5 Types of Cymbals Explained (Hi-Hat, Crash, Ride, China, Splash) | MetalForge
The 5 types of cymbals — hi-hat, crash, ride, china, and splash (plus cymbal stacks) — with typical sizes and how each is actually used in metal drumming.
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Cymbals 2. Hi-hat — A hi-hat is a pair of matched cymbals mounted face-to-face on a stand and operated by a foot pedal (to open and close them) as well as sticks. In most metal drumming the hi-hats are the primary timekeeper — closed, tight, and articulate enough to hold together fast, repetitive patterns, including the 16th-note hand patterns used in many blast beats.3. Crash — A crash produces a quick "burst" of sound used to accent a strong beat, a fill, or a section change. Metal kits commonly carry two to four crashes of different diameters (for example 16", 17", 18", and 19") so the drummer has a range of accent pitches to reach for.4. Ride — including blast-beat ride patterns — The ride is usually the largest, heaviest cymbal in the setup, built for sustained, clearly articulated patterns rather than one-off accents. In extreme metal, drummers frequently "ride" a fast, sustained 16th-note pattern on it — sometimes on the bell for a sharper, more piercing sound that cuts over blast-beat tempos and dense, distorted guitars.5. What is a china cymbal? — A china cymbal has an upturned outer edge and (usually) an upturned bell, giving it a distinctly "trashy," sharp, and explosive sound rather than the more controlled wash of a crash. Metal drummers lean on chinas for aggressive accents — breakdown hits, chorus entries, and other moments that call for a dirtier, more violent sound than a standard crash provides.6. Splash and stack (effects cymbals) — Splashes are small, thin cymbals (6"–12") that decay almost instantly, giving a quick, bright accent — used more sparingly in metal than in pop or fusion drumming. Cymbal stacks — two or more cymbals (often a crash and a china) clamped together — give a short, choked, staccato hit that has become a common texture in modern metalcore and djent for tight rhythmic accents.7. What are the 5 types of cymbals? — The five core cymbal types are hi-hat, crash, ride, china, and splash. Hi-hats keep time, crashes accent, the ride carries sustained patterns, chinas give a trashy accent, and splashes give a quick bright accent. Cymbal stacks (two or more cymbals combined) are a common sixth category built from combining these.8. What is a china cymbal? — A china cymbal has an upturned outer edge and bell, producing a trashy, sharp, explosive accent that is dirtier and less controlled than a standard crash — widely used in metal for aggressive breakdown and section-change accents.9. What size ride cymbal is used in metal? — Most metal drummers use a 20"–22" ride, occasionally up to 24", chosen heavy enough to survive being played almost continuously as a driving, sustained pattern at fast tempos.
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