Cymbal Stack Ideas for Your Setup

A cymbal stack is an easy way to add a new sound to your drum setup. In this video, I share a few ideas about cymbal stacks and how I approach making them and setting them up with various hardware.

00:00 Introduction
00:55 Subscribe to Newsletter
01:08 My First Cymbal Stack
01:33 What is a cymbal stack?
01:57 Step 1: Find Cymbals That Fit Together
03:54 Step 2: Try Common Hardware
04:58 Step 3: Buy a Zildjian FX Stack

// Lesson PDFs

// My Gear

// Related Videos
"10 Drum Hacks - Part 2"

"10 Hacks For Drum Set Performance and Setup"

"15 Drum Dampening Options - DIY or BUY"

// Related Articles
"10 Hacks for Drum Set"

"10 More Hacks for Drum Set"

// Drumming Styles (for Drum Set)

// Demo Song (play-along tracks)
"We Just Gotta" by Wanda Shakes via Epidemic Sound
CLICK HERE for one month FREE trial of Epidemic Sound

// Downloads (sheet music, lessons, other resources)

DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission.

[MarcFritzer]

Surprised no one has really commented on your playing, sounds great!

[sethtrey]

The best question, I think, is "what properties make a good cymbal stack?" Like, what is the tone? Can you make it with your mouth? This one is a nice "chh". Maybe even "chhh" if it's loose. Your observation about the high frequency lasting longer into the decay of the sound, or the high and low frequencies decaying evenly is the best description I've heard so far. As I understand it, the stack does this because of the chaotic bouncing of the cymbals against each other, which will mostly dampen low frequencies (because the cymbal moves more), and turn them into high frequencies. So as the cymbal decays, the lows keep turning into highs, thus sustaining the highs and dampening the lows. In a manner of speaking. It's kind of the idea behind a sizzle chain or a rivet. too. (I guess a rivet is a stack, sort of.) The hihat, too (as you point out), it's obviously the stack everybody's used to playing with. And who wouldn't love a second hat?
Great work! Thanks for the video!

[lajeanette]

Honestly as you said i buy broken cymbals for a few dimes and only use those as stacks. I mean if a cymbal sounds great i won’t waste it on stacks ^^

[axemanfishing]

Super great tips, thanks for sharing.

[pertrick]

Great video. I hadn't considered a lot of these configurations you've done. Well explained and demoed as well. Thanks!

[caelansprott]

we need more videos on stacks ideas! Loved this!

[ARDrummer]

Great upload! Very well put together and helpful. For sure is the best way to salvage cymbals that cracked/damaged beyond repair.

[victormuriel]

Nice video, you gave me some new ideas.
I only have 2 stacks one of them is a stagg 8" mini china with an 8" splash underneath and the other is a Zildjian 18" zbt crash with a 16" zht china underneath, in the Zildjian combo I made some holes on both, believe me, thats a grrrreat stack, big, trashy, explosive and cheap, all what you need 😜👍🏼

[Noelstradamus]

Does making stack cymbals required small ones on top and the big ones on bottom?

[leoborgesgasparini]

Is only the cymbolt bracket sold? (5:48)

[OPPN]

cheap brass cymbals are perfect for stacks as well bc of the trashy tone that brass makes