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What is a good general size for a pair of crash cymbals?

Author

Rachel Ellis

Published Jan 15, 2026

Sizes typically range from 14” to 18”, and a nice 16” is a good size for starters. A general rule is the thicker the cymbal, the higher the pitch. If you're playing a lot of rock music, a thicker cymbal may withstand the loud crashes better than a thinner cymbal (although the latter has more flexibility).

What size crash cymbals should I have?

The best cymbal size is somewhere between 14″ and 16″. The larger the diameter, the greater the projection of sound. Pay attention to the “bell” or the curved area in the center of your cymbals too – a larger bell will have more projection and be louder.

What is the most common ride cymbal size?

The most common diameter for a ride cymbal is about 20 inches (51 cm), but anything from 18 inches (46 cm) to 22 inches (56 cm) is standard. Smaller and thinner cymbals tend to be darker with more shimmer, while larger and thicker cymbals tend to respond better in louder volume situations, and conversely.

Are bigger cymbals better?

Cymbal size refers to the overall diameter of a cymbal. Larger cymbals generally have more volume, longer sustain and slower response than smaller cymbals. Bigger Cymbals = Increased Volume, Slower response, and Longer Sustain. Smaller Cymbals = Lower Volume, Faster Attack and Faster Decay.

What size cymbals did Ringo use?

Ringo uses : 2 crash cymbals with no ride consisting of. Zildjian 18″ K Custom Dark Crash. Zildjian 16″ K Constantinople Crash.

40 related questions found

What size bass drum did Ringo use?

During his time in The Beatles, Ringo Starr has played six different drum kits. Premier Mahogany Duroplastic drum kit, the one Ringo used during The Beatles' first recording sessions. It contained a 8" x 12" Tom, 16" x 16" Floor Tom, 14" x 20" Bass Drum, 4" x 14" Snare Drum, and three cymbals.

Why does Ringo put a towel on his drum?

Ringo would also play with thin tea towels draped over the toms and a pack of cigarettes or roll of masking tape resting on the snare. As a final touch, Ringo removed the resonant heads from his toms, creating a louder, flatter effect.

How do you choose a crash cymbal?

A general rule is the thicker the cymbal, the higher the pitch. If you're playing a lot of rock music, a thicker cymbal may withstand the loud crashes better than a thinner cymbal (although the latter has more flexibility).

What is the difference between a crash cymbal and a ride cymbal?

Ride cymbals will not be very loud when struck (comparitively), but will have overtones that last for much longer than crash cymbals. Crash cymbals, for the most part, are meant to accent the beat - be loud when hit, then fade quickly.

What is the difference between Splash and crash cymbals?

Most splash cymbals are in the size range of 6" to 13", but some splash cymbals are as small as 4". Some makers have produced cymbals described as splash up to 22", but a splash of 14" or more is more often described as a crash cymbal.

Do you need two crash cymbals?

GRUNTERSDAD said: It's not just comfort but like multiple toms, a second crash, will give you another sound and another option while playing. This is the principle reason why two crashes are good.

How good are Paiste cymbals?

Its warm, powerful sound with extremely impressive projection results in a set of cymbals with amazing clarity and wonderful tone. They are an excellent choice for both the studio and onstage – working well across rock, metal, punk, blues and even soul, funk and gospel.

What is the largest ride cymbal?

The Paiste cymbal, made from the same alloy as Paiste Gongs (Nickel Sivler NS12), measures a whopping 86.6 inches in diameter and weighs 11kg. It took more than 1,200 working hours to create the massive metal.

How does cymbal size affect sound?

High pitch sounds are more cutting and better for louder playing. Higher Profile = Higher Pitch, Brighter Response, and Increased Cut. Larger cymbals generally have more volume, longer sustain and slower response than smaller cymbals. Bigger Cymbals = Increased Volume, Longer Sustain, and Bigger Sound.

What is the most important cymbal?

Ride - the most important cymbal for jazz music. A large cymbal that ranges from 19 to 24 inches in diameter. Hi hats - 2 cymbals of the same size that are played together. The bottom hi hat is usually thicker and heavier than the top one.

How many cymbals should I have?

Most modern kits usually have at least one or two crash cymbals. They can be played with sticks, your hands, or mallets to produce a wide range of tonal colors. Rock drummers sometimes hit two crashes at the same for an extra-powerful accent.

What does sus CYM mean?

A suspended cymbal is any single cymbal played with a stick or beater rather than struck against another cymbal. Common abbreviations used are "sus. cym.," or "sus. cymb." (with or without the period).

What is a china cymbal used for?

China-type cymbals are mostly commonplace in various interpretations of rock music, particularly heavy metal and thrash metal. It is also frequently used for jazz fusion, Latin, and Brazilian music especially those with elaborate drum solos.

Can you use a hi hat as a crash?

You can do whatever you want. I've heard of people using 2 16" crashes as hihats, the only real problem with this is placement. Using one half of a hihat as a crash wouldn't be too bad, as long as you like the sound.

What is the best brand of cymbals?

Top 4 Cymbal Brands

  • Zildjian. Zildjian is arguably the most popular cymbal brand there is. ...
  • Sabian. Sabian has always been the direct competitor to Zildjian. ...
  • Meinl. Meinl hasn't always been as popular as the previous brands. ...
  • Paiste. ...
  • Smaller Brands. ...
  • Dream. ...
  • Istanbul Agop. ...
  • Soultone.

How are cymbal sizes measured?

The Cymbals are mounted at the centre, but we measure them by diameter. The playing surface is from the centre hole to the edge. 16" hi hats are one inch larger than 14" hi hats. That is all, Thank you.

Where do you put crash cymbals?

Position. Crash cymbals were traditionally placed on the left side of the drum set (for a right-handed drummer) since the normally larger ride cymbal is usually on the right, however some drummers set up their crash on the right.

What drum heads does Ringo use?

Ringo Starr has been using Remo drumheads ever since that first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show.

Were any of the Beatles married?

Heather Mills, a model turned activist and philanthropist, met Paul McCartney at a charity event in 1999. The two made their relationship public in 2000, and married in a $3.2 million private ceremony in 2002, in a 17th Century chapel in Ireland.

What color were Ringo's drums?

The subsequent international exposure that Ringo's Oyster Black drum kit received influenced a new generation of drummers to reconsider their ideas about drum fashion and appearance, induce many debates and discussions, and place Ludwig at the vanguard of drum production and sales for the next 15 to 20 years.