Brushes are sticks made from a thin bundle of metal or nylon strands, used to sweep or strike the snare and other drums. They produce soft, finely detailed rhythms.
The basic idea
They have a weaker attack than regular sticks, and their sustained sweeping sound is their signature. They are common in jazz, ballads and other material played at low volume.
Playing and programming with them
Choose a brush kit in your drum instrument and combine a circular sweeping snare pattern with light accents. Check the level so it does not get in the way of the vocal.
How it differs from related terms
Brushes refer to the tool and the technique, while ghost notes refer to a role played by dynamics. You can play ghost notes with brushes too.
When you want to change the texture without adding more notes, brushes are a useful option.
