Cymbals Every Jazz Drummer Needs

Since jazz is a genre where expression of the individual plays a crucial role, as a drummer, you should seriously consider the choice of cymbals to create the desirable impact on your audience with your music. In this article, we are going to explore the key factors to consider when buying cymbals as well as cymbals every jazz drummer should have. 

What You Should Consider When Selecting Cymbals 

The right cymbals are essential to deliver iconic, expressive tones that define jazz style. 

Here’s what you should take into account first: 

• The size impacts the sound and resonance of cymbals: larger cymbals sound and resonate louder. 
• The weight is also a crucial factor, since lighter cymbals produce a broader range of overtones, resulting in a more open and resonant sound. At the same time, heavier models tend to have more stick articulation and penetrate the mix of a band more effectively.
• The degree to which cymbals curve outward from the bell to the edge impact the pitch and overtones. Playing more curved cymbals results in higher overtones and a higher pitch. 
• Particular cymbals have their specific purpose. Some serve as the backbone of the rhythm and set the tone for the entire performance, such as ride cymbals, others are used for timing such as hi-hats or punctuate key moments in a song such as crashes. There are also cymbals that add quick, sharp accents crucial for jazz arrangements, such as splash cymbals. 

As jazz drumming relies significantly on the creativity of musicians, nothing should stop you from experimenting with cymbals of various sizes and finishes on your way to find your ideal combination that works well for your own sound.

What Cymbals Every Drummer Needs

Now, it’s time to delve into detail to find out more about cymbals that should be present in the arsenal of every drummer. 

Ride Cymbals 

Why they are important: Jazz heavily relies on ride cymbals for their "swing" pattern. In other words, ride cymbals play the most important role in defining your jazz sound.

How to select: Cymbals with a darker tone, and a medium to long sustain are typically preferred by drummers who are seeking a traditional jazz sound or the bebop vibes of the 1950s and 1960s. Those who are more interested in modern jazz sound, may prefer brighter ride cymbals. The key factor you should take into account when browsing through multiple options on the market is the cymbal diameter and whether you buy sizzle cymbals with rivets or chains added to modify their tone.

A ride diameter of 20–22 inches is the most popular option used among jazz drummers. The decision to buy cymbals with rivets or not should be based entirely on your personal taste.

What you can buy at KGUmusic website: you can select and buy ride cymbals featuring a diameter of 20 inches and offering fast response and balanced tone.

Crash Cymbals 

Why they are important: The first thing that might come to mind of an average person when you talk about cymbals is the explosive and powerful sound typical for crashes. This sound helps them add dramatic accents and transitions within a song without overpowering the ensemble. Unlike ride cymbals, these are used to emphasize the beat. Crash cymbals are positioned in the drum set depending on personal preferences. Right-handed drummers place crashes to the left of the kit. When drummers use several crashes, they may place them on both sides or mount above a larger crash or ride cymbal.

How to select: You should pay attention to their diameter and thickness, as these factors make up the overall characteristic of a cymbal. The more metal cymbals have, the less response you get. Cymbals with a larger diameter and greater thickness provide more volume. Crashes also differ based on dimensions. The thinner they are, the brighter they sound. Thicker crash cymbals provide darker tones. One of the factors impacting the price, apart from the brand’s name, is the material. Budget-friendly cymbals are mostly made from brass (a combination of copper and zinc), while cymbals of a higher price are produced from bronze.

What you can buy at KGUmusic website: you can find crash cymbals with diameter ranging between 16–18 inches, perfect for explosive accents.

Splash Cymbals 

Why they are important: Being the smallest among cymbals featured in the drum set, they offer quick, sharp accents, serving perfectly for jazz arrangements. Their diameter is ranging from 6 to 12 inches, which results in a fast attack, short sustain and quick decay. Their name speaks for themselves, as they are recognized by their explosive splash sound. Within a cymbal set, splash cymbals are typically placed between the two rack toms, however drummers may also position them next to hi-hats and underneath crash cymbals.

How to select: When selecting splash cymbals, it’s important to consider their diameters. Larger splashes sound slightly louder and offer a longer sustain. A smaller size results in a quick-response sound and quicker sustain. Additionally, you won’t face many difficulties with setting up the small-size splash in your drum set. Speaking about thickness, you can find thin cymbals, also known as paper-thin, and options of a standard weight. Their thickness impacts the weight and as a result it also influences a pitch. Heavier splashes provide lower pitch, while lighter splashes result in higher pitch. Finishes also contribute to an overall sound. Traditional finishes without high gloss shine and brilliant finish with a high gloss shine affect the produced sound. Splashes with traditional finish are characterized by a mellow and darker sound, which works perfectly for soul, blues, R&B, hip hop, fusion, and jazz. Brilliant finish helps splash cymbals cut through music better thanks to their bright sound, which works better in pop music, rock, metal, and techno.

What you can buy at KGUmusic website: we offer splash cymbals with a diameter of 8 inches delivering bright accents with warm rich undertones.

Hi-Hats

Why they are important: For jazz drummers, hi-hats and a ride cymbal are the most important tools. They are used for keeping time and adding texture to your drumming. Some jazz songs even center around hi-hats rhythms. The sound produced by hi-hat cymbals can vary from crisp, articulate "chick" sounds to shimmering patterns, thus, hi-hats bring dynamic versatility to the song. This makes buying a high-quality hi-hat a very reasonable step.

How to select: Hi-hats can be used for playing off-beat foot chicks and eighth notes. Jazz drummers typically look for hi-hats able to produce a strong chick sound as soon as they press the hi-hat pedal down. Selecting a proper hi-hat for jazz is a rather challenging task, as jazz comes in various forms. At the market, you can find hi-hats designed for particular dynamic levels, as well as more versatile models. To select a proper hi-hat for jazz, you should consider their build quality, especially whether they are well-weighted. The size also matters. Smaller hi-hat cymbals help you get higher tones, while bigger ones produce lower tones. You can start with 14-inch hi-hats and then depending on preferences switch to smaller or bigger ones.

What you can buy at KGUmusic website: we offer 14-inch hi-hats with a perfect balance of warmth, precision, and versatility.

Conclusion 

By investing in high-quality ride, crash, splash and hi-hat cymbals, you can enrich your drumming style and boost your personal creativity within jazz. 

We invite you to explore our collection of cymbals, available as individual pieces and cymbal sets.

Recently we’ve also featured an article about the difference between ride, crash, and splash cymbals.