Xilxo Blog

Fixing a Cracked Cymbal

ddrum — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 11:05:49 +0000

There are several methods to fix a cymbal that is cracked. All these methods are useful, they depend on how wide the crack is and where it is located on the cymbal. 1- Force Epoxy into the crack. Strike the cymbal hard several times to vibrate glue deeper into the crack. Apply more Epoxy and strike [...]

Fixing a Cracked Cymbal

admin — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 11:05:09 +0000

Positioning and Mounting Splash Cymbals

admin — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 13:18:56 +0000

The splash cymbal is typically placed on the right-hand side of a drum set (for a right-handed drummer). Splash cymbals may be mounted just above the tom for quick playing access. There are several methods to mount a splash cymbal that is determined by the comfort of playing, and hardware. Standard mounting: splash cymbals are mounted just [...]

How to Choose Cymbals

admin — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 11:40:27 +0000

It can be very tiresome and frustrating when choosing cymbals. In the process to make a decision, going through the range and number of cymbals can be overwhelming. The starting point of this process is more based on personal ideas how someone feels about sound, musical perspective and style. More identifying these ideas will form a [...]

Mounting and Playing China Cymbals

admin — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 11:30:33 +0000

There are two ways of mounting and playing china cymbals: bell and flange up or bell and flange down. Mounting a china bell and flange up makes the cymbal to sit in near horizantal on the stand that gives a better sustain and ride sound, also gives access to the bell. Bell and flange down mounted chinas [...]

How many Cymbals?

admin — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:53:09 +0000

If you love to experiment, mix and match your cymbals, you might end up with many cymbals. Cymbals, especially handmade ones, each present a different sound than the others. Some cymbals drastically are different and while others might be very subtle. If you like variety, you might find it inspiring to hang a different cymbal and [...]

Playing Small and Bigger Crashes

admin — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:49:59 +0000

Here is the big question: When do you hit small and bigger crashes? I hit the bigger crashes when I am really into the groove or when the song is building, or when I just want that big crash sound, I use the smaller ones for more fast accents. 16″ and up are more sensitive to touch, [...]

Cymbal Types

admin — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:55:44 +0000

Ride A ride cymbal is the center of a cymbal set, usually used to sustain the beat and for grooves. The rest of cymbals in a set should be chosen to match the ride. A good ride cymbal is also statement. Popular sizes of ride cymbals are 20”, 21” and 22”. Ride cymbals that produce a [...]

Cymbal Break-in

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:46:40 +0000

About cymbals break-in subject, there always seems to be some drummers that say ‘yes, cymbals do change over time’, and the others saying ‘it’s only your ears’. German Drummer Jochen Rückert once said, he breaks-in cymbals playing cymbal rolls with mallets for hours again and again. Likewise some believe, when a cymbal is tempered, soft and hard [...]

Basic Cymbal Set Up

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 03:29:33 +0000

Generally there are minimum three cymbals in a drum set: Ride, crash and hihat. The locations for the cymbals in a set up are a personal choice, but we can refer to some common practices. Ride cymbal has two possible places: on the right above the second rack tom, or lower down next to the second [...]

Handling Cymbals

admin — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 13:15:54 +0000

Some drummers’ cymbals shine so much that it always looks like they’re brand new. If you have some concern about fingerprints that look pretty bad on a cymbal and it’s like losing battle trying to keep those in “like new” condition, here are some suggestions: If you want to keep fingerprints down to a minimum, [...]

Crashable Ride Cymbals

admin — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:52:59 +0000

There are cymbals that are hybrid for crash and ride called crash ride cymbals. But some regular ride cymbals are also crashable. While these rides are mainly used for ride patterns, crashing them would also bring up other sonic experiences. Generally a heavier dry ride cymbal with thin edges and a smaller bell; a ride cymbal [...]

Crashable Ride Cymbals

striker — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:50:50 +0000

Crashable Ride Cymbals

admin — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:50:50 +0000

Crashable Ride Cymbals

admin — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:50:28 +0000

Spacing Hi-hats

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 03:11:02 +0000

When you situate yourself comfortably behind the kit, place right foot on the bass pedal to guage. Place your left foot on the hi-hat pedal and, when, comfortable, push down on the pedal to where your foot feels good and then tighten the clutch. I suppose it would be anywhere from 1/4″ to 1/2″. Hi-hat spacing also depends how tight the clutch [...]

Hi-hat Airlock

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 03:05:17 +0000

Airlock happens with hi-hat cymbals when they don’t come together and make a clean, loud “chick” sound, but instead more of a muted, “airy” sound. This usually happens when both cymbals are paralell to each other, that’s why every hi-hat stand allows you to tilt the bottom cymbal, to eliminate this. Some hi-hat cymbal sets have [...]

Sizzle Cymbals

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:48:16 +0000

In almost every genre sizzle cymbals are used but they find more intense use in jazz. Sizzle cymbals are generally ride cymbals that rivets, chains or other rattles have been added to modify the sound with a sustaining silvery ring. Beside rides china cymbals, less commonly bottom hi-hats, crash and effect cymbals are also used [...]

Cymbals for Sizzle

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:46:20 +0000

The rule of thumb is if a cymbal doesn’t sound good without rivets it won’t with rivets either. A thin crash cymbal is not a bad way to go … even a medium. A thinner cymbal would make a better sizzler…more wobble. But very thin wobbly cymbals can also lose stick attack presence with rivets. [...]

Matching Cymbals

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:38:06 +0000

Ride, crash or hats should be sonically matching in a whole variety of different combinations together and applications in different musical settings. All should share the same general good qualities with each having it’s own unique voice to add to any musical mix depending on the situation and sounds. All the cymbals in a set up [...]