At first, “playing quietly” often means one thing: playing with rods instead of sticks. That’s the first move you learn when you grow up as a young drummer in a church environment, where live music typically happens at a much lower volume than a regular concert. You’ll hear the request pretty quickly: can’t you play with rods?
Of course, there are many other ways to play more quietly besides rods, but I’d like to dedicate an article to the topic. Not only because everyone has probably had their own experiences with them, but also because I feel that rods are often unfairly viewed negatively by drummers.
Sure, Rods Aren’t Sticks
Of course rods play differently than sticks. Of course they sound different too — finer notes in particular don’t transfer as well. Your playing inevitably becomes more accented and dynamic. And naturally, rods transfer less energy to heads and cymbals, causing them to vibrate less, which means not every kit sounds truly full when played with rods.
That said, rods are certainly a good option for playing significantly more quietly and unobtrusively — once you’ve made friends with the special sound and behavior of the kit. Especially in singer/songwriter or folk/country music, the unique sound of rods often fits the musical context very well. So here are a few tips on how to achieve a full, warm drum sound even when playing with rods — one that’s fun to play, easy to control, and transfers finer notes well.
1. Use Single-Ply Heads
With rods, you transfer less energy to the drums. Toms with double-ply heads simply won’t sound good when played with rods, because they need more energy to start vibrating. If you want to get the maximum tone and warmth out of your drums, always use single-ply heads that are well-tuned. When playing with rods, a good tuning rewards you with solid sustain and plenty of warmth in the sound. Coated heads help minimize overtones and the clicking sound of rods on the heads. In very small rooms, dampening rings can also help bring out the tone of the drums and minimize attack noise. The rings shouldn’t be too wide, though — they should only slightly reduce the lightest (highest) vibrations of the head, without dampening the fundamental tone of the drum.
2. Don’t Tune Your Drums Too Low
Generally, low tunings are expected to provide more body and depth. But you also need more energy to really get the heads moving — energy you often don’t have when playing with rods. This can lead you to play louder just to get some sound out of the drums. It’s therefore worth tuning the heads a bit tighter than you normally would, as they’ll respond much faster and produce noticeably more tone — especially when playing rimshots. It also makes sense to tune the batter and resonant head to the same tension, giving the drums maximum resonance.
3. Play Rimshots — Even on the Toms
Normally, rimshots are associated with strong accents and more volume. That’s true when playing with sticks. But rimshots played with rods have a much warmer and more restrained character. The material of the rods is very “soft,” producing almost no additional overtones, and instead significantly amplifies the tone of the drum itself — frequencies that aren’t perceived as particularly harsh or loud.
That’s why it’s especially worth using rimshots more deliberately when playing with rods. Try playing your toms with a rimshot and you’ll be surprised what kind of sound is possible. With a little practice, doubles and fine ghost notes can also be played as rimshots. Depending on how deep into the head you strike, you can also play with dynamics — rimshots vary in volume and fullness depending on where you trigger the head. If you play nearly all strokes as rimshots, you’ll also get the increased dynamic range back under control. It’s important, however, to play rimshots as loosely as possible when using rods, since they wear out faster – so don’t put too much energy into each stroke.
4. Bring Your Bass Drum Back Into the Mix
When playing with rods, the bass drum often falls out of the mix. It can quickly start to sound too loud and boomy. Using a smaller shell that already sounds more focused and compact can help. But also choosing the right beater, or a pedal that prioritizes control over power, can restore a balanced overall sound. I’ve previously shared some practical tips on how to make the bass drum quieter.
5. Use Light, But Not Too Dark Cymbals
Similar to playing with brushes, rods also pair well with cymbals that respond quickly but don’t sound too dark. Particularly light thin and paper-thin cymbals in a traditional finish — ones that also bring silvery tones on the attack — work well here. This way, even with a very light touch, you get a defined attack and a quickly opening wash. Many handmade Turkish cymbals, such as the Vintage Bliss series from Dream Cymbals, meet exactly these requirements. Heavy medium cymbals, on the other hand, tend to sound glassy and sterile when played with rods, because they need more energy to reach their full potential.
6. Not All Rods Are Equal
When it comes to rebound and feel, there can be a world of difference between rod products. Many rods are very heavy, making loose playing nearly impossible — they’re really only useful in moments where you specifically want that rod sound. Others may be too stiff, producing too many overtones and making the drums sound harsh rather than warm and round. Personally, I’ve had the best experience with classic maple rods that are bound fairly loosely. They tend to be lighter and therefore offer enough rebound to play doubles — something I couldn’t do without as a drummer. Of course, maple rods don’t have a particularly long lifespan, and given the prices manufacturers typically charge, playing quietly can come with quite a cost. Bamboo or fiber rods are more durable, but usually don’t offer a particularly good playing feel.
Summary
Playing with rods requires a different technique to manage the increased dynamic range. Players who use rimshots frequently can also put them to good use with rods to compensate for exactly this issue. Since rods transfer less energy to the heads, single-ply heads are the way to go. Additional dampening that emphasizes the tone of the drum can also be useful. It’s worth experimenting with slightly higher tunings when playing with rods – depending on the drums, this can yield more warmth and tone. Very light cymbals with plenty of silvery overtones that open up quickly sound far less glassy with rods. If you want a good rebound feel similar to sticks, pay attention to the balance and weight of the rods. Rods absorb a lot of the energy you put into them – so the lighter the rods, the better the rebound.
Thank you for reading!
Growing up as a church musician, Chris now plays in various projects around Singer/Songwriter, Gospel, Jazz and Independent Music. Chris is part of the Mosaik Community Düsseldorf, which regularly organizes concerts with well-known artists in a living room atmosphere as part of their “Kulturbühne”.
