How to Choose the Right Cymbal for Your Drum Kit

A drum set without a worthy cymbal is like a plate of chips without salt and ketchup. Cymbal adds spice and color to your drumming. In this guide, we'll help you figure out which cymbal is right for your music, drum set, and budget.

What is the right cymbal supplement for you?

There is no quick answer to that question. The music you play and the budget you have to play should be the main considerations. And in the end, your ears will be the deciding factor. The cymbal you choose should match your musical taste and soundly match the rest of your drum set.

Jazz drummers will probably want a very different cymbal than those suited to drummers in metal or hard rock bands. The best way is to check out the cymbal setup of your favorite drummers. You may not be able to replicate every element of their cymbal selections, but you'll get important clues as to what works and doesn't work in the context of the music they play.

Once you've determined the right cymbal type and size for your drum kit, you can proceed to purchase models that fit within your budget. As with most things, money doesn't matter. High-end cymbals are made of more expensive materials and require more work. Lower-priced cymbals can still deliver surprisingly satisfying sound — there are some real bargains to be found among budget cymbals.

Structure of Cymbal

All cymbals designed for use with drum kits are of the hanging type — that is, they are designed to be mounted on free-standing stands or attached to drum kit components. A hole is drilled in the center of the cymbal to allow mounting the cymbal to the bracket. Most cymbals have a raised central part called a bell, cup, or dome. Playing the bell produces a higher "pinging" sound than the rest of the cymbal. The rest of the cymbal is called the bow. The cymbal has a distinct tapered thickness from the bell to the thinner edge. The thicker part near the bell is called the ride area; the thinner part, the outside is the crash area.

Cymbal sizes are indicated by their diameter in inches or millimeters. In general, a larger cymbal will be louder and have a longer sustain. Thinner cymbals tend to have a lower pitch and more responsiveness. Thicker, heavier cymbals produce more volume, and thanks to the clearer articulation when struck with a drumstick, the sound through the denser sounds is better mixed.

How are cymbals created?

Most cymbals are either cast or made from metal plates.

Cast cymbals are made by pouring a raw, molten metal alloy into a round mold. The castings are then heated, rolled, shaped, forged and turned. This long process produces a cymbal with a full, complex sound that many people feel better over time. Each molded cymbal has a distinct and unique tonal character.

The term “hand-hammered” can be misleading. The best cymbals are forged by a real craftsman with a hammer, knocking one by one. Cheaper cymbals can be hammered by workers. Real hand-forged cymbals tend to produce richer, darker, lower-pitched tones and each has a different tonal quality. Machine-forged cymbals are generally brighter, producing higher tones and sharper tones. The difference between machine-made cymbals is also less.

Some cymbals are turned on on lathes to produce certain tonal characteristics. Turning can be performed on the top or bottom surface or both. Many cymbals have turned and unturned bands, providing more tonal options depending on where the cymbal is played.

Sheet metal cymbals are cut from large sheets of metal of uniform thickness and composition. They sound very uniform in the same model and are generally cheaper than molded cymbals. Some of the cheaper student cymbals have lathe and hammer marks pressed on their surfaces.

There are different cymbal polishing or finishing treatments available. Fully lathe cymbals often have a clear gloss finish to prevent tarnishing. Some cymbals have a “bright” or “bright” finish achieved with high-speed polishing. The finishing process can really dampen the sound a bit.

The cymbal sound is a very personal preference. Many jazz players prefer a darker, more complex cymbal sound, while rock drummers often prefer a brighter, louder sound. While some of the traditional cymbal giants continue to dominate the market, there are countless others that continue to expand for you to choose from.

A cymbal for every role in the drum kit

As we will see below, each type of cymbal is designed to fulfill a specific role in the modern drum kit. But the rules are made to be broken. Many drummers use unique cymbal mixes to achieve their own distinct sound. Experimenting with other drummers' cymbals as well as positioning your own cymbal setup can lead to some interesting sound effects.

Cymbal ride

The cymbal ride holds a steady position in most drumming styles. Usually, it is placed on the extreme right of the drummer (assuming he or she is right-handed). Its name derives from its role, providing a more stable, important role. While cymbal manufacturers produce specific ride cymbals, some drummers use effect cymbals such as chinas, pangs and sizzle cymbals instead. Again, the rules made for breaking apply to the cymbal.

You will also come across cymbals designated as crash/ride which give a slow and prolonged crash sound. They are sometimes used as the sole suspension cymbal in small drum sets. Another variation is the flat cymbal without the usual bells. Flat cymbals have a dry impact and are popular with jazz drummers.

Cymbal Hi-Hat

Hi-hat is often played with bass and snare drums in a performance. Consisting of two cymbals mounted together on a stand and operated by a pedal that opens and closes the pair of cymbals, the hi-hat produces what is known as a “chick” sound when it is hit or hit by a club. by pedal. Drummers control the sound and durability of the hi-hat by using different pedal positions and varying the level of foot pressure.

One of the hi-hat-related drumming styles is shuffle. To create a shuffle beat, the drummer hits the top cymbal twice in a row, the first time when the hat is closed and just before hitting the second time for the hat to open. The drummer let the cymbals ring for a moment before closing them. Shuffle is just one of dozens of techniques that can be used to create rhythms and opposing rhythms.

Although a pair of 14-inch (35cm) hi-hat is the modern standard, a smaller diameter is sometimes used for recording when using close-up techniques. Hard rock drummers such as the great John Bonham sometimes use hi-hats larger than 15 inches. In the past, the two cymbals were similar, but today the trend is towards the heavier bottom cymbal and the lighter upper cymbal. There are exceptions. For example, Steve Gadd's Zildjian K Custom Edition hi-hats place heavier cymbals on top for a crunchy sound. Other drummers use mismatched cymbals of different sizes or even from different brands of cymbals. Again, there are no rules; As with all cymbals in the drum kit, there is no one size fits all.

Cymbal Crash

Zildjian A Custom Crash delivers a bright, natural sound with complex overtones.

Cymbal crashes are often used to create large, defined accents instead of playing a steady rhythm. Most modern drum sets usually have at least one or two cymbals. They can be played with an awl, hand or mallet to create a variety of colors. Rock drummers sometimes hit two crashes at once to create an extremely powerful voice. You'll find crash cymbals in a variety of thicknesses and sizes from as small as 8” (20cm) to 24” (60cm) with most ranging from 14”-18” (35cm – 45cm). Although most have fairly thin edges, the thickness of the crashes varies considerably. Hard rock and metal drummers tend to prefer thicker crashes.

Cymbal Splash

Zildjian A Splash has a bright and expressive sound.

Splashes are the smallest accent cymbals, typically measuring 6”-13” (15cm – 33cm). Cymbal Splash was popular with jazz drummers in the 1920s and 1930s, but fell out of favor. They were largely revived by drummer Stewart Copeland, and heavier bangs suitable for rock music soon appeared. Chinese-style cymbals less than 14 inches (35cm) in diameter are sometimes referred to as China cymbals, although this designation varies by manufacturer.

These days you will find many varieties of Splash including the so-called salsa splash served with timbales. The sound is very thick and produces a bell-like sound; they have many different shapes. Some cymbals are designed to be used in series with other cymbals and sometimes in sets. The mounts for the rattle are as varied as the cymbal itself.

Cymbal China and effects

The name of the Chinese cymbal is derived from the visual and sound similarity with the Chinese gong. The typical Chinese cymbal is conical in shape and is flipped up at its edge, where the bell meets the bow of the cymbal. Most Chinese cymbals have little or no tapered thickness, but there are exceptions to all these general physical characteristics. Cymbal China usually has a diameter of 12”-26” (30cm – 66cm). The definition shows that their sound is often dark, muffled and explosive.

Cymbals such as china and splash are often referred to as effects cymbals, and the exact definition for an effect cymbal is elusive. Generally, they are used in non-rhythmic ways to create an explosion of color and accent. When pang and swish cymbals — two types of effect cymbals — are used in place of traditional cymbals, they are generally no longer considered effects cymbals.

Zidjian's Cymbal Oriental China Trash has an explosive response to rapid decline.

Cymbal effects have dizzying variations. You'll find models with holes and studs that create clipping, buzzing, and buzzing effects. And there are countless other designs to create a great range of sounds. The sky is the limit and the designs and sounds of the cymbals are not to say that they are diverse.

Cymbal pack — An affordable option

Many manufacturers offer complete cymbals at very affordable prices. They are sometimes packaged according to the musical genre for which they are designed, with rock cymbal packs being a very popular product. The cymbals in these packages are carefully combined to complement each other sonic. The cymbal pack is a budget-friendly way for beginners to play drums.

Conclude

Hopefully by now, you've got a pretty good idea of ​​the main considerations when buying a cymbal.

We want you to be happy with your cymbal purchase .

After reading this guide, if you are still not sure which cymbal is right for you, contact us for the best advice!