cymbal cracking...they all do it...all the time. how do i stop it?
Lt. Bob
Spread the Daf!
How often do you crack your pianos Bdgr?
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fenix
New member
try zildjian z custom rock crashes.
Badger
Active member
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drummer1000
New member
i swear if i hear one more drummer use this as an excuse to hit cymbals loud ill kill them, im a drummer who has played in a metal band, i have never once hammered a cymbal to same extent i think you do, in fact in the 6 years i was in the band i never broke a cymbal, if you play the cymbal in the proper way you can get the exact same sound as you would if you battered it half to death, ok yes hitting the crap out of a kit in the middle of a particularly heavy part is a hell of a lot of fun but if you cant afford the replacement cymbals then revise your technique.shackrock said:
sorry if i seemed harsh but im sick of hearing people say this, as for a cymbal type, i say a fairly thick Zyldjian if your using a crash to ride onand loosen the felts/washers off too, give it room to move.
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cwb123
New member
I agree with drummer1000....
breaking your cymbals in all situations is practically unnecesary... i about cried when i recorded the last band i recorded. I give the drummers the option to use my set for convenience, and the drummer was killing my zildjian vintage crash : (.... he couldn't use the excuse that is sounded better cause it was out of rythm anyways...... but still, that crash still isn't happy w/ me after that beating..
but yeah, one thing a lot of drummers could do is become more dynamic! you dont need to play loud to get the same intensity and feel... work on technique and learn to have the control to have the same feels and patterns, but at a different volume level...
but since your gonna play hard anyways still... why not invest in a cheap pair of zbts....... for two reasons... 1. when you break them you wont be losing as much money. 2. if your playing that loud in the first place, it doesn't matter the orginal quality of that cymbal, they all give the same over played brash sound anyways, so go w/ a cheaper pair and get near same results.
breaking your cymbals in all situations is practically unnecesary... i about cried when i recorded the last band i recorded. I give the drummers the option to use my set for convenience, and the drummer was killing my zildjian vintage crash : (.... he couldn't use the excuse that is sounded better cause it was out of rythm anyways...... but still, that crash still isn't happy w/ me after that beating..
but yeah, one thing a lot of drummers could do is become more dynamic! you dont need to play loud to get the same intensity and feel... work on technique and learn to have the control to have the same feels and patterns, but at a different volume level...
but since your gonna play hard anyways still... why not invest in a cheap pair of zbts....... for two reasons... 1. when you break them you wont be losing as much money. 2. if your playing that loud in the first place, it doesn't matter the orginal quality of that cymbal, they all give the same over played brash sound anyways, so go w/ a cheaper pair and get near same results.
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M.Brane
New member
I'll bet that was a really kick-ass metal band.
My good friend and drummer grew up playing jazz. He was playing professionally at age 9. He didn't even get into rock until he was in high school. This guy can wipe the floor with any drummer in the county. I've been to jazz gigs with him and seen him do some amazing playing soft enough to play in an apartment but when he plays rock he plays hard (although you wouldn't know just by watching: he hardly moves) and he does break cymbals. Well, not his ride. He's had that one for over 10 years. And yes, he does crash it.
I've also played with some real neandrathols that hit harder and didn't sound anywhere near as good. It's all about feel. To me it's real disappointing to see a heavy band with a drummer that's playing it like a lounge gig.
Whoopysnorp
New member
cwb123 said:
Oh, man! If I had a really nice irreplaceable cymbal like that, I'd never ever let anybody borrow it. I'd let people I know play on it a little bit, but not for a recording session. I've loaned people cymbals before, but my cymbals can be easily replaced (and I've only loaned them to people I know, whose consciences would force them to buy me new ones if they cracked 'em). If I were in your shoes, I would have told the dude straight up that I didn't like how he was hitting the crash and I'd yank it away if he didn't alter his technique.
Tim Brown
New member
You need to learn to play.
I'm not being a smartass, I'm being serious.
You aren't playing if you are breaking cymbals, you are BASHING.
I'm 34, and I've been playing for 28 years, I haven't even broken a head in 10 years or so. There is a point where you will not get any more volume out of them, and you just need to learn where that point is; until you do, you're not playing, you are bashing.
First, your cymbals should be approximately level with your ears when you sit on the drumthrone.
Next they should be realtively flat, and very "loose", with alot of sway in them.
You may need to purchase a RIDE cymbal to Ride on in the manner you are talking about.
what sizes are you breaking? perhaps the cymbals are not big enough?
I use 18"-20" Cymbals. I play with Tama Power Tools #5 sticks, which are essentially a marching size stick, similar to a 2S/Tommy Aldridge/Bobby Rock/Tommy Lee sized drumstick.
I hit extremely hard, and use thin to medium thin top of the line Paiste cymbals (which are actually infamous for being easy to break) yet I have never broken one of these yet.
So, analyze what you are doing, and try to see what you are doing wrong.
Personally, I think your using a cymbal that's too small fgor the purpose, and there's something wrong with your technique of striking the cymbals.
Oh, did I mention that I'm 6'1" 250 Lbs. and lift weights?
You need to hold the sticks loosely in your hands, and use a "whipping" motion.
Tim
I'm not being a smartass, I'm being serious.
You aren't playing if you are breaking cymbals, you are BASHING.
I'm 34, and I've been playing for 28 years, I haven't even broken a head in 10 years or so. There is a point where you will not get any more volume out of them, and you just need to learn where that point is; until you do, you're not playing, you are bashing.
First, your cymbals should be approximately level with your ears when you sit on the drumthrone.
Next they should be realtively flat, and very "loose", with alot of sway in them.
You may need to purchase a RIDE cymbal to Ride on in the manner you are talking about.
what sizes are you breaking? perhaps the cymbals are not big enough?
I use 18"-20" Cymbals. I play with Tama Power Tools #5 sticks, which are essentially a marching size stick, similar to a 2S/Tommy Aldridge/Bobby Rock/Tommy Lee sized drumstick.
I hit extremely hard, and use thin to medium thin top of the line Paiste cymbals (which are actually infamous for being easy to break) yet I have never broken one of these yet.
So, analyze what you are doing, and try to see what you are doing wrong.
Personally, I think your using a cymbal that's too small fgor the purpose, and there's something wrong with your technique of striking the cymbals.
Oh, did I mention that I'm 6'1" 250 Lbs. and lift weights?
You need to hold the sticks loosely in your hands, and use a "whipping" motion.
Tim
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soundprizm
New member
I've been reading these posts and not replying cause it would just end up in an arguement.
I just had to say, right on M.Brane
I just had to say, right on M.Brane
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drummer1000
New member
M.Brane said:
I'll bet that was a really kick-ass metal band.
My good friend and drummer grew up playing jazz. He was playing professionally at age 9. He didn't even get into rock until he was in high school. This guy can wipe the floor with any drummer in the county. I've been to jazz gigs with him and seen him do some amazing playing soft enough to play in an apartment but when he plays rock he plays hard (although you wouldn't know just by watching: he hardly moves) and he does break cymbals. Well, not his ride. He's had that one for over 10 years. And yes, he does crash it.
I've also played with some real neandrathols that hit harder and didn't sound anywhere near as good. It's all about feel. To me it's real disappointing to see a heavy band with a drummer that's playing it like a lounge gig.
i know where your coming from with this, but i still managed to look like i was pummeling them, to me playing a gig is as much about an act or performance as it is the music, if you take the time to learn the techniques so you dont cause major damage to the instrument you can then concentrate on sounding/looking good whilst doing it
M
M.Brane
New member
Tim:
You obviously know what your doing. The only thing I would add is I believe there are times when "bashing" is appropriate.
drummer1000:
That's cool, dude. I don't much worry about how I look these days (at least not as much as back in the '80's
As long as I get a shower and some clean clothes I'm good to go.
You obviously know what your doing. The only thing I would add is I believe there are times when "bashing" is appropriate.
drummer1000:
That's cool, dude. I don't much worry about how I look these days (at least not as much as back in the '80's
As long as I get a shower and some clean clothes I'm good to go.
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sessionselect
New member
also, its not how HARD you hit the cymbal, it's how fast. Try getting better technique from your wrist and fingers and you'll be amazed at how loud you play without lifting your arm up. If you're going for "emotion" then just look like you're playing hard....give them a hard core face or something. But if you look at some jazz musicians or someone like dennis chambers, they get great sound and they barely move their arms. Chambers can hit a cymbal underneath it while playing the tom below it with one single stroke and the cymbal crash is loud because he hits it so fast........and believe me.....he plays with emotion
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DanielJohn
New member
Do you guys drill a hole at the end of the crack to stop it from continueing to crack?
-DAN
-DAN
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sessionselect
New member
i did that once to my splash that cracked(everyone i know that had that splash cracked it) and it didn't do anything but put two holes in the cymbal...but i heard it worked so i tried it
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shackrock
New member
drummer1000 said:
i think this argument could go on forever...but again i really disagree...ha
i mean, you're telling me that when you're playing a show, and you start rockin out to your favorite song, you dont start hitting your shit harder!?
i dont know about anyone else, but at shows - its all about the SHOW and the SOUND. it sounds great when i play hard, i get hyped as hell, so i beat it. and, i'm sure it looks better if i'm goin all out back there on the set then if i'm just chillin with my posture correct, hitting the stuff "properly".
of course, i still am ass broke and am now short 2 cymbals....ha
i'll check into the spring mount things - my neighborhood store tryed to sell me them, said they worked, i just figured they wanted the money...ha
jitteringjim
Insert Custom Title Here
Alright guy, nearly every single drummer who's replied here says your technique needs changing. even the unmusical bashers...
I've been drumming for over half of my life. I've played in some very heavy bands & I'm known for bashing the shit outta my gear. I play with marching sticks also. (Wood only, the Ahead M1s [I think] with the sleeves only lasted for 10 days.) I've only regularly cracked 16" cymbals and a few pairs of 14" highhats. If you've cracked every cymbal you've ever owned, then there is a definate problem with your technique.
My advice to you is to study how you're striking the cymbals - and check that with what is considered proper technique. You'll probably find that you're hitting the cymbal straight-on across the surface, or dead on the edge. If you're bashing dead on the surface, you will crack 'em in no time at all. Right along the lathing. Hitting 'em on the edge will eventually start a split on the edge that will work up the lathing and around.
My technique, although not proper - is to strike the cymbal on the edge, with a sweeping motion. This way, I can hit as hard as I can - but the force on the cymbal is a little more dispersed - rather than blunt force in one spot. Sweeping across the edge also has an added benefit, as the cymbal spins a bit & you're not hitting the same spot on every crash.
I eat up a pair of sticks every few rehearsals, but sticks are cheaper to replace than my brass. More insight on how hard I hit?
I play through a tightly torqued snare head (and I mean all the way through) in a week - week 1/2 of regular rehearsal.
If all else fails, re-position your cymbals so you have no choice but to strike them in an alternate manner.
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drummer1000
New member
shackrock said:
i gather you never read my second post, im well aware that a gig is as much about a show as it is the music, i spent enough time getting the technique down so that i can now make it LOOK like im beating my kit to an inch of its life