The Ultimate Guide to the 10 Types of Cymbals

Cymbals are an essential part of any drummer’s kit. They help shape your drum beats and set the musical mood. Great cymbals help make sure that your music has a richness to it that makes listeners fall in love with it.

That said, when you start looking to fill out your drum set, you can find a variety of different cymbal types available on the market.

On drum sets, the following cymbals are the most common:

• Crash Cymbal
• Hi-Hats
• Ride Cymbals

A typical drum set includes a hi-hat, a ride and at least one crash cymbal, although shell packs may be sold without any cymbals. For cheaper sets, there may be a single cymbal that acts as both a ride and a crash cymbal (called a ‘ride-crash’ cymbal).

However, there are a lot of other options available. For those wondering where to get started, here are some of the major cymbal types:

1. Crash Cymbals

• What does a crash sound like? It produces a loud crashing sound.
• Used for: Added accents and expression to the music
• Sizes: Usually between 14 to 18 inches (35cm to 45cm), but they can come in different sizes
• How to hit a crash cymbal: Use the shoulder of the stick with a glancing stroke across the edge, then let the stick rebound. Use enough force for the accent without driving straight into the edge or pinning the cymbal down.

These are loud and explosive instruments – if you think about what a cymbal should sound like, this is probably the type of cymbal that you’re imagining.

Along with ride cymbals, they are among the most common type of cymbals used by drummers and are used as an accent – like their name, they produce a loud “crash” sound when played, adding expression to your music.

They are available in a variety of thicknesses. For cymbals of the same diameter, thinner models generally respond more readily and have a lower pitch than thicker ones. Profile, hammering and alloy also affect whether the overall sound seems bright or dark.

Cymbals have a long history across Asia and the Middle East. The crash cymbal on a modern drum kit developed much later, as drummers adapted cymbals for accents within a kit. That modern playing role should not be confused with the age of cymbals as a whole.

In a standard drum set, you usually find one or two crash cymbals. Two different crashes let you vary the pitch and length of an accent; a smaller setup can work perfectly well with one.

Keep your crash cymbals dry and follow the manufacturer’s care instructions for their finish. A shiny surface does not guarantee a crisper sound. Some natural, patinated or coated cymbals should only be wiped with a dry cloth, and an unsuitable polish can permanently alter the finish.

For further reference and options for buying, check out the best crash cymbals available today.

2. Ride Cymbals

1. What does a ride cymbal sound like? It can produce crisp sounds with long sustain, or deep swelling sounds.
2. Used for: Playing steady patterns with your strongest hand.
3. Sizes: Usually around 20 inches (51 cm) (but sizes can vary).
4. How to play them: They can be in played numerous ways. Use the tip of your drumstick across the surface of the top of the ride cymbal. Hitting the edge of the cymbal with the shoulder of your drumstick.

For a clearer bell accent, strike the raised center of the ride with the shoulder of the drumstick. Compare this with the tip on the bow, and adjust your stroke so the bell projects without overpowering the rest of the groove.

Usually the largest cymbal in a drum kit, these are most often used to play steady patterns.

Though they sound similar to hi-hats, the biggest difference between them is that rides cannot produce the open and close sound that is so unique to hi-hats.

The bell of the cymbal makes a sharp, bell-like sound with a distinct attack. Its sustain varies with the cymbal’s design, so it is not always shorter than the bow sound. On the other hand, playing the bow creates a sound that is subtler, and the sound the cymbal creates is far more familiar to a listener’s ear.

If you’re looking to buy a good ride cymbal, then take a look at the best ride cymbals on the market today.

3. Hi-Hats

1. What does a hi-hat sound like? When the hi-hats are closed it creates a very tight sound. If the hi-hats are looser together, it creates a much more trashy and sizzling sound when they are struck.
2. Used for: Playing steady patterns.
3. Sizes: Usually around 14 inches (but they can be slightly bigger or smaller).

Hi-hats are a set of two cymbals that sit together on a stand. They are designed to bring the top cymbal (or ‘hat’) down on the bottom one with the help of a foot pedal.

Along with ride cymbals, these serve as time-keeping cymbals and can be played either with the help of the foot pedal or with drumsticks.

Check out the best hi-hat cymbals for further reference.

Hi-hats are often played when a drummer is looking to create steady patterns – playing them while they are open provides you with a sandy, sizzle sound that serves as an additional accent for your music. Varying the gap between the two cymbals allows you to change the sound and create a much more open wash or a tighter, shorter accent. Try changing foot pressure while keeping the same stick pattern, then close the hats firmly for a short foot chick.

When closed, they produce a more varied sound. This varied sound can be everything from one that is short and crisp to a far more aggressive sound that is muted and metallic – it is all dependent on the type of the cymbals.

Hi-hats often range from 12” to 16”, with other sizes available. Size does affect their response and pitch: compare a smaller pair’s quick response with the broader sound of a larger pair. Weight matters too, and many pairs have a heavier bottom cymbal to support a clear foot chick. Choose by sound and feel as well as diameter.

4. Splash Cymbals

Though they are, in many ways, similar to crash cymbals, splash cymbals help provide your riffs and solos with accents and also come in handy when you’re looking to create special drumming effects.

These cymbals tend to be smaller in diameter and thin enough to respond quickly to a light stroke. Their quick attack and decay come from their design; hitting a delicate splash harder is not the way to make its accent clearer.

The design of splash cymbals allows them to create a sound that is sharp and short, one that can resemble a splash of water.

Their short accents let drummers add personality and flair without leaving a long cymbal wash over the next phrase. They can still compete with other instruments, so listen to their level and placement within the music.

These are usually the smallest of the different types of cymbals and usually range in size from 6” to about 13”, though they can be as small as 4”.

Whether you’re looking for a beginner splash or a pro pick, you will find more reference for the best splash cymbals available in our other article.

5. China Cymbals (or Chinese Cymbal)

China cymbals take their name from their Chinese cymbal ancestry. They are easily recognizable by the turned edge, often combined with a distinctly shaped bell, although bell shapes and mounting designs vary.

China cymbals vary in weight and taper, so their shape alone does not tell you how thick they are. Their coarse, trashy attack is the familiar feature; some sound dark and broad, while others are bright and cutting.

It can also sound explosive and crash-like when played. Due to this distinctive sound, they are also often called trash cymbals.

When it comes to playing them, they are usually played in a manner that is similar to crash or ride cymbals.

They are most commonly used in rock music, jazz fusion, and Latin.

The thing that truly defines china cymbals is their ‘trashy’ sound – they vary vastly in size, and can be found in sizes from 8” up to much larger, 27” models.

If you’re looking for an amazing-sounding china cymbal, then take a look at the best china cymbals on the market now.

6. Effects Cymbals

The term ‘effects cymbals’ can be applied to a wide variety of cymbals, and there is no strict definition of the type of cymbals it can encompass.

This term can be used to refer to everything from large, oddly shaped sheets of metal that are used as cymbals to tiny splash cymbals to cymbals that have riveted jingles that help create a more unique sound.

They often provide your drumming with accents and tonal color in bursts. They can also carry repeated rhythmic patterns, such as a short stack sound on every offbeat, so an effects cymbal is not limited to occasional accents.

They often have holes in the cymbals that help create a trashy, or particularly unique, sound. You can play these cymbals in any number of ways, including crash, ride, or splash cymbals.

Effects cymbals encompass a large variety of cymbals, therefore they do not have any set or general size.

7. Swish Cymbals

Swish cymbals belong to the Chinese-style cymbal family and can be used for a broad, washy ride sound as well as accents. Some have rivets that add a sizzle, but rivets are not what makes a cymbal a swish. Size varies by model; the turned profile and playing response are more useful identifiers.

Adding rivets to a suitable cymbal can create a sizzle effect, but it does not turn a cracked crash into a swish. A drilled crack may continue to spread, and modification can affect warranty coverage. Check with the manufacturer before attempting a repair or rivet installation, and keep sharp or damaged cymbals out of normal playing use.

8. Cymbal Stacks

Cymbal stacks are exactly what they sound like – several cymbals, two or more, that are stacked one on top of another. When you hit a single cymbal, they start a chain reaction – essentially, hitting one cymbal results in them hitting each other.

This means that whatever each cymbal originally sounded like, the combination of the cymbals in a stack results in a completely changed sound. It is often a gritty, trashy sound that results from a cymbal stack, and stacks are most often used to get tight, trashy, bright sounds that cut through the rest of the sound you are creating.

You can create your own, unique stack, or buy pre-made ones. Given the way stack cymbals are formed, there is no “accepted” size for the cymbals you use in a stack. Different sizes and combinations produce different sounds, but the pieces need to fit the stand securely without sharp edges or unintended metal-on-metal contact at the mounting hole. Start with light strokes and change one piece or the mounting tension at a time to hear how the response changes.

Should you buy a cymbal stack or create your own? Making one from sound spare cymbals is a good way to experiment with a short, trashy accent. Cracked cymbals are sometimes repurposed, but cracks can spread and leave sharp edges, so a cheap damaged cymbal is not automatically a safe bargain. A purpose-built stack avoids starting with that damage.

Alternatively, there are plenty of interesting cymbal stacks that you can buy.

9. Orchestral Cymbals

Orchestras use two types of cymbals, hand cymbals, and suspended cymbals. Let’s go more in-depth for each.

Orchestral Hand Cymbals

Otherwise known as clash cymbals or concert cymbals, orchestral cymbals are usually played in matched pairs.

They are struck against each other – each cymbal is held in an individual hand and then struck together to produce a sound.

With otherwise similar construction, smaller orchestral cymbals tend to sound higher and larger ones lower, with more volume potential. Thickness also changes response and sustain; a thinner pair can speak at a lighter dynamic, while a heavier pair needs a different touch. These cymbals are most often used in marching bands, orchestras (hence the name), military bands, percussion ensembles, and theatrical performances.

Suspended Cymbals

A suspended cymbal is a single cymbal supported so it can ring freely, rather than one of a hand-held pair. In an orchestra it may hang from a strap or rest on a suitable stand. Soft mallets are often used for swelling rolls, while sticks or other beaters produce different attacks.

Technically, cymbals on drum sets are suspended cymbals, but the term is far more often used for orchestral cymbals.

10. Other types of Cymbals

Many other metal percussion instruments can be found in different parts of the world. Finger cymbals are small members of the cymbal family, while gongs are a related but separate instrument. Here are two other sounds worth knowing alongside your drum-set cymbals:

Gongs

These are circular and flat metal discs that create a sound by being hit with a mallet. There are two major types of gongs: ones with a much flatter surface that creates a ‘crash’ sound, and bossed gongs, which have a raised central boss (or knob), that create a more tuned sound, and are usually played either suspended or horizontally.

Finger Cymbals

Otherwise known as zills, after the Turkish name for them, these small cymbals are usually used in belly dancing and other similar performances. They are usually used in a set of four cymbals, two per hand.

They come in a variety of sizes, each of which produces a different kind of sound, and each is meant for a different kind of performance. Belly dancers, for example, use finger cymbals that produce a more delicate sound, while a performer with an orchestra will usually use a larger one that will also have a greater volume.

Summary

That’s our guide to the different types of cymbals that you can find. If you’re playing on the drum set, then be sure to master the important ones first.

The hi-hat, ride, and crash are by far the most important cymbals. Later on, you can focus on the other types. Each drummer ultimately creates their own drum kit, choosing the type of cymbals that work best for the type of music and sound they are looking to create.

If you don’t currently own a set of cymbals, make sure to check to the guides on this site to give you some guidance on the recommended options. Alternatively, if you have a drum store near you then get a drumstick and try out as many of them as you can see!

Enjoy your journey of trying out different cymbals. They can really craft and sculpt the sound of your drum set.