How To Care For Your Cymbals

After your drums, your cymbals are the most important
part of your sound and most expensive part of your kit. In
addition, where the sound of your drums can be modified
by the use of different heads, tuning and muffling,
cymbals perform best in their natural state. Therefore,
keeping them in optimum condition is critical for a number
of musical, visual and financial reasons.
Cymbal Position and Playing Techniques
Two basic yet often overlooked aspects of cymbal care
are correct positioning and playing techniques. Applying
the following simple rules will protect your cymbals and
allow you to get the best sound, performance and lifespan
from them.
Keep your cymbals tilted at a slight angle so that
you are striking them on the face; not directly on
the edge (A).
Use a glancing stroke to pull the sound out
of the cymbal rather than a straight stroke into the
edge of cymbal (B).
Relax. Developing a smooth, fluid playing style
will enhance your sound while protecting your
cymbals and your hands.
Cymbal Stands
It is important to maintain the parts of your cymbal stands
that contact and support the cymbals because they also
help protect the sound and condition of the cymbals.
This includes the wingnuts, seats, felts and sleeves on
the tilter section of the cymbal stand (C) as well as the
clutch, felts and seat on the hi-hat. These parts tend to
wear out over time and should be inspected and replaced
as needed. Individual parts and repair kits are offered
by cymbal, hardware and accessory companies and
available at most drum shops and music stores.
Cymbal Bags and Cases
A top-quality, well-padded cymbal bag or hard case
(preferably with soft dividers) will protect your cymbals
during storage and transport. For local gigs, a soft bag
or light to medium-weight hard case offer protection and
practicality without breaking your back or bank account.
Major tours require the strength and protection of heavyduty
road cases. A full range of hard and soft cases
are available from a wide variety of cymbal and case
companies. Compare prices and features and choose the
one that best meets your needs.
Cymbal Cleaning
Regular cleaning will help keep your cymbals looking
and sounding like new. For light dirt, fingerprints and
tarnish, try gentle cleaning with warm, soapy water. In
more extreme instances, a specially-formulated cymbal
cleaner may be required. Several good cymbal cleaning
and polishing products are commercially available,
including Groove Juice, which is highly recommended
for TRX and other B20 cymbals. Be sure to consult the
manufacturers directions and try cleaning a small test
area before using any polish or cleaner on your cymbals.