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Types of cymbals

 

Crash: Ranging from 12" to 20". Crash cymbals are designed for accenting or 'crashing'. Thinner models are more 'explosive', heavier models more direct and powerful.

 

Ride: Ranging from 18" to 24" (20" is most popular). The ride is the main cymbal for playing rhythms and grooves. Play the bell area for bright, crisp notes or across the bow for bigger sounds. Heavier models produce more definite sounds.

 

Hi-Hats: Ranging from 10” to 15” (14” is most popular). A pairing of two cymbals on a pedal-operated hi-hat stand. Close the cymbals for playing tighter, more definite sounds; open for bigger, louder sounds; or alternate open and closed to play interesting patterns.

 

Splash: Ranging from 6" to 12". Splash cymbals are played for fast, 'splashy' accents of short duration.

 

Chinese: Chinese cymbals feature an upturned edge that gives these models a raw, Oriental sound. They are played for 'effect', offering dirty ride sounds on short, dirty punches when played for accents.

 

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Cymbal anatomy

 

There are many parts to a cymbal - the bell, the bow, the edge, the weight, the size - all of which add up to the sound it makes. Understanding this helps you to choose the right cymbal for your needs.

 

 

Bell Size: Cymbals with larger bells generally produce more overtones and greater volume than cymbals with smaller bells.

 

Weight: Weight greatly affects the volume, articulation, and overall sound and power of a cymbal. Thinner models respond fastest (vibrations move through the metal faster) and produce fuller sounds. Thinner crashes are explosive and full sounding. The sound of thinner rides is more tone than stick articulation. Thinner models are best suited for light to moderate volumes.

 

Heavier models respond with bigger, louder sounds. Crashes have more attack and penetration, while hi-hats and rides have increased stick articulation, so the strokes you play are clearer.

 

Medium weight models offer the most versatility, though mixing weights may be your answer to a great sounding set-up.

 

If you are playing hard and loud, medium to heavy weights are recommended. These are thicker, more durable cymbals designed to perform in louder situations. Heavier Cymbals = Increased Volume, Longer Sustain, and Higher Pitch.

 

Profile: As the profile becomes higher, so does the pitch.

 

Low pitch sounds blend with the music. High pitch sounds are more cutting and better for louder playing.

 

Higher Profile = Higher Pitch, Brighter Response, and Increased Cut.

 

Size: Larger cymbals generally have more volume, longer sustain and slower response than smaller cymbals. Bigger Cymbals = Increased Volume, Longer Sustain, and Bigger Sound.

 

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Cymbal glossary

 

Attack: The response rate of the cymbal. Some models are faster (more attack) than others. The Signature Mike Portnoy Max Stax responds with immediate 'attack'.

 

Bright: Sounds that are high-pitched; they offer increased cut. PRO models including the 20" Ride offer bright, penetrating responses.

 

‘Chick’: Hi-Hat sound made from pedal alone bringing top and bottom cymbal together.

 

Cut: The ability of the sound - usually high-pitched or loud - to cut through the surrounding music. The Sonix Crash features a focused, high-pitched sound that cuts.

 

Dark: Low-pitched, warm tones that combine for a 'dark' response that blends into surrounding music. Hand Hammered models, including the Dark Crash, feature dark, traditional tones.

 

Dry: A minimum of tone ensures a very definite stroke response. The 20" Hand Hammered Raw Dry Ride offers maximum stick response.

 

Fast: Rate of response when the cymbal is struck: how fast or slow it makes a sound and how that sound decays. A smaller or thinner cymbal responds and decays faster than larger, heavier models.

 

Fundamental: The predominant or main sound within the overall response of a cymbal. A Dark Crash produces a fundamental sound that has a relatively low, warm, rich tone.

 

Glassy: Clear, shimmering response. Often clean and smooth - like glass.

 

Hot: A fiery mix of dark, warm sounds with the added heat of agitated tones - a 'burning' sound.

 

Overtones: The multiple frequencies of a sound and their relationship to each other.

 

Partials: The overtones or series of pitches produced in addition to the fundamental. Every cymbal will have a different percentage of highs, lows and mid-range partials.

 

Ping: The degree of brightness and articulation of stick sound of a Ride cymbal.

 

Pitch: The frequency of the sound waves producing a tone.

 

Response: How quickly a sound reaches its peak after a cymbal is struck.

 

Sustain: The duration of the sound before it decays. Bigger cymbals sustain longer than smaller models.

 

Timbre: The general sound characteristics of a cymbal.

 

Trashy: Raw and dirty responses associated with Chinese cymbals and some special models. The trashiness of a China is raw, funky and Oriental.

 

Undertones: Overtones heard ‘underneath’ the stick sound of a Ride cymbal.

 

Volume: The degree of loudness or the intensity of a sound.

 

Warm: A softer response that focuses on a blend of low-pitched, musical tones.

 

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How to choose?

 

The way you play or the kind of music your band is performing tells much of the cymbals of your choice. If you’re a hard-playing drummer, choose thicker cymbals to endure your beat.

 

If you’re a smoother drummer, use thinner cymbals, for more pleasant sonority and higher sound projection.

 

If you drum a Heavy Metal or a Heavy Rock Band, then use bigger, more explosive cymbals.

 

If you play on a band performing not-heavy music styles, use smaller, thinner, more harmonic cymbals.

 

A basic cymbal set includes a ride cymbal, a crash cymbal and a hi-hat cymbal. With such a set you can perform on any band.

 

There are also the effect cymbals, that are the “splashes” and the “chinas”, that can be added to your basic set if you need a different cymbal sound.

 

You must choose your cymbal set according to your taste, and, mainly, to the style of music you play; choose the cymbal that gives to your set the most equalized possible sound, thus freeing you to be a most possible musical drummer.

 

Advice:

  • Consider where and how you'll be playing the cymbal,
  • Test it in the shop as you would if you were playing 'live' (go on, HIT it!) All that tapping with your finger, isn't really going to reveal what you really need to hear, and
  • Try to create as 'normal' a situation as you can when you select a cymbal in a store. It’s a totally different environment from where you would normally play.

Medium weight models are a good starting point. From there you can move up or down in weights until you find suitable sounds. The Ride cymbal delivers your rhythm playing, so it should be heavier than the crashes, which should 'explode' with sound on contact.

 

Selection Tips

  • Set the cymbal on a stand and angle it as you would in your set-up. Then sit and play it as you normally would. This will reveal how it feels and how much sound you will hear from it in actual playing position.
  • When 'testing' cymbals put yourself in the frame of mind as if you are playing with your band and 'play' the cymbal at a similar volume. Play it as light and as loud as you would and listen to where the sound 'kicks in' or 'kicks out'. Some cymbals perform best within certain volume ranges. It's good if you can test it with your other cymbals: bring those to the store.
  • Have the salesperson or a friend play the cymbal while you walk around the store listening to it. Does it project? Is it musical enough? Is it too loud? Not loud enough?
  • Use your own drumsticks.
  • The opinions of others can be helpful in making the correct choice. The drum specialist at your music store can be a good source of information, so don't be shy, ask questions and get opinions.
  • Be careful. The cymbal you like may not be the best one for your needs. Some simple rules: If you're a hard hitter or playing loud, choose bigger and heavier cymbals. They put out more volume and bigger sounds. Plus, heavier models are more durable and less likely to break.
  • Smaller/thinner models are best for low- to mid-volume playing. Thinner crashes are not durable or loud enough to play as main crashes in high-volume situations. Heavier rides and hi-hats will give you more definite sticking, for cleaner, clearer and more penetrating strokes.
  • Thinner cymbals are the ones that sound best when tapped by a finger… so play all the cymbals you're testing like you mean it to get the most accurate responses.

 

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Selecting a finish

 

This isn't just about looking good. Believe it or not, the finish of your cymbal relates to the sound. Read on to help you determine which finish you need.

There is a choice of finish with some of the series. Natural Finish is when the cymbal is lathed (the process that cuts the tonal rings into the surface) and left in its 'natural' state. This is recommended where tone and a bit of 'bite' are desired in the sound. Brilliant Finish is created by a high-pressure, high-heat polishing process that smoothes the groove edges of the tonal rings, resulting in a smoother, glassier look and sound.

 

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