The huge array of cymbals on display at a good drum store can be baffling, even daunting, to the novice drummer...
the various cymbal manufacturers offer a massive selection of types, weights and sizes, so its difficult at first to know where to start, even for experienced players.
Cymbals generally can be split into a few groups or types - Ride Cymbals, Crash Cymbals, Hi-Hat Cymbals, and effects cymbals such as the china or splash.
Initially, a good basic set up comprising a 20" ride, 16" crash, and 14" hi-hats is enough.
A set up like this is usually best bought in a pack which tends to save a little on the price rather than buying them separately.
All the major cymbal brands such as Paiste, Zildjian, and Sabian will offer a boxed set like this and its a great way to get started.
Once you have this basic set in place you can begin to add extra cymbals and sounds to your setup.
The next cymbal to add would probably be an 18" crash...
it's pretty standard nowadays to have at least 2 crash cymbals, usually around 2" diameter apart.
if you already have a 16" crash, an 18" crash in the same brand and range should fit in perfectly in terms of sound and pitch, but if you decide to buy a different brands of cymbal, I'd suggest taking your existing crash along to the store and try some out side by side...
you want a sound that complements your existing set.
The crashes don't want to be too similar pitch wise, so take your time and make sure you get the right sound.
Once you have a few crashes in your arsenal, maybe look at adding more exotic sounds..
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splash cymbals are a popular choice...
these are small (8" or 10") thin cymbals that speak quickly and are ideal for short, sharp accents, or maybe a china cymbal (usually easily spotted due to their upturned edge).
Chinas give an explosive, sharp sound with lots of attack and a short sustain, again great for accents.
Usual sizes for chinas is between 16" and 22", with 18" being the most common.
All cymbals tend to be offered in differing weights (i.
e.
how thick the cymbal is).
This has a great impact on the sound of the cymbal, and should be taken into account when deciding on a cymbal for a particular genre of music..
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As an example we will look firstly at a 16" crash offered in Thin, Medium and Heavy varieties.
The medium would be a good all-rounder for most musical genres, able to be played softly or loudly and fairly durable.
For softer music such as jazz, the thin crash would be ideal...
its thinner profile means it speaks quicker and needs less force to get a good sound from it, making it good for lower volume playing.
Thinner cymbals are more prone to breaking if played very aggressively, so for a heavy metal gig the heavy crash would be a better choice...
the heavy profile ensures plenty of volume and the thickness of the cymbal means it will stand up to some very heavy hitting.
For ride cymbals, the weight makes a big difference to the sound.
A heavy ride will have good stick definition with less overtone, whilst a thin ride will have more wash and background build-up.
When buying any cymbal, always buy the very best that you can afford...
Whilst the sound of cheaper drums can be dramatically improved by better heads, careful tuning etc, a cymbal has a set sound - a bad cymbal will always be a bad cymbal.
Likewise, a good set of cymbals will last you a lifetime if looked after.
make sure you wipe off any fingerprints after each gig, as these will eventually cause black marks over the cymbal which are difficult to remove.
Also, if you are transporting your cymbals to gigs, rehearsals etc, invest in a good padded cymbal bag or a hard case.
Always make sure your cymbals are on stands with plastic insulators and felts, so there is no metal to metal contact between cymbal and stand.
Damaged and cracked cymbals are not really repairable, so look after them! Finally, the golden rule when buying cymbals...
let your ears decide! It doesn't matter what brand is stamped on the cymbal, just play a few against your existing cymbals and see which you prefer.
Any good drum store will be happy to allow you to bring your cymbals along, so take your time, listen carefully, and choose wisely! Let the salesman know what kind of music you will be playing, and also your budget, and they'll point you in the right direction.