Cymbals - Directory w/ AI Reviews

Hi-hats, crashes, rides, and splash cymbals from top brands

Cymbals are circular metal plates that produce a wide range of sounds from shimmering washes to sharp, cutting accents. They are essential components of drum kits and orchestral percussion sections, providing rhythmic punctuation and tonal color. Cymbal types include hi-hats, rides, crashes, splashes, and chinas, each serving distinct musical roles.

History

Cymbals originated in Asia Minor and China thousands of years ago, with early examples found in ancient Turkish, Chinese, and Indian cultures. The Zildjian company, founded in Constantinople in 1623 by Avedis Zildjian, has been making cymbals for over 400 years using a secret alloy. Modern cymbal manufacturing was shaped by Turkish and Italian craftsmanship traditions, with Zildjian, Sabian, Meinl, and Paiste dominating the market.

Characteristics

Cymbals are typically made from bronze alloys, most commonly B20 (80% copper, 20% tin) or B8 (92% copper, 8% tin). Hammering and lathing during manufacturing determine the cymbal's tone, sustain, and brightness. Thinner cymbals respond faster and produce darker, trashier tones, while thicker cymbals are louder, brighter, and more cutting.

Notable Players

Avedis Zildjian developed the cymbal alloy that has been a closely guarded family secret for four centuries. Elvin Jones's explosive, polyrhythmic cymbal work with John Coltrane redefined jazz drumming. Art Blakey's powerful ride cymbal technique drove the hard bop movement and influenced generations of jazz drummers.

Buying Guide

Invest in a quality ride cymbal and hi-hat pair first, as these are your most-used cymbals and define your overall sound. Hand-hammered cymbals offer more complex, musical overtones than machine-stamped models. Always play cymbals in person before buying, as no two hand-crafted cymbals sound exactly alike.

Fun Facts

The Zildjian company is one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world, predating the United States by over 150 years. A single cymbal can contain over 5,000 individual hammer strikes during the manufacturing process.

Meinl Byzance 18" Dark Crash 1 4.8 New Meinl Byzance 18" Dark Crash Meinl $429 Advanced Turkey 1 review A hand-hammered 18-inch Turkish B20 bronze crash cymbal with warm, complex tone and fast explosive response, designed for jazz, acoustic, and studio contexts. Meinl Byzance 20" Vintage Sand Ride 2 4.8 New Meinl Byzance 20" Vintage Sand Ride Meinl $519 Professional Turkey 1 review An extraordinarily dry ride cymbal with sandblasted matte finish producing crystalline stick definition and almost no sustain, beloved by jazz, gospel, and neo-soul drummers. Sabian HHX 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride 3 4.8 New Sabian HHX 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride Sabian $529 Professional Canada 1 review Hand-hammered B20 bronze ride with raw unlathed bell and controlled dryness, standard equipment for gospel, R&B, and modern pop session drummers. Zildjian A 18" Medium Thin Crash 4 4.8 New Zildjian A 18" Medium Thin Crash Zildjian $329 Intermediate United States 1 review Classic B20 bronze crash cymbal with a warm, full-bodied sound and smooth decay, a mainstay in professional drumming that helped define the modern crash cymbal voice. Zildjian K 14" Hi-Hats 5 4.8 New Zildjian K 14" Hi-Hats Zildjian $549 Professional United States 1 review Legendary hand-hammered hi-hats with a dark, complex voice and woody articulation, setting the gold standard for jazz, session, and studio drumming for decades. Zildjian K 18-inch Dark Crash 6 4.8 New Zildjian K 18-inch Dark Crash Zildjian $349 Professional United States 1 review Thin hand-hammered dark crash with warm, fast response and smooth musical decay, prized by jazz and session drummers for its rich complexity and recording quality. Zildjian K Custom 20" Dark Ride 7 4.8 New Zildjian K Custom 20" Dark Ride Zildjian $449 Professional United States 1 review Sophisticated dark ride with dry stick definition and complex overtone layers, a favorite among jazz and fusion drummers who demand nuanced, musical cymbal articulation. Sabian AAX 14" Medium Hi-Hats 8 4.7 New Sabian AAX 14" Medium Hi-Hats Sabian $449 Intermediate Canada 1 review Versatile B20 bronze hi-hats with crisp chick sound and clean stick definition, one of the most popular hi-hat choices across rock, pop, and worship. Zildjian A 20-inch Medium Ride 9 4.7 New Zildjian A 20-inch Medium Ride Zildjian $349 Intermediate United States 1 review Versatile medium-weight ride cymbal delivering clear stick definition with a warm musical wash, one of the most widely used and recorded ride cymbals in popular music. Zildjian A Custom 10" Splash 10 4.7 New Zildjian A Custom 10" Splash Zildjian $179 Intermediate United States 1 review Bright, quick 10-inch splash cymbal with a brilliant finish and glassy refined tone, providing instant shimmering accents with short, controlled sustain. Zildjian A Custom 16" Medium Crash 11 4.7 New Zildjian A Custom 16" Medium Crash Zildjian $299 Intermediate United States 1 review Industry-standard 16-inch crash with a bright, shimmering brilliant finish and fast attack, delivering versatile performance across rock, pop, jazz, and worship settings. Sabian AAX 18" Chinese Cymbal 12 4.6 New Sabian AAX 18" Chinese Cymbal Sabian $349 Advanced Canada 1 review Powerful 18-inch Chinese effects cymbal with upturned flange delivering explosive, trashy crash tones that cut through even the loudest band settings. Sabian AAX 20-inch Medium Ride 13 4.6 New Sabian AAX 20-inch Medium Ride Sabian $329 Intermediate Canada 1 review Bright, articulate 20-inch ride cymbal with excellent stick definition and controlled wash, well suited for rock, pop, and contemporary drumming. Sabian B8X 16" Thin Crash 14 4.2 New Sabian B8X 16" Thin Crash Sabian $109 Beginner Canada 1 review Budget-friendly 16-inch B8 bronze crash with fast, responsive attack and clean decay, the go-to recommendation for beginning drummers building their first setup. Meinl HCS 20" Ride 15 3.7 New Meinl HCS 20" Ride Meinl $65 Beginner Germany 1 review An entry-level brass alloy ride cymbal providing functional stick definition and bell accents at the most affordable price, suitable for beginning drummers and school programs.