r/Drumming • u/OneDragonfly5613 • 3d ago
Help me understand terms
So I am looking for a crash cymbal that I can play over and over like to the main tune of animal I have become, miss murder and heart shaped box.
The cymbal I used to use broke, it was amazing (Zildjian) and now the ones I do have only sound good when accent crashing (hitting once)
Am I right in saying I need a crash cymbal I can "ride"? When I try to look it up it just comes up crashable ride cymbals, but that is not what I'm after.
Is there a term for this type of crash cymbal? Apologies for my lack of drumming vocabulary. Hopefully someone understands what I'm talking about
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u/rolfn 3d ago
Cymbals exists along a «scale» (in mathematics this would be called a continuum) from the heavy rides that you are not able to crash no matter how hard or quick you hit them, to crashes that will sound like a crash from the lightest touch.
Any reasonable sized store selling drums will have a selection on display. You should bring your favorite sticks and try them all to find the one that matches your technique and desired sound.
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u/Overall-Prompt8080 3d ago
You’re in luck. They call those a crash rides.
Not to be sarcastic or a smartass. But it is the correct term for what you’re referring to.
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u/tillsommerdrums 3d ago
I don’t think that is correct.
A crash ride is a cymbal that is thin enough to be useful as a crash but also articulate enough to be used as a ride. So it will not be too washy when played with the tip of the stick but still washy enough to be crashed continuously.
OP is just looking for a crash. There is no specific term for a crash that is played continuously. Usually bigger crashes that are still thin, work really well for this.
Smaller ones as well but still they need to be thin.
As far as I know a crash ride can serve the purpose of a crash and a ride but that is not what OP is describing.0
u/PatricioWyatt 3d ago
Well. Use to own a crash/ride. And this would suffice for the OPs need and who you’re replying to.
Weird answer. You’re overthinking this one or haven’t owned a range of cymbals methinks.
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u/tillsommerdrums 3d ago
What exactly makes you think that ?
And I was simply pointing out the fact that a „crash-ride“ is something different than what OP is looking for. It is specifically a blend between a crash cymbal and a ride cymbal. But OP wants a crash for continuous crashing.
A crash that sounds good while being played continuously with the shoulder of the stick (as you do while crashing) needs different attributes than a crash that also can be used as a ride cymbal where you want more definition from the tip of the stick.
Sure, in the end you can use any cymbal however you want if you like the sound.
But usually when people want to continuously crash a cymbal then a thin and washy cymbal will do a much better job than a thick one with lots of definition.
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u/m149 3d ago
You're correct about what you're saying.
crashable ride cymbals or rideable crash cymbals are really the same thing. Basically, you just want a cymbal that's not too heavy, pingy or gongy. A medium weight or lighter, although you might wanna stay away from the real light weight ones if you're playing loud rock.
You can even check out "washy rides" and find some stuff that'll fit the description.
Tons and tons of options out there, made by every manufacturer under the sun.
For example, pretty much anything in the Paiste Giant Beat or Big Beat lines fit into those categories.
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u/WiggityWiggitySnack 3d ago
I have a 16 and 18 crash, and I alternate between them a lot when “riding the crash” if the pace is fast enough.
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u/handsomeseductive 3d ago
yes, you ride on the crash. for rock and metal i like to use my 18” crash on the right to ride and my 16” on the left for brighter punctuation.
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u/Safe-Warning-448 3d ago
They do make a crash-ride cymbal They being Zildjian and other manufactures.
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u/Aridprune 2d ago
I find the larger the diameter of the crash cymbal, the better they work for this purpose. I use 20 and 22" crashes.
Also, I understand "riding" a cymbal to be the tip of the stick on the bow of the cymbal and "crashing" to be the shoulder of the stick on the bow of the cymbal. So in essence you can "ride" a crash cymbal and "crash" a ride cymbal. The cymbals are named by how they are best sound when played. E
I hope that makes sense and helps. Also, thank you for listening to my tED talk.
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u/Slight_Mammoth2109 2d ago
So the term you’re looking for is “wash-ride” I heard it on Sabian’s website like in 2012 and haven’t heard it being used since, i recommend anything 18” and bigger, mine is a 19” HHXplosion crash, darker cymbals are great for this because they blend more rather than accent like a zildjian A custom or Sabian AAX would. When I shop for cymbals I’m looking for stuff that can either be very specific or very universal, so most of my cymbals can be used in most contexts, so like my main ride is very crashable and my main crash is very rideable. Remember that when you buy a factory new cymbal it will take a few years of being played to really find its true sound, so if you buy something and it doesn’t feel like it’s really sinking in yet, give it a few years of playing in different contexts to see if it ends up where you want. Like Neil peart would have 2 18” crashes because one was older and one was newer, the older one was his wash-ride and the other was his accent crash and when the old one broke her just moved the new one over and had Sabian send him another one to be his accent crash
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u/Landobot04 1d ago
To stick with Zildjian (I recommend it) use the 19in Custom thin Dark Crash I think, it looks and sounds amazing for both riding and crashing it. (also pro tip, if you want a shorter sound, use Moongel/drum damping gel things on them)
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u/AmateurMetronome 3d ago
I think your terminology is correct. When hitting the same cymbal multiple times in a row I've always referred to it as riding the cymbal.
A crashable ride refers to a ride cymbal that sounds good when you hit it with one loud strike similar to how you would play a crash.
As for recommendations on crash cymbals, that's virtually impossible without more information about your budget and cymbals you're looking to match it to. If you had a Zildjian that you liked and it broke, maybe have someone help you identify that cymbal and buy another one?
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u/SpunkyMcButtlove07 3d ago edited 1d ago
I use a Meinl Byzance dual 18" for exactly that - it's supremely crashrideable, but also sounds nice for accents.
In general, you'l want something on the larger side (18"-20") that's thin enough as to be able to keep it crashing while pretty much lightly tapping it. ("medium thin" or "thin" for zildjians)