Cymbals are thin, round concave plates usually made from a copper-tin alloy. They are played singly by striking with a stick, or together, as in an orchestra, by dashing two together. Although they were used as musical instruments before the Middle Ages, cymbals did not become part of bands or orchestras until the late 1700s.

When it comes to picking out cymbals, there are more options available than with any other drum set component - with a seemingly infinite array of sizes and models, the possibilities may seem endless! The quality and price of a cymbal is determined by several factors - the alloy the cymbal is made from and the processes used to form and shape the metal.

Cymbal Construction

Inexpensive cymbals are made from brass alloys and are either machine stamped or spun into shape. These cymbals may not be as durable and have a fairly narrow spectrum of overtones with a short sustain.

Better student cymbals are made of CuSn8 often called B8 bronze. This is an alloy consisting of 92% copper, and 8% tin. Student cymbals made from B8 bronze are usually stamped into shape by machines.. Machine processes can also add additional hammering (dimples, or indentations) or lathing (grooves around the cymbal.) Hammering and lathing refine the sound of a cymbal by changing the overtone structure it produces.

Many professional cymbals are made from CuSn20. This mixture of 80% copper and 20% tin has been used in cymbal making for hundreds of years. Some professional model cymbals are also made from B8 bronze. There are also proprietary cymbal alloys in use for various professional lines.

Professional cymbals are typically cast into their basic shape and then hand worked into a more complex and refined instrument. The more labor intensive the manufacturing of a cymbal is - including hand hammering, and hand lathing - the higher the cost of the instrument. A cymbal that combines machine processes with hand work will have more complex overtones than one that is all machine made.

Basic Cymbal Setup

A basic cymbal setup contains a ride cymbal, a crash cymbal, and a pair of hi-hats. The ride cymbal is usually the largest at around 20" and is set up in the area over the floor tom. A ride cymbal has a fairly bright sound with a pronounced stick attack and less sustain than the other cymbals. When drummers are playing a "beat," the ride cymbal is struck almost continuously with the right hand stick. This style of playing is called a "ride pattern," - that's where the name "ride" cymbal comes from.

A "ride pattern" may also be played on the cymbals called hi-hats. The hi hats are usually relatively small - 13" or 14"- and are always used as a pair. The bottom cymbal is inverted and placed on the hi-hat stand with the second cymbal on top. Applying the pedal brings the edges of the two cymbals together to produce the characteristic "chick" sound. Different sounds can be created with the hi-hats by striking them in the closed or open position and by manipulating the stick sound through the use of a foot pedal.

A crash cymbal is a medium sized cymbal that is played by hitting it with a stick. It is not usually used to create a continuous beat, but more for isolated punctuation of the music. It produces a sound that is more of a "shimmering wash" of overtones rather than the brighter sounds of the ride cymbal or hi-hats.

Effect cymbals may be added to a basic drum set to give each drummer a more personal sound. There are many types and sizes available - for example, "china" cymbals have a brash and abrasive attack, short sustain and overall "trashy" character. "Splash" cymbals are 6" to 12" and are typically used for smaller, quick and sometimes delicate accents.

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