My idea for this article came directly from all the email I get. Lately, I have been receiving an overwhelming amount of messages asking how to choose what cymbals to buy.
I think I am in the perfect mood to write this, as I just bought a whole new set of Paiste cymbals. I purchased 16″, 17″, and 18″ Full Signature crashes; a 21″ Full Signature ride, and 15″ Dark Synergy hi-hats. Overall, I am extremely happy with the purchase and have no regrets.
Prior to purchasing these cymbals I had been using the same set for the last 10 years. For crash cymbals I had a 17″ Zildjian Medium Thin crash and a 16″ K Dark crash. I also used a 20″ Zildjian Medium Ride and 14″ New Beat hi-hats. The Zildjian cymbals sounded fine, just no where near to the level that I hear from Paiste cymbals, in my opinion.
So now that I’ve told you about the cymbals I use, I want to give tell you my thought process when choosing to buy cymbals. Hopefully this will help you gain a better understanding when it comes time for you to purchase your first set of cymbals, or upgrade your existing collection.
Crash Cymbals
Let’s start off with crash cymbals. I always think about what type of music I play the most. For me, I play lots of studio sessions, smaller clubs, and churches. This helps me determine the weight of the cymbal I should look for. If I were playing larger theatres I would probably choose a heavier cymbal as I would need more projection. Since I don’t need this I want to choose a lighter, thinner cymbal that has a quick response and isn’t too loud in the smaller venues.
Next, I need to consider the sizing. This is similar to the last point I made about the weight. I chose 16″, 17″, and 18″ crashes. These give me a perfect range for any venue or studio situation. For the churches I have a smaller 16″ crash which will still sound good when hit softly. Then I have the 17″ and 18″ crashes for the club or studio situations.
Finally, I need to make sure the cymbals I choose sound great together. The best way to do this in my opinion is just buy cymbals in the same line and same brand. However, this won’t always work as I once found out the hard way. I had a 17″ Zildjian Medium Thin crash, and I wanted a larger crash cymbal, so I just went out and purchased an 18″ Zildjian Medium Thin crash. Individually, the cymbals sounded great. Together they sounded horrible. Since I liked the 17″ better I ended up putting the 18″ crash in the closet where it still sits to this day.
The best way to match your cymbals is to hit them. If you already have some cymbals you like, take them to the store and hit the ones that interest you.
Ride Cymbals
Choosing a good ride cymbal is extremely important for defining your overall sound as a drummer. The first thing I consider when purchasing a ride cymbal is the style of music I am going to be using it for the most. When I was younger I went out an bought a Sabian Manhattan ride, which is a great cymbal. However, this cymbal has more of a washy sound which is great for jazz or latin. This cymbal now sits in the closet as I don’t play a lot of jazz or Latin.
Next I always like to listen to the bell of the cymbal. Is it a defined sound or does it sound too high pitched or washy when you hit near the centre of the cymbal? Since I play a lot of rock, I like a defined sound on the bell of my cymbal, something that sounds consistent all the time.
Hi-hat Cymbals
In my opinion, hi-hat cymbals are the most important cymbal purchase you will ever make for your drumming. The main sizes you have to choose from are 13″, 14″, and 15″ for a set of main hi-hat cymbals. I currently have a set of each size; as they work differently in all musical situations. You can also get 10″ and 12″ hi-hat cymbals for more of a unique sound. When I select hi-hats there are 3 things I listen for.
1) How the hi-hats sound when they are closed tightly.
2) How the hi-hats sound when they our open.
3) How the hi-hats sound when they are hit, then closed quickly, also known as a hi-hat ‘bark’.
Since I play a lot of rock/funk I like a lighter hi-hat cymbal, something that doesn’t have tonnes of volume when played open.
The biggest piece of advice I can give you when purchasing cymbals is to TRY BEFORE YOU BUY! I know this can be difficult in cities with smaller music stores that have limited selections of cymbals, but do your best to hear the cymbals before you purchase them. If this isn’t the case, then you can usually listen to some cymbal sound clips online before you make your purchase.
Lastly, I want to talk about cymbal packs. I have a love/hate relationship with cymbal packs. Whenever I have played these cymbals there always seems to be a horrible sounding cymbal in the package. Sometimes, the ride sounds great, but the crash sounds terrible. Before you buy these cymbals packs I recommend taking them out of the box and hitting them to see how they sound together. They can be a great value, but also a rip-off if you consider the sound.
I hope this helps you choose cymbals the next time you are ready to make a purchase. If you have any questions please feel free to get in touch with my on Facebook or Twitter. Happy cymbal shopping!
Note: For more advice on purchasing cymbals, I highly encourage you to join the FreeDrumLessons.com Drum Forum and discuss your options with other drummers.