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subject: How To Care For Your Cymbals [print this page]

After your drums, your cymbals are the most important

part of your sound and most expensive part of your kit. In

addition, where the sound of your drums can be modified

by the use of different heads, tuning and muffling,

cymbals perform best in their natural state. Therefore,

keeping them in optimum condition is critical for a number

of musical, visual and financial reasons.

Cymbal Position and Playing Techniques

Two basic yet often overlooked aspects of cymbal care

are correct positioning and playing techniques. Applying

the following simple rules will protect your cymbals and

allow you to get the best sound, performance and lifespan

from them.

Keep your cymbals tilted at a slight angle so that

you are striking them on the face; not directly on

the edge (A).

Use a glancing stroke to pull the sound out

of the cymbal rather than a straight stroke into the

edge of cymbal (B).

Relax. Developing a smooth, fluid playing style

will enhance your sound while protecting your

cymbals and your hands.

Cymbal Stands

It is important to maintain the parts of your cymbal stands

that contact and support the cymbals because they also

help protect the sound and condition of the cymbals.

This includes the wingnuts, seats, felts and sleeves on

the tilter section of the cymbal stand (C) as well as the

clutch, felts and seat on the hi-hat. These parts tend to

wear out over time and should be inspected and replaced

as needed. Individual parts and repair kits are offered

by cymbal, hardware and accessory companies and

available at most drum shops and music stores.

Cymbal Bags and Cases

A top-quality, well-padded cymbal bag or hard case

(preferably with soft dividers) will protect your cymbals

during storage and transport. For local gigs, a soft bag

or light to medium-weight hard case offer protection and

practicality without breaking your back or bank account.

Major tours require the strength and protection of heavyduty

road cases. A full range of hard and soft cases

are available from a wide variety of cymbal and case

companies. Compare prices and features and choose the

one that best meets your needs.

Cymbal Cleaning

Regular cleaning will help keep your cymbals looking

and sounding like new. For light dirt, fingerprints and

tarnish, try gentle cleaning with warm, soapy water. In

more extreme instances, a specially-formulated cymbal

cleaner may be required. Several good cymbal cleaning

and polishing products are commercially available,

including Groove Juice, which is highly recommended

for TRX and other B20 cymbals. Be sure to consult the

manufacturers directions and try cleaning a small test

area before using any polish or cleaner on your cymbals.

by: Cymbalism

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