# 5 Types of Cymbals (And How Metal Drummers Use Them)

> 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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## 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.

## 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.

## 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.

## 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.

## 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.

## Reference Table

| type | typicalSize | metalRole |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hi-hat | 13"–15" (14" most common) | Two cymbals on a stand, played by foot and/or stick — the main timekeeper for tight, fast 16th-note patterns and blast beats. |
| Crash | 14"–20" (16"–19" most common) | A short, explosive accent on strong beats and fills; metal kits often stack several sizes (e.g. 16"/17"/18") for different accent pitches. |
| Ride | 20"–24" (20"–22" most common) | The largest, heaviest cymbal in most setups — carries sustained 16th-note "blast-beat" ride patterns and cuts through a dense mix, with the bell used for sharper accents. |
| China | 14"–22" (16"–18" popular) | An upturned-edge cymbal with a trashy, explosive, dirty accent — a staple for breakdown and chorus hits in metal; sometimes mounted upside down for an even darker tone. |
| Splash | 6"–12" | A small, thin cymbal for a quick, bright accent that decays almost instantly — used more sparingly in metal than in lighter genres, mostly for fill ornamentation. |
| Stack | Varies — two or more cymbals combined | Two or more cymbals (often a crash and china, or two trash cymbals) clamped together for a short, choked, staccato hit — popular in modern metalcore/djent for tight rhythmic accents. |

*Table source: [SABIAN — Cymbals 101](https://sabian.com/cymbals-101/)*

## FAQ

**Q: What are the 5 types of cymbals?**
A: 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.

**Q: What is a china cymbal?**
A: 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.

**Q: What size ride cymbal is used in metal?**
A: 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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- [Live page](https://metalforge.io/cymbals/types)
- [Cymbals Guide](https://metalforge.io/llms/cymbals.md)
- [All LLM Resources](https://metalforge.io/llms/index.md)

*Last updated: 2026-07-13 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*