Picking the Right Zildjian Cymbal for You

A question I commonly hear from new drummers, and sometimes more experienced drummers, is "how do I pick the right cymbal for the music I play?" Choosing the right cymbal can be a difficult task. There are so many different reasons to purchase one cymbal over the other, and cymbals are (admittedly) expensive, especially if you want a high grade one. So how do you find the right one? How can you make the monetary commitment to a cymbal and be sure of the purchase?

There are many factors that should be taken into consideration before you make a purchase of any cymbal, Zildjian or not. You need to consider several things: brightness (how much higher pitch and sharper the tone is) or darkness (how much lower pitch and warmer the sound is), tone, the size of the cymbal, ping, the bell, its abilities as a crash cymbal, the attack of the cymbal (how much 'punch' it has when you hit it), what genre you are playing, the list goes on. With so many different factors, where do you even start?

Zildjian's A Custom Series of Cymbals: Hi-Hat, Crash, and Ride Cymbal. Buy this bundle over at https://zildjian.com/a-family/a-custom (Photo Credit: Avedis Zildjian Company)

I always tell people to first look at the genre for which they need the cymbals. Do you play a diverse range of music, from rock to jazz to metal? Or do you tend to focus on playing and practicing only one genre? The more variation you have in the styles of music you play, the more variation and dynamics you want to be able to get out of your cymbals. Certain styles of cymbals work better for certain genres. For example, Zildjian's A Custom series (click here for more information on them) are best used for metal or rock music, due to their clean attack and balanced tone. Another example might be Zildjian's K Custom Jazz Ride; obviously, it's best used for jazz music!

If you're not too picky on having that "perfect" tone in your cymbal for every particular genre, then you might try something like Zildjian's New Beat line of cymbals. Some cymbals, such as New Beats, are designed with balance in mind; they cover a wide range of genres by having a nice, balanced tone. To hear what I mean, take a listen to this brief audio clip of Zildjian's New Beat Hi-Hats. You will hear a sharp, punchy sound, but with a nice wash and sustain when it is played open. This allows the hi-hat to be used for various genres.

New Beat Hi-Hats Demo (credit to Drum Center NH):

Explore and Experiment!

Ultimately, I suggest you explore many cymbals before making a decision. In many different music stores, like Guitar Center, Sam Ash, or even your local music shop, there will be a cymbal and rum section with plenty of cymbals on display. Always ask first, but most stores are fine if you take a brush or a drum stick to the cymbal and try it out. That's the best way to hear the cymbal: try it out in person. Make sure to hit it in different ways; hit it hard, hit it soft, strike it on the bell, try it out as a ride cymbal, and if it's a hi-hat, play it open and closed. While Zildjian is the premiere cymbal company, don't hesitate to mix and match cymbals! Paiste, Sabian, and other companies offer good cymbals, and can sound good when played with Zildjian's own cymbals. Of course, I recommend sticking with Zildjian due to superior quality and consistency in tone (what you hear from a Zildjian cymbal once, you will likely hear if you buy another cymbal like it). Regardless of the specific type of cymbal you settle on, Zildjian can cover all of your needs. You can also find information on each line of Zildjian cymbals through our website, https://zildjian.com/. Explore the website!

In addition, you can always contact us, or call your local music store, or even ask around other drummers: we can help you, and others will recommend cymbals they have already tried. Make sure to have fun while you explore; buying and playing cymbals is a fun process! Regardless of the decision you ultimately make, remember to enjoy playing the drums and not fret about your cymbals sounding "wrong." If you like it, and it's from Zildjian, then you have nothing to worry about! Now go out there, experiment, and find the right cymbal for you. 

Disclaimer: image used in this article is from Zildjian's own website.
This blog is for educational purposes only, and is not to be used for gain or anything else. It is not officially sponsored or endorsed by Avedis Zildjian Company.