Beyond Sticks
Most drummers start with sticks and never look back. But brushes — wire or nylon fans that replace the stick's tip — offer a completely different sonic palette that's essential for jazz, ballads, and any setting where volume needs to be controlled.
What Brushes Sound Like
Brushes produce a soft, swishing sound on the snare drum and cymbals. Instead of the crisp attack of a stick, you get a warm, diffuse texture. The sound is intimate and expressive — perfect for quiet jazz settings, acoustic performances, and ballads.
The Basic Brush Technique
Sweeping Hold the brush loosely and sweep it across the snare drum head in a circular or figure-eight motion. This creates a continuous, swishing sound that's the signature of brush playing.
Tapping The brush can also be used to tap the drum, producing a softer version of the stick sound. This is used for accents and fills.
Left Hand Sweep, Right Hand Tap The classic jazz brush technique: the left hand sweeps a continuous circle while the right hand taps the ride pattern. This creates a layered, complex texture from just two hands.
When to Use Brushes
- Jazz ballads and slow standards
- Acoustic performances where volume is a concern
- Recording sessions that call for a softer touch
- Any musical context where the drums should support rather than dominate
Brushes as a Practice Tool
Brushes are also excellent for quiet practice at home. They're significantly softer than sticks and allow you to work on technique without disturbing others.
Ask your Elkhorn instructor to introduce brushes at your next lesson.