crossstick

Cross-stick, also called cross-sticking, is a drumming technique used primarily on the snare drum and drum kit. The technique is defined by crossing one hand over the other to strike the rim of the snare, producing a dry, crisp clicking sound that contrasts with normal snare hits. The sound is often described as a rim-click or side-stick. A common form involves the top hand crossing over and using the tip of the stick to strike the rim, while the other stick rests on the snare head or rim to stabilize the stroke. Some variations use the butt end of the stick to strike the rim, producing a slightly different timbre. Cross-stick requires control to avoid striking the snare head and to keep the sound consistent.

Cross-stick is used to provide rhythmic variety, especially on off-beats or during fills. It is widely found in jazz, Latin, funk, pop, and marching styles. It can be employed to imitate other percussion voices or to add a distinctive textural color within a groove. In notation, cross-stick is generally indicated as cross-stick or rim-click on the snare part; it can be written as a discrete rim-click event or as a specialized cross-stick indication depending on the score.

Variant applications include performing cross-stick with different sticks or grips to achieve subtle timbral differences, or combining it with regular snare hits to create syncopated accents. Mastery of cross-stick typically requires developing coordinated wrist and finger control to execute clean rim strikes with even rebound.