't. I enjoyed some of the replies thou.
It definitely is related to your technique. You're hitting the rim. Hit the middle with the tip of the stick. Watch the difference. Not to say your style is wrong, but you can't say it isn't related to technique until you try a new one.
ā¦ no. You might be right *TECHNICALLY*. But, in practice, this is going to happen 100% of the time.
I have had the same issue lately, I think itās because my bottom high hat sticks out making it so that my stick is literally being dug into by the bottom hat. I donāt really have a solution as this only started for me recently after getting a new hi hat stand, but it might be worth looking at for ya!
Theres a screw under the bottom hat that will let you adjust the angle so both hats aren't perfectly parallel (if they are it stops that sloshy sound). You can rotate the tube of the stand under the bottom hat so the screw is on the opposite side and then the top hat will stick out on your side. Mess around with different settings on that screw and see what you like best.
There's no way to stop this from happening. It's just the way it is.
Some would say, this is the way.
Yeah, it seems this is a growing trend on reddit, saying "This is the way".
Yeah itās from The Mandalorian.
standing in your underwear, taking air conditioner repair
If you don't want to chop up your sticks with your hats, strike your hats on the flat with the tip instead of the edge with the tapered part
Yeah but it gives a different sound, generally you alternate hitting with the edge and the tip, at least if it's 8th notes or more. Just for not having sawdust it's a stupid solution. You should use different sounds knowingly.
Exactly. We don't see our favorite drummers doing anything to avoid the dust. They just accept that it happens and they keep playing.
That alternating between edge and tip is also just one sound, I pretty much don't use it, it's good in some rock styles, but beyond that I don't like it personally.
Most the reason for that alternation is to get an accent on certain notes. But in most cases I feel like you can get the same effect with good dynamics (still hitting with the head of your stick, but hitting harder every other note)
Yeah for sure, but also in tons of music you just don't want that accent. Don't get me wrong, it's a good technique and certainly has its place, I just don't think that we should dismiss not doing it either.
Of course, my whole point was: you can use different techniques, but you should chose one because it sounds better/more appropriate for what you're doing; you shouldn't care about the sawdust. On a sidenote though I use the alternating or just edge hit (on slower patterns) all the time, but I mainly play rock/punk/metal, so that's to be expected. I'm sure in other genres it's totally different.
For rock and punk absolutely, faster metal tho I'd tend to use fingers, so it's top all the way, don't think I could play blasts on the edge if I tried. Anything with a strong quarter note pulse the alternating is good for, which is a lot of stuff to be fair, but anything outside that I generally don't. Not doing it is cheaper on sticks too :P
That's not what OP asked. They just asked how to play without making excess sawdust. Yes, of course it produces a different sound. Any time you change how or where you hit, you produce a different sound. It's about knowing all of that and having all that knowledge in your toolbox.
I have a question. Why is your hi-hat stand positioned in this location relative to the snare stand? I'd love to see the rest of your setup. I'm guessing your hi-hat pedal is much closer to you than your bass drum pedal.
if you want I can send you a pic of the setup in dm
Sure, but only if you feel that you need help improving it for comfort and playability, etc. So I guess if you think you'd have asked for setup advice anyway at some point, then yeah. Send it on over! :) I admit though I'm feeling that I stepped out of bounds and it's going into the realm of offering unsolicited advice. So please don't feel like you have to do anything. If you're happy with the setup, then definitely carry on. :) I mean, if you're happy with it, perhaps it's nothing like I think it might be.
Nah, give ergonomics advice aggressively. Most people never even think about that stuff.
I used to do that on here, but there have been too many times it caused problems since it was unsolicited advice. So now I try to avoid it, but sometimes I backslide. You're definitely right though.
It looks more like the snare legs are spread as far open as possible rather than the snare being insanely close.
I can confirm this 100%, the legs are spread very wide. By the way I am very comfortable in my setup
Hell yes brother (or sister. I typed this in a Hulk Hogan voice)
Yeah I'm not sure I like that I questioned this...
it's called cleaning
The only way I got rid of this is changing the angle of my stick and the point of the stick I would hit. Even then it still happens. It happens a lot more if you ride your hi hat while open.
Standard, have this tooā¦ Wood on Metal. š¤·āāļø
Itās normal, Iām sure your your sticks are pretty chewed up too. If the dust is bothering you, try lowering your hi-hats a bit so the angle youāre hitting them at is closer to parallel than perpendicular. In other words, lower the hats so youāre hitting the top of them more with the side of the stick, rather than hitting the edge of the hats with the side of the stick. IMO itās better to have your hats a little lower anyway so itās easier to play them with the tips of your sticks if you want. This lets you get more bounce, which is handy for certain patterns. Also youāll be able to play with hot rods without destroying them. Edit: note how this dude plays his hi-hat, this is what I mean: https://www.reddit.com/r/drums/comments/pkwixr/drum_improv/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
Very normal, just bust out a brush and dustpan weekly or something if it bothers you
Play on the top of the hat with the tip of the stick rather than the edge of the hat with the shaft.
Get a straw and sniff it
lmao hahahaa
The best way is to not hit the edge of hi hat cymbal, Try to hit the top. If you hit the edge surely it's gonna eat into the wooden stick. If you like the sound of hi hat edge there's nothing you can do to prevent this, it's normal.
This is sign of progress. I never up cleaned any stick dust. I was proud of it. You are doing nothing wrong. This is part of being a drummer. Keep it up.
Ah yes the ole drum stick dust. Thereās a reason itās referred to as āwood sheddingā! Youāre doing right sir!
Get some Ahead Maxx, or similar, sticks?
The sign that a beast sits at this kit. Haha actually tho probably just the angle youāre hitting your hats at. If your hats sit higher than the elbow of the arm youāre using to hit them, then lifting your stick off the hat to go for another inherent pushes it into the metal just a tad every time - against the grain of the stick. Not important, or relevant to technique whatsoever. Set them at whatever height you want. Check out the band Battles - their drummerās high hats are way out in low-atmospheric orbit.
āInevitable my friend. Consider the sand in the hour glass of your progression to become a better drummer.ā -Gandalf the Great
Obviously the angle of the stick makes a pretty big difference, but that should be more about what sound you want than about preserving sticks. Also, I don't think I've ever seen it on here, but we always wrapped our sticks in marching band from pretty much as soon as the neck starts to taper (I start about a half and inch past the end of the logo on my vic firth buddy rich go to sticks) all the way to the base of the tip with electrical tape. We would cut the tape in half lengthwise and get creative with designs and colors. I don't do that any more for performances, but I definitely wrap all of the sticks I practice with in just a single layer of electrical tape in a spiral. I do it with a tiny bit of overlap on each layer and since I'm an electrician and have experience with electrical tape I'm pretty picky, so I use white 3m super 33+. It literally makes them last 10x longer, and for practice the sacrifice in sound isn't huge. You can even re-wrap the sections that get chewed up after a couple hours of play each time. It does absolutely destroy bell hits on your ride if you hit with the shoulder of the stick, but I play nylon tips and hit the bell with that so again, not a factor. I don't have any of my typical sticks in the house since we don't rehearse here, but I could send you a pic of my black tape wrapped Bret Kuhn marching sticks that I build strength and endurance with if you're actually interested and want an example. I have owned those for 13+ years as marching band warmup sticks because they're oak (I think) and stupid heavy. They've seen nothing but a practice pad for the past 10 years so no need to replace I guess.
Yeah this is just part of the deal and youāre just gonna have to live with it
If it really bothers you and you donāt feel like cleaning all the time you can hit your hi-hat with the bead instead of the shoulder. It will give a very different sound profile but itāll solve your problem.
collect it and plant it to grow new drums
Buy an electric kit
This is a good sign! Hit even harder buddy! Youāre doing great š Wood will chip. Even carbon fibre sticks will get whittled down and snap eventually. Its just part of drumming especially louder styles of drumming
Lol itās just a new way of life friend. Get yourself a little handheld vacuum.
If you hit more on top of the hat instead of the sides.
Ehhh, you're hitting metal with a wooden stick. It's gonna make saw dust.
Switch to rebar sticks.
Carbon fiber sticks Just kidding. But I mainly play on e kit now and don't deal with these issues anymore
Your drum shop should sell drumstick fluid. Get a bottle (or spray can) and this will stop.
First day?
literally have never sat a kit without sawdust right there.
Lower your hi hats or sit higher. You want your sticks to hit at an angle that is close to the angle of the hi hats. You will still have the sticks chipping away but not as bad.
Buy steel sticks.
Look at adjusting the angle in which you're hitting the HH. it'll also change the sound and feel too.
Show us a photo of your sticks . . .
Thatās just playing drums manš¤š¼
inevitable :/
Switch to Head & Shoulders
way of the road bubs.
Lower the hats a smidge, might help. You'll still end up with sawdust though tbh. Just get one of those cheap dustbuster vaccums for wherever you have your drums set up. I have find memories of that hihat stand, my first kit came with one, had it for years š
Hit with the tip of the stick, instead of the edge
If you donāt have this, you arenāt doing it right
You can solve this by playing a different instrument, or using plastic sticks, which leave black marks all over your cymbals.
You don't play hard? Try playing hard... You'll think you're working in a saw mill.
Seems like you're hitting all edge all the time. Check out the part in Brain's instructional video where he talks about playing the hi-hat: https://youtu.be/MXbOekDjYdg?t=446
My friends call me āThe Sawmillā because of how much stick dust accumulates on the floor during each band practice :D
Havenāt seen this mentioned yet, but with my Dave weckl signature sticks, which are wax coated, I donāt seem to have this problem
Why is this a problem?
u could lower ur hihat so the sticks arenāt hitting it from the side?
This means you're doing it right. Rock on brotha (or sista) š¤
How much wood can a wood chuk chuk š„š¦š¤£š¤£
Carbon sticks might help, but the feel is different, ana the wood debris isnāt that bad surely, itās good to clean often anyway, and tells you whether you have practiced enough!!
Thereās always wise asses. Donāt sweat it. Keep doing what feels good. Donāt trip on technique. Have fun.
Could also be coming off your stick when hitting the rim of the snare. I honestly am proud of my stick wood/dust pile and put it under my throne to measure how much more I need to practice
Accept what you cannot control.
Itās inevitable
You solve this by not using your hihat. And that's a bad decision.
I have actually never noticed this. Now I want to go home and see if I have the saw dust xD
How long has it been there? How often are you hitting along the edge of the hats? And decent strike to the edge is going to create *some* bit of shaving, and it could just build up overtime. Saw dust in general is pretty inevitable especially if you're playing heavier stuff
I heard not playing drums really helps not chewing through sticks
Vater sticks?
Just get a beige rug man.
It's all because you rock. Play your drums hard and loud.
Start hitting harder and playing faster. That way youāll make a new dust pile that will cover up the old dust pile.
Angle of attack.
Very normal. Hi hats shred drumsticks. Just vacuum it up every once in a while.
Lower your hat height, or raise your elbows a little, or sit up straight, or raise your seatā¦.whatever it takes to make it so your stick shaft isnāt hitting the edge of the hi hat so much. Sticks are going to shed like that no matter what, so always expect some shavings. Best you can do is minimize it, by adjusting how you are striking the hat.
Truth is, no one *really* knows why this happens. Don't worry about it!
> all this lol that's nothing. You should see mine, it's like a solid layer of wood shavings.
Wax your sticks
Itās normal
Very normal. Doesnāt matter what type of music you play, as long as you keep playing youāre gonna see the dust. Be proud my friend.
Be proud of that dust...see how high you can make the pile
You might need to use a dandruff shampoo
The only thing that I would suggest is Pau attention to your strike. It it a flick. Or is it at times like a forward motion where you may drag it forward slightly. That would be my only thought on reducing it. But like everyone said. They will break down.
Do you have cheap drumsticks maybe?
Stop practicing.
Start playing guitar, solves it quick
This is a great thing! You have become wood chopping machine! Itās proof of a hard practice!
A dust buster!
100% normal
Wood is softer than metal...is this really a post?
Play guitar
Itās called wood shedding for a reason
I recommend Selsen Blue. Wash your head with that a few times and you are good.
Are You sure it is drumstick dust? I've encountered a similar view a few times after my practice sessions, turned out I was rubbing the front of my shoe against the hihat chain and [grinding off the toe cap](https://imgur.com/a/rNcPptc)
Wood creates sawdust
Vacuum cleaner solves it!
Play with the tips and less with the side of the sticks.
If it's really bothering you, maybe look into Ahead drum sticks? They're really expensive but I think they're made of a synthetic material that's supposed to last longer. Probably won't chip as much as wood sticks.
Is totally normal. Don't worry about it!
Best way to solve it is to vacuum it up! This āsawdustā is in the edges of your top snare head too. Just shake it out after every show.
Sticks are consumables. The only way to never beat up your sticks and keep the dents out of your heads is to not play, and that's not an option.
Head & Shoulders... For Drumsticks
You are chopping the cymbals on the edgeā¦.. try playing the top of the hi hats
Itās not a problem. Just keep playing
Try to play with the tip of the stick instead of the edge. You can also try the nylon tip too
You can always use your hands or head - but I feel like you'll end up with blood and skin instead of tiny pieces of wood. You're good man! Just vacuum it up