drumming secrets

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Cymbals are a very special kind of instruments, don't you agree? There are so many different types, brands, series and sizes that I cannot imagine you wouldn't succeed in finding one for your personal taste! What I love about cymbals is that they have a sound that will change after a while if you play on them for a few years, i.e. you shape them through your way of playing.

It is a bit strange but there are so many natural effects and fysical facts involved, you wouldn't believe it! I compare it with the way certain acoustic guitar brands make their guitars sound better by exposing them to ultra harmonic music; the guitars are put in a room with a big sound system where they play music for a year! After this process the wood of the body will be 'settled' and sound much warmer, richer and harmonic than ever before!

two years ago at a drummers' festival called "Drum 3 Daagse" (NL) I have learned from colleague that there are drummers that brought their cymbals to a guy who modified ride cymbals; he lived in a place where there was a certain soil that has a positive effect on ride cymbals. It sounds crazy, but he seemed to burry them under the ground, covered in that special sand for a few years (3 OR MORE), and then when you picked up your cymbal it would sound richer and warmer.....

Just a few stories to illustrate how precious these natural instruments are. Haven't you thought about the fact why good quality cymbals are so expensive? In the 35 years of playing drums I have played on many different brands: Starting off with the early Meinl (Germany) cymbals from when I was 10 years old, I worked my way through Tosco, Ufip (Italy), Zildjian, Sabian, Istanbul and ended up with Paiste. With Paiste I am very happy for more than 10 years now, but that of course is due to my personal taste and the unbelievable service world wide! I don't want to debate about that here, because the most important thing that we have to focus on is that the sound of a cymbal is all about a personal hearing and comfortable playing experience....

You know, after changing so many brands and trying different types of cymbals, you might discover (like I did) that it all becomes quite a big investment; I have collected more cymbals than I needed for playing! It also shows that as a musician I am always developing my musical hearing; a crash might have sounded great for a while, but then after a certain time (mostly after a few years) you might not feel the same admiration for that cymbal anymore. Either the sound has changed in a wrong way, or you have developed your musical hearing!

Therefor I really think these instruments need a special care and treatment, so you will benefit a great sound for many years. Did you know that cymbals sometimes 'live' longer than drummers?Why would that be? .....ha,ha,...I can hear you saying: cymbals don't drink & drive...that's true, but seriously, some cymbals are really old and still out there sounding great!

Now after this long introduction, let me share with you some tips on how cymbals should be treated:

1. transportation: I would always have the cymbals in a professional flight case or a bag! Make sure that the have cloths to separate them during transport; if they can move in the case, they might scratch eachothers surfaces.

2. after every 3 gigs, check every cymbal on possible cracks or damages; you have to check by using your fingers. For example, put up one finger and place the cymbal on top of it, (like your hand is the cymbals stand) and hit it with the other hand by using a light crash technique. This way you can hear if there would be any hidden cracks in the cymbal. You can also put the cymbal on your lap and touch the whole surface with your fingers to find any small damages.

3. put the cymbal on the floor with a straight surface, to check if your cymbals are still straight or bend! If a cymbal is bend it is more likely that it will break sooner or later...

4. Polish the cymbal with an old T-shirt or towell, without using any chemical liquid or any liquid at all. I just use my breath; and then polish any finger prints or dust marks away. It's much better for the cymbal and it's cheaper as well!!

5. If you play drums, and you love your cymbals, hit them but don't kill them!! You have to learn how to play cymbals.... Bare in mind that a cymbal has it limitations if it comes down to absorbing the energy you put into them by hitting; you have to experience the maximum limit of volume they produce, but aim for a sound projection that has tone and body and not so much ONLY volume!

Good luck with taking care of your 'babies' we'll come back with a subject about how to put together the perfect cymbal set.