High Hat Cymbal

Selecting the right Cymbal for You

There is an overabundance of cymbals to choose from these days. If you are just starting out as a drummer or are beginning to play at an intermediate level, you can become overwhelmed as to which cymbal to choose for your specific type of musical genre. Most drum kits come with a standard ride cymbal and perhaps a high hat with a foot pedal, but the choices beyond that are many and it's difficult to narrow down exactly which cymbal is for you.  

You would comparison shop if you were buying a car, right? It's no different with cymbals. Begin your research by reading up on the types of cymbals that attract you the most. There are numerous web sites that can provide you with vital information on sound quality, how they will feel when you crash them, and various techniques for playing them that can influence your choices. Specific manufacturer web sites often have listings of all of the cymbal types and what genre of music they are bested suited for. You can also focus on sites that sell cymbals, but always be sure you are able to listen to an audio clip prior to buying. It's impossible to tell how a cymbal will sound simply by looking at a photo.

The weight and size of a cymbal will influence its sound quality, so brush up on the types of cymbals that are available and what they are made from. Sabian cymbals, for example, are made of bronze alloy and can be purchased in various weights. Sabian recommends starting out with a mid-weight cymbal so you can gauge the cymbal's response to your specific type of drumming. A heavy cymbal sounds quite different than a light or medium weight.

Once you've narrowed your choices, start playing the cymbals yourself. You will begin to identify the various sounds you can create, and know which you favor in your own music. Learn the various terms associated with cymbals, so you can identify a washy sound as opposed to a trashy cymbal. Heavy cymbals tend to be bright sounding, with a long sustain. Light cymbals provide you with lighter sounds and less of a resonance.

A good idea when trying to narrow down your cymbal choice is to find out what your favorite bands are using. If you favor hard rock/metal music, you may be interested in some heavy rides and crashes in large sizes. For jazz and contemporary music, you could choose medium weight cymbals like 16 inch rides with a few smaller Chinas thrown in. The companies that manufacture your cymbals also develop custom lines with your favorite musician. Meinl Cymbals has a jazz line specifically develop for jazz drummers, as well as a dark, extra dry line that is used for everyone from metal artists to hip hop.

At the end of the day, the best cymbal for you should be the one that blends seamlessly into your kit and expresses the music you are trying play. Experiment with several different types of cymbals through online research and after trying them out, pick out a few that best suit your needs. Once you have worked with your initial selections, you can always expand your kit as you progress in your playing or expand your musical repertoire.

About the Author

Shelly is our staff writer for http://www.CymbalsDirect.com, the largest independent cymbal shop on the web. By working directly with the top cymbal manufacturers, Cymbals Direct has an incredible selection and unbeatable prices. Plus, all staff members at CD are drummers and are here to help customers find the perfect cymbals for their drum setup.

High Hat Cymbal

Comments are closed.