Cymbals

Which cymbals should you buy to get started?

A drum kit is built around three cymbals. The hi-hat is a pair of cymbals mounted facing each other on a hi-hat stand. You play it with your foot and drumsticks, on almost every rhythm. The other two are the crash cymbal and the ride cymbal. The crash cymbal is for accents and phrase endings. The ride cymbal is the biggest, and you use it to keep the tempo when you move off the hi-hat.

Happy with the cymbals that came with your drum kit? Then just add a ride cymbal, a 20-inch one, for example. No longer happy with them? Replace the lot in one go with a cymbal set, with a hi-hat, crash cymbal and ride cymbal from the same series. Most often, that's 14/16/20 (a 14-inch hi-hat, a 16-inch crash cymbal and a 20-inch ride cymbal). Some sets add an 18-inch crash cymbal, sometimes a 10-inch splash cymbal too.

Cymbal sets actually account for the largest share of our cymbal sales. Zildjian sells far more than the other brands here. Meinl, Paiste and Sabian follow. You'll also find Turkish cymbals from Istanbul Agop and Agean.

What diameter and thickness should you choose?

Diameter is given in inches. If in doubt, go for a 14-inch hi-hat: it's the size you'll be recommended almost everywhere (and half our hi-hats are this size). With crash cymbals, 16 and 18 inches are the most common sizes. A ride cymbal is usually 20 or 22 inches. No room for a ride cymbal and a crash cymbal? There are a few crash-ride cymbals that do both jobs.

The thickness is written on the cymbal, more or less. Thin means thin. Medium is in between, and rock or heavy means thick. To oversimplify a little, the thicker it is, the more it's suited to hard-hitting music. A thin cymbal has a darker sound and plenty of overtones. A thick one has more high frequencies and an explosive sound. If you play a bit of everything, from rock to pop music, a medium thickness will do the job. If you go in for heavy hitting, forget very thin crash cymbals. And for a crash cymbal you leave ringing throughout a rhythm pattern, some drummers actually prefer a thin one with a large diameter.

Brass, B8 or B20: what changes from one range to another?

You'll often see the alloy listed on product pages. Brass is what you'll find in entry-level ranges. Paiste's 101 and PST 3, Meinl's HCS, Zildjian's Planet Z and Sabian's SBR. It's what we recommend most often for a first cymbal set. Above that, it's bronze. B8 has 8 % tin (Sabian's B8X, Zildjian's I Family, Paiste's PST 5 and PST 7). B20 goes up to 20 %, and you'll find it in Meinl's Byzance, Sabian's AA, AAX and HHX, and from Turkish brands Istanbul Agop and Agean.

Bear in mind, though, the alloy doesn't tell you everything. Paiste's 2002 cymbals are made from B8, and plenty of drummers have made them their favourite series. With hand-hammered cymbals, two examples of the same model don't always sound the same (Agean says so on its product pages). Before you buy, spend some time checking out the demos.

Splash cymbal, china cymbal, cymbal stand, cymbal bag: what else should you get?

After the basic three, most drummers get a second crash cymbal. Choose a different size, an 18-inch alongside a 16-inch, for example, and check that it goes well with the first one. Then it's time for effects. The splash cymbal is a small cymbal, usually 10 inches, that dies away very quickly. The china cymbal has an upturned edge and a trashier sound, and 18 inches is a common choice. Two crash cymbals, a ride cymbal, a splash cymbal and a china cymbal already give you plenty to play with. To go further, look at cymbal stacks and effects cymbals or bell cymbals.

Every extra cymbal needs a cymbal stand. A straight cymbal stand holds the cymbal directly above its base, while a boom cymbal stand has a boom arm that brings the cymbal closer to you, above the toms. For the hi-hat, you'll need a hi-hat stand. When setting up, don't clamp the cymbal down with the cymbal nut. It needs to move freely on its cymbal felts, with the plastic cymbal sleeve around the cymbal post. If it's properly mounted and you hit it with a glancing stroke, there's no reason for it to break, even if you play loudly.

Taking them to rehearsal? A cymbal bag protects them. Just check that it fits your largest cymbal. Many take cymbals up to 22 or 24 inches, and some can be worn on your back. Have your drumsticks left white marks on the hi-hat? That's from the stick tips, nothing to worry about. Wipe it with a dry cloth and they usually come off. Pick your cymbals up by the cymbal edge and you'll avoid fingerprints. You'll find sizzler chains, rivets or cymbal cleaner in cymbal accessories.

Which cymbals should you use for a drum kit in a flat?

Playing in a flat, with drum mutes on the drum shells? Your cymbals need to come down a notch too. Quiet cymbals (also called low-volume cymbals) have small holes drilled in them. You play with your usual drumsticks. Meinl's HCS Practice claim a reduction of around 15 dB. We also have them from Obera, from Zildjian with the L80 and from Evans with the dB One, in cymbal sets or individually.

Each brand has its own sound here too, and drummers on forums say they appreciate having a choice, even at low volume. Agean even makes them in B20 bronze, hammered and then drilled by hand.

Buying your cymbals from Woodbrass

Your hi-hat is from one brand, and you're not sure about the crash cymbal? Some drummers never mix brands, others do. A Woodbrass sales adviser can help you work it out on +33 2 57 88 00 74. You can call from 9 am on weekdays, from 10 am on Saturdays, and until 6 pm Paris time. Not a fan of the phone? Send us an email, or drop us a message on the chat.

Does your new crash cymbal clash with your hi-hat? Return it within 30 days of delivery. A fault covered by the warranty? After-sales service is handled through the website. Open your order from your customer account and describe the problem, with a photo or video if you can. You can track the request online. Depending on what we find, the cymbal will be repaired, replaced or refunded. Some cymbal brands have their own warranty. The product page then tells you how long it lasts and what it covers.

A B-Stock cymbal sometimes appears in this section, tested and covered by a 6-month warranty. To pay in instalments, choose Alma.