Medium Heavy Cymbals

It's safe to say that most people know the difference between hi-hat, crash, ride, splash and china cymbals. What's a little less obvious, though, is what separates two of the same kind of cymbal from one another. Most non-drummers wouldn't know the difference if you asked them, but they would probably recognize the difference in the sound. That's why it's so important to get the right weight, and when that means medium heavy cymbals, this is the place to start looking.

If you're new to drumming, you might be wondering what effect a cymbal's weight has on its sound: a splash is a splash, right? The answer comes down to power, volume and cut (meaning the cymbal's ability to "cut" through other elements of the mix and make itself heard). Heavier cymbals produce more volume and greater resonance. They need to be hit harder than thinner ones and their timing is a bit looser, but the result is that they have the acoustic force to fill large venues without being drowned out. They're great for rock and metal, when it's all about playing big and loud.

The drawback to the power of heavy cymbals is that, if it's too strong, it can threaten to overwhelm the other instruments itself. This is where medium heavy cymbals come in. With these, you've got above-average volume and cut, but not so much that it goes over the top. They deliver full-bodied, rich tones that work in harmony with the rest of the band.

Medium cymbals are the most versatile and heavy cymbals are the loudest. When you want something that's the best of both worlds, you want a medium heavy cymbal. The choices here are from a "who's who" list of cymbal manufacturers including Sabian, Zildjian, Paiste and Meinl, so there's definitely no shortage of amazing medium-heavies to choose from.