Cymbals Guide: Types, Alloys & Sizes for Metal Drummers | MetalForge
What cymbals do in a metal kit, how type/alloy/size shape the sound, and how to choose a setup for metal — plus the verified cymbal setups of dozens of legen...
Frequently Asked Questions
What cymbals do metal drummers use?
Most metal drummers run a standard core of hi-hats, two or more crashes, and a ride, plus at least one china for aggressive accents — commonly from Zildjian (A Custom, K Custom), Sabian (AAX, HHX), Meinl (Byzance, Mb20), or Paiste (RUDE, 2002), all of which show up repeatedly across professional metal setups.
How many cymbals does a metal drummer need?
A functional metal setup can run on as few as four pieces — hi-hats, one crash, and a ride — but most professional metal drummers use five to eight: hi-hats, two or three crashes of different sizes, a ride, and one or two chinas or splashes for texture and accents.
What is the best cymbal setup for metal?
The best setup depends on the sub-genre and how hard you hit, but a durable, cutting starting point is medium-heavy hi-hats and crashes, a ride with a large bell for blast-beat patterns, and a china for aggressive accents — all in a cast B20 (or comparable) alloy for tone and longevity under heavy playing.