Know your Cymbals — A Quick Breakdown of Cymbals Types
Beginners Guide to Cymbals
Learning how to drum? This blog will give you a “crash” course on the different types of cymbals. Hang onto your “hats” and get ready for the “ride,” we promise it will be a fun time!
Crash Cymbals
The first type of cymbal we’re breaking down is the crash cymbal. A crash cymbal produces a sharp crash-like sound and are a standard in most drum kits. Crash cymbals are typically used to end a musical phrase. They can range in thickness — from paper thin to very heavy. When most people think of the sound of a cymbal, they are thinking of the crash sound. They typically range from 14"-20." Another type of crash cymbal is a “splash” cymbal which is a miniature crash. They range from 6"-12" in size.
Ride Cymbals
The next type of cymbal is a ride cymbal. The ride cymbals are known to maintain a steady rhythmic pattern rather than being the accent like a crash. Rides tend to have a sound that is more “shimmering” and a more sustained tone. An average ride may be around 20"-26," and they tend to be thicker than crash cymbals.
Hi-Hats
Hi-hats are much different than crash and ride cymbals. Hi-hats are a combination of two cymbals, operated by a foot-pedal. They are much smaller than both ride and crash cymbals. The bottom cymbal is fixed and the top cymbal is mounted on a rod which moves the top towards the bottom when the foot pedal is pressed.
There you have it, a simplistic breakdown of the different types of cymbals. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to let us know below 👇.
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