Cymbal Selection for Intermediate and Advanced Drummers

Sizes

Just like any instrument, a cymbal's size is the most important factor in determining its fundamental pitch. Generally speaking, the smaller the cymbal, the higher the pitch. A higher pitch often indicates a brighter sound, which is why cymbal of smaller sizes, particularly crashes and hi hats, are popular for pop drummers. By the same token, the larger the cymbal, the lower the pitch and the darker the sound. This makes large cymbals a popular choice for jazz drummers. In fact, jazz drummers often replace their crash cymbal with a second (usually smaller and higher pitched) ride cymbal.

As you are looking to upgrade your cymbals, you are experienced enough to understand roughly what you want. Don't feel restricted by the style of music you play. If you're a pop drummer, there's no rule that says you can't use big dark cymbals. Likewise, if you're a jazz drummer but prefer bright cymbals, feel free to give it a try. The most important thing is that you're happy with how your cymbals sound and enjoy playing them.

Weight

A cymbal’s weight also determines its pitch. Thin cymbals produce a lower pitched, darker sound, while thick cymbals sound brighter and higher pitched.

Weight also determines the resonance and volume of the cymbal. Thicker cymbals require more energy to resonate when struck, so they have a slow, gong-like tone that resonates for a long time. Thin cymbals reach full resonance quickly, so they produce a fast response that resonates for a short time. This can be described as a fast “decay.”

Most cymbal brands label the weight of the cymbal with a simple word (extra thin, thin, medium, heavy, extra heavy). This can make shopping easier but it isn't very specific. Two thin cymbals from the same brand and range can sound completely different, while not all cymbal brands have exactly the same view as to what constitutes a “thin” cymbal. Some cymbal manufacturers label their cymbals with an exact weight measurement. This is obviously more specific but it can be difficult to know how much a thin cymbal should weigh. A great tool to contextualise cymbal weights is the cymbal weight calculator: http://budstein.com/cymbalweight/. You simply put in the cymbal weight, diameter, and type (ride/crash/hi hats), and it tells you in Lehman’s terms how heavy the cymbal is.