Cymbals: The Complete Beginner's Guide

Cymbals are a core part of a drum kit, providing a drummer with different sounds and textures to add to your playing. They're used to fill space and create rhythms sitting in a satisfying EQ range for our ears to pick up on. Without cymbals, those snare, bass and floor drums don't have the same impact on their own. Every contemporary drummer uses cymbals no matter the genre – some sound bright and snappy, others dark and warmer and there's everything in between with certain specialist cymbals made for unusual effects, and other geared towards specific types of music.

How do you get different sounds out of a sheet of metal? Well, cymbals are made in different sizes, weights, alloys, and with various hammering, lathing and finishes all influencing their EQ and response. There are four cymbals you'll come across most often: hi-hats, crashes, rides and splashes.

Hi-hats are a pair of cymbals mounted on a stand. You control them with your foot, allowing you to play them open, closed or somewhere in between. They're used throughout almost every style of music and are usually one of the first cymbals you'll want for a drum kit.

Crash cymbals are used for accents and big hits. They have a louder, more dramatic sound than hi-hats and are an essential part of most drum kits. If you're building your first kit, a crash is usually the next cymbal to consider after hi-hats and a ride.

Ride cymbals are larger than crashes and are mainly used to keep a steady rhythm. They produce a more controlled sound and can be played on the main surface or around the raised centre. There are rides to suit everything from jazz and softer music to rock and metal.

Splash cymbals are small and produce a quick, short sound. They're not usually essential for a beginner, but they can be a great addition once you've got your main cymbals covered. They're particularly useful for adding little accents and extra character to your playing.

Effects cymbals are designed to give your drum kit different and unusual sounds. They come in a wide range of shapes and sizes and can be used to add accents, short bursts of sound or extra character to your playing. They're not essential when you're starting out, but once you've got your hi-hats, crash and ride sorted, an effects cymbal can be a fun way to expand your setup.

China cymbals have a distinctive loud, aggressive and often "trashy" sound. They're particularly popular in rock and metal, but can be used in any style when you want a more dramatic accent. They come in a range of sizes, with smaller Chinas generally producing a quicker sound and larger models offering more power and volume.

If you're building your first drum kit, a China isn't essential, but it can be a great addition once you've got your main cymbals covered.

If you're buying your first cymbals, a cymbal set can be one of the easiest options. Sets usually include the main cymbals you'll need – commonly a pair of hi-hats, a crash and a ride – and are designed to work well together. They're also often better value than buying each cymbal individually.

If you're buying your first set of cymbals, we'd recommend keeping things simple. A good starting point is:

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• Hi-hats – for your main rhythm
• Ride – for steady playing
• Crash – for accents and bigger hits
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Once you're comfortable with these, you can add splashes, chinas and other effects cymbals to give yourself more sounds to play with. Most importantly, choose cymbals that suit the music you enjoy. There's no single "best" cymbal – it's all about finding sounds that you like. You don't need to know everything about cymbals to choose the right ones. Start with the basics, think about the music you play and choose sounds that you enjoy.

If you're buying your first cymbals, a cymbal set is a simple way to get started. If you're upgrading an existing kit, adding a new crash, ride or splash can give you a completely different sound. Andertons stocks cymbals for all budgets, styles and experience levels, so there's plenty to choose from.