What Do Drumstick Sizes Mean? Number & Letter System Explained | MetalForge
How drumstick sizing works — what the number and letter mean, 5A vs 5B compared, and a typical spec table (7A/5A/3A/5B/2B) anchored to Vic Firth's published ...
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Drumsticks 2. What do drumstick sizes mean — Drumstick sizes are written as a number followed by a letter — 5A, 5B, 7A, 2B, 3A, and so on. The number is a rough measure of the shaft's thickness: a lower number means a thicker (heavier) stick, and a higher number means a thinner (lighter) one. The letter is a holdover from an older classification of intended use: A originally stood for orchestra (lighter concert/orchestral playing), B for band (heavier brass/military band playing), and S for street — the heaviest sticks, built for marching and drumline. An N suffix (like 5AN) doesn't change the size at all — it just means the stick has a nylon tip instead of a wood one.3. 5A vs 5B — 5A and 5B are both "5"-weight sticks, but the letter changes the diameter: on Vic Firth's American Classic line, the 5B measures about 0.595" across versus the 5A's 0.565" — a noticeably thicker, heavier stick at the same length. Drummers who want more mass behind their hits (louder rock and metal playing) often prefer 5B or thicker; drummers who want more speed and control for detailed passages often prefer 5A or thinner.4. Reading a typical spec table — Exact specs vary by brand — a 5A from one manufacturer is not guaranteed to be identical to a 5A from another, since the number/letter system was never a strict industry standard. The table below uses Vic Firth's American Classic line as a single, consistently-published worked example so the relative sizing makes sense; always check a stick's individual product page for its exact diameter and length before buying.5. What do drumstick sizes mean? — The number in a drumstick size (like the 5 in 5A) tracks shaft thickness — lower numbers are thicker sticks. The letter tracks the style the size was originally built for: A for lighter orchestral/concert playing, B for heavier band playing, and S for the heaviest marching/street sticks. An N suffix means a nylon tip rather than wood.6. 5A vs 5B — what is the difference? — Both are "5"-weight sticks, but the 5B is thicker in diameter than the 5A (about 0.595" vs 0.565" on Vic Firth's American Classic line) at the same roughly 16" length, giving the 5B more mass for heavier, louder playing.7. Are drumstick sizes standardized across brands? — No. The number/letter system is a widely used convention, not a strict standard, so exact diameter and length for a given size (like 5A) can vary from brand to brand. Always check the individual product's published spec sheet if precise dimensions matter.
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