Know Your Cymbals: Cymbal Types and Functions

After playing and performing music for all these years, it never ceases to amaze me whenever someone looks at all that shiny metal flashing around some drummer's setup and exclaims "Why does that guy have/need so many cymbals for?", as if one giant Super-Cymbal was all he needed to make music. Still, though, I can understand, at least a little bit, why a non-musician would see all that bronze as just a bit superfluous.

When I explain it to these folks, I try to break it down to them in a way to which they can relate. To the golfer, I ask "Well, why do you have so many clubs in your bag?", and he'll understand, since he knows he cannot tee off with a putter nor putt with a sand wedge. To the mechanic, I ask what he needs all those different wrenches and screwdrivers for, knowing that nuts, bolts, and screws DO come in different sizes. Or to the avid fisherman with over a dozen different rods, who points out that each one is required for a very specific type of angling.

Each cymbal in a drummer's arsenal has a very specific function all its own. In this article, we will outline the different types of cymbals and their function. For illustrative purposes, I like to first group them according to their basic purpose, then discuss their physical characteristics, then finally briefly touch on their associated playing techniques. Let's start by analyzing cymbals used to establish tempo and rhythmic patterns:

Hi-Hats - These cymbals come in pairs, mounted one atop the other with their undersides facing each other. They generally range in size from ten inch "micro-hats" to large pairs measuring up to fifteen inches in diameter. They are the most frequently used cymbals where the majority of patterns are played. Their edges can be struck together or "choked" close by operating the foot pedal attached to their mounting stand, but they are mostly played with the sticks. The top cymbal weighs less than the bottom cymbal, which gives the drummer better pedal control and stick articulation. Having the distinction of being the most expressive cymbals, they can achieve a seemingly infinite number of sounds by varying the gap between the upper and lower cymbals, but are mostly struck while tightly closed.

Ride Cymbal - These large, heavy cymbals range in size from eighteen inches to upwards of twenty-four inches in diameter. Only the hi-hats are more expressive than ride cymbals, which can produce a whole slew of different sounds when struck in different spots on the playing surface; the loudest and most defined sound coming from the bell and the softest and 'washiest' from the edge. Ride cymbals vary in appearance according to their volume and pitch. Loud ride cymbals have very large bells and quieter rides have smaller bells, or even no bell at all. Flatter rides have a lower pitch, while more deeply bowl-shaped rides are higher pitched.

Bell Cymbals - Basically, a disembodied cymbal bell. As its name implies, these cymbals give off a very penetrating, musical, bell-like sound. These can range from six to ten inches in diameter. The volume is relative to the size, the pitch is relative to the degree of bow, and the tone basically depends on the material used to make the bell. Often times, several bells can be mounted on the same stand (on attachments known as "bell trees" in ascending order of size for convenience sake.

Next, we'll take a look at cymbals used for accents and embellishments:

Crash Cymbals - These are the ones we all see the drummer hit with some force, usually at the end of a measure, phrase, or composition. They range in size from fourteen to eighteen inches, but smaller and larger sizes have been manufactured before. Usually designed to be much lighter and thinner than ride cymbals (for a quicker attack and decay), crash cymbals can be quite one-dimensional, since they are loud and have little tonal variation. Remember, their primary purpose it to be struck once rather than repeatedly.

Crash cymbals are usually divided into two groups. The "Power Crash" cymbals are the heavier of the two types, resulting in a loud, explosive voice with a longer sustain. These crashes have a thicker body, but still have the thin edge needed for a fast decay. The "Fast Crash" can be paper thin (and therefore more fragile than power crashes), and is used for much faster crash effects. Because of their super-quick decay qualities, these are the crash cymbals that are usually "choked"; that is, silenced by the drummer almost immediately after it's struck by grabbing the edge with the hand.

Splash Cymbals - Generally the smallest members of the cymbal family, splashes emit a short, fast, high-pitched attack with a very fast decay. Usually ranging in size from six to twelve inches, the most popular splash sizes are ten and eight inches, respectively. Thin and light, these are usually played during quieter passages, and make excellent accents to bass drum punched when choked.

Finally, we'll explore what are called "Effects Cymbals" (a category that often includes splash cymbals):

China Cymbals - Also known as "Chinese Cymbals" or "China Tops", these cymbals get their name from their country of origin (subdivided by such criteria, the more familiar types listed above are referred to as "Turkish" or "European" cymbals). Usually having a very small (or no) bell, these cymbals tend to have a uniform thickness from the center to its upturned edge, which give it a dark, penetrating, "trashy" sound. They range in size from twelve to twenty inches, the most popular size being eighteen inches. Often, they are mounted upside-down so the shoulder of the drumstick can be used to strike the undersurface, resulting in an explosive, almost gong-like sound with a long, lingering decay. Mounted traditionally, they can be struck with the tip of the stick on the body of the cymbal, giving a dry, dark ride sound.

Swish Cymbals - Similar to Chinas in appearance (with a very small bell and upturned, flanged edge), swish cymbals are used chiefly as ride cymbals, and give off a washy, "swishy" sound when struck as a crash. Ranging from sixteen inches to twenty-two inches, swish cymbals are also more bowl-shaped than Chinas, giving them a higher pitch.

Pang Cymbals - Similar in construction to swish cymbals, the pang tends to be flatter, resulting in a lower pitched sound with a more pronounced "Ping" when ridden. Pang cymbals are almost never crashed.

Sizzle Cymbals - Basically, a sizzle cymbal is a ride cymbal with holes drilled at equal intervals around the body. Removable metal rivets (usually two to six) are then placed loosely into these holes and allowed to vibrate freely when the cymbal is struck, giving off a sound similar to a gentle rain when ridden gently, and a loud and long sizzling sound when struck harder. Although any ride cymbal can be used to make a sizzle cymbal, the ones with the least bow (and therefore the lowest pitch) and the smallest bells (for more modest volume levels) generally respond best to such modifications. Sometimes, instead of rivets, small, light chains and even small coins can be loosely fastened to the cymbal to give it its sizzling sound.