Cymbals - How to make them fit
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Posted on Jul 02, 2007 01:46 am
Reveirg
Member Since: Sep 24, 2006
If there's one element I still have a very hard time handling and putting into my songs, it's the cymbals. How do you play them, make them fit into the song, and how do you mix them?
Personnaly, I've been using Battery 2's cymbals. I try to take inspiration in the music I listen to to find when and how to play which cymbals. I guess I really wouldn't make a good drummer because I'm still having a lot of difficulty.
Any tips?
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olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Jul 02, 2007 03:50 am It's very song dependent too me. One of the main things though is too avoid over use of crash cymbals. For many songs I use the hihat on verses and ride on the chorus to give more movement, though many others might be hihat for both or ride for both just depends on the what the song needs. Some songs playing the bell of cymbal works better. Probably the best way to decide what to do is to listen carefully to the drums in songs you like that are similar in style to what you are doing, after awhile you'll get a feel works & what doesn't.
Dan
zekthedeadcowEat Spam before it eats YOU!!!Member
Since: May 11, 2002
Jul 02, 2007 08:29 am just like everything else... I turn it all the way down and then back up until I like it.
Jul 02, 2007 08:44 am Yeah, I operate on zek's same idea...agreeing with olddog tho, Crash cymbals have to be used in moderation, I use them generally to emphasize section changes and emphasis beats.
Jul 02, 2007 10:06 am Don't hit them too hard. Using lighter sticks can help. Also, the further you physically separate them from the rest of the kit (read: the higher you mount them), the further they'll be from the drum mics, and the more control you'll have over the mix when using overheads.
Jul 02, 2007 10:25 am Well, I just noticed you're using electronic cymbals. However, don't disregard my last post. That advice may come in handy sometime with live drums.
deserodrumsA drummers every step is musicMember
Since: May 15, 2005
Jul 02, 2007 05:57 pm ...I dont know if I totally agree with the former statements made on crash cymbal moderation. In many different styles of music the crash cymbal can be only a accent piece but I use everything on my kit equally. Crashes I find are a great melodic break from a monotone sound. I can add a powerfull ambience to a rather boring beat by just riding the crash. I do agree with listening to the song to find what cymbal to use but also you have to listen to the beat. You have to feel the song and let your heart decide. If it doesn't sound right, its really easy to fix, just switch to a different cymbal. I could go on for ever on this but its a good start.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Jul 02, 2007 06:07 pm My opinion on the use of crash cymbals is not to use it less, but to hit it softer when you do use it. Cymbals are extremely loud and they don't have much competetition in the higher frequency range of a recording, so they can overpower things very easily.
When it comes to recording drums, the skins sound so much more powerful when contrasted against softer cymbal hits (that goes for hihats, ride, crash, you name it as far as I can tell). I read a quote from John Bonham to the same effect and the next time I recorded drums I insisted that the drummer follow that rule. I was very pleased with the results.
Jul 09, 2007 02:09 pm Yeah, depends on the style. Different ways to place cymbals in different styles of music.
I like to pan the cymbals like im in front of a kit and you have the high-hat to the right and ride to the left, etc... I think when you do that you get a real nice sound that blends with everything else nicely.
That, and playing with the levels and compression/verb until you get everything so its not fighting for soundspace...
