What Shapes A Cymbal’s Sound

PART 1

Back in the studio exploring how cymbals sound and getting everything together to start releasing full reviews on the Tonxgxiang Cymbal lineup. That said, lets get back to finish what shapes a cymbal’s sound. Last time we saw how the different alloys set the overall tonal range of the cymbal but, now we get into the good part about how the different shapes, surfaces, sizes, etc change the sound of the cymbal.

1. Size

Probably the most notable aspect of a cymbal is the size (in diameter) and; it is also one of the biggest, if not the biggest, factors that shape a cymbals sound. Larger cymbals will have a lower pitch than smaller of the same thickness. You will find that larger cymbals tend to have more sustain because there is more metal to vibrate and resonate. So this means smaller cymbals will typically have a higher pitch with a faster decay.

2. Form / Shape

The profile and curvature of the cymbal’s bow (starts at the base of the bell and extends to the edge) will influence the overall pitch of your cymbal. The flatter and shorter (in height / depth) a cymbal is, the lower the fundamental pitch will be. So this means that taller and rounder cymbals will have a higher pitch.

1. Size

Probably the most notable aspect of a cymbal is the size (in diameter) and; it is also one of the biggest, if not the biggest, factors that shape a cymbals sound. Larger cymbals will have a lower pitch than smaller of the same thickness. You will find that larger cymbals tend to have more sustain because there is more metal to vibrate and resonate. So this means smaller cymbals will typically have a higher pitch with a faster decay.

2. Form / Shape

The profile and curvature of the cymbal’s bow (starts at the base of the bell and extends to the edge) will influence the overall pitch of your cymbal. The flatter and shorter (in height / depth) a cymbal is, the lower the fundamental pitch will be. So this means that taller and rounder cymbals will have a higher pitch.

4. Bell

One thing that’s often overlooked when considering new cymbals is the bell; but the size and shape of the bell influences the sound on the whole cymbal. A smaller bell in a cymbal will result in a drier more controlled sounding cymbal and; as a result, larger bells tend to result in livelier sounding cymbals with more sustain. The bell of the cymbal itself will be brighter the smaller it gets and deeper / darker as the bell grows.

3. Weight

The thickness or weight of a cymbal will greatly influence the sound of the cymbal. More mass means there is more metal to vibrate and will get louder / higher pitched as they get thicker. That is why you will find that most “power” crashes are thicker than the standard models.

4. Bell

One thing that’s often overlooked when considering new cymbals is the bell; but the size and shape of the bell influences the sound on the whole cymbal. A smaller bell in a cymbal will result in a drier more controlled sounding cymbal and; as a result, larger bells tend to result in livelier sounding cymbals with more sustain. The bell of the cymbal itself will be brighter the smaller it gets and deeper / darker as the bell grows.

3. Weight

The thickness or weight of a cymbal will greatly influence the sound of the cymbal. More mass means there is more metal to vibrate and will get louder / higher pitched as they get thicker. That is why you will find that most “power” crashes are thicker than the standard models.

5. Taper

The taper of a cymbal is the thickness of the from the beginning of the bow to the edge of the cymbal. This will shape stick definition and crash-ablitlity of a cymbal. The thicker the taper down to the edge; the more of a ping there is when you play the bow and more gong-like crash with longer sustain. The thinner the taper on the cymbal; the washier the sound will be on the bow and a more explosive crash with less decay. This is probably why rides tend to be thicker than crashes and why crash – rides never really seem at home being either one.

6. Surface

The last major aspect to the sound and character of a cymbal is the surface texture and qualities of the cymbals. Cymbals with a smooth and polished surface will have a brighter sound with more sustain. As compared to cymbals that have been lathed or have a ‘raw’ surface that tend to sound darker with more decay. This is because of how the metal vibrates with the given surface qualities. This also means that keeping your cymbals clean or allowing them to develop patina will affect the sound; better or worse is really a matter of personal preference.

5. Taper

The taper of a cymbal is the thickness of the from the beginning of the bow to the edge of the cymbal. This will shape stick definition and crash-ablitlity of a cymbal. The thicker the taper down to the edge; the more of a ping there is when you play the bow and more gong-like crash with longer sustain. The thinner the taper on the cymbal; the washier the sound will be on the bow and a more explosive crash with less decay. This is probably why rides tend to be thicker than crashes and why crash – rides never really seem at home being either one.

6. Surface

The last major aspect to the sound and character of a cymbal is the surface texture and qualities of the cymbals. Cymbals with a smooth and polished surface will have a brighter sound with more sustain. As compared to cymbals that have been lathed or have a ‘raw’ surface that tend to sound darker with more decay. This is because of how the metal vibrates with the given surface qualities. This also means that keeping your cymbals clean or allowing them to develop patina will affect the sound; better or worse is really a matter of personal preference.

Our motto is to bring you the best sound and quality for your money. That said, we set out to find the very best in cymbals and found Tongxiang Cymbals in China. They produce quality cymbals mixing Turkish and Chinese hammering methods to produce a wide variety of sounds and voices that are only matched by the unique looks. Manufactured in China, we are glad and honored to bring them to the United States.

Tongxiang TS Cymbal Series

A breakdown of Tongxiang's TS cymbal line. Quality cymbals hammered by master artisans without the price markup.

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Have questions about the cymbals we carry? Need a specific model from Tongxiang? Or a custom mix / match pack to build your sound? Let us know how we can help and we will respond as soon as possible.

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