| Before you begin the actual
process of cymbal selection, here is some important information to consider.
Multiple Pitch and Sympathetic
Vibrations
A Zildjian cast cymbal produces a dominating pitch but not a
dominating note, and it is therefore always in tune with the band. When the band plays any
chord, the Zildjian Cymbal projects the right "in tune" harmonics by means of
its own sympathetic vibrations and multiple pitch. Inferior cymbals produce a dominating
note, not a multiple pitch, resulting in a discord that spoils the sound. It is a fact
that every Zildjian cast cymbal contains a full tonal scale. No matter what the pitch is,
the Zildjian Cymbal is always "in tune".
Response
The response of a cymbal is based on its thickness and size.
Literally described as how quickly the cymbal responds to stick attack, the response also
determines exactly how the cymbal will "feel" to the player. The smallest and
thinnest cymbal obviously reaches full vibration the fastest. Increasing the size and
weight will mean a slower response but more power and volume. This basic trade-off along
with a drummer's "feel" and choice of tonal colors will help determine exactly
which cymbal is right for him/her. Your own taste and sensitivity largely determines the
kind of response you'll want which is especially important when selecting a Ride cymbal.
Smaller, thinner Rides build up faster but also offer more flexibility in terms of getting
different crash and splash-type effects out of the cymbal. Heavy Rides take longer to
build up, allowing the drummer to "dig in" to the cymbal with a harder stroke.
The personal relationship of feel and response between player and Ride cymbal often become
a "signature" aspect of that player's style of drumming.
Sustaining Power
A cymbal's sustaining power or ability to sound after the
initial stroke is largely determined by how large and how "alive" the drummer
wants the cymbal to be. Larger or heavier Crash cymbals will generate a roaring overtone
that sustains longer, while smaller or lighter Crashes will decay or cut off more quickly
for short, expressive punctuations and accents. Larger Ride cymbals will also have more
sustain.
Actual Power
The power, volume and tone of a cymbal are a result
of several elements working in tandem: its size, weight and shape, the metals that form
its alloy, the responsiveness of the processed alloy and the highly technical lathing
process which shapes the metal. As a general rule, the larger or heavier the cymbal, the
more power and volume it will project. Overplaying a small cymbal to get more volume out
of it will invariably produce noise and not tone or volume, and could also damage the
cymbal.
How To Choose Cymbals
First, decide exactly what kind of playing your
cymbal will be used for. For Crash cymbals, will it be used for; loud explosive crashes,
softer, more exotic crashes, crashing and riding, fast "choke" effects, mallet
playing, special effects or other combinations of these? For Ride cymbals, will it be used
for; keeping time with steady ride patterns, playing on the bell, riding and shoulder
crashes for accenting the beat, or special effects and embellishments?
The second consideration involves the type of music (and
overall level) to be played i.e. Latin, Funk, Jazz, Heavy Metal, Country, Big Band or
Rock'n' Roll, ....Wagner or Debussy.
Finally, the type and overall size of the band or
organization (Big Band, Stage Band, Percussion Ensemble, Acoustic Trio, Drum Corps,
Symphony) should play an important role in determining your cymbal choices.
Bring your own personal drumsticks with you to pick out any
new cymbals, as you will feel more comfortable with them and will react more naturally
when playing. Relying on whatever sticks happen to be available at your local music store
can give you a totally misleading picture of the cymbal. Remember, cymbals will sound very
different when played with wood tip as opposed to nylon tip sticks.
This article courtesy of Zildjian. For
more info see http://www.zildjian.com |
