You're Setting Up Your Cymbals Wrong (Do This Instead)

Constantly cracking or breaking your cymbals? Your cymbal placement is likely wrong. You need to do this instead.

Chapters:

00:00 What you're going to learn
01:23 Crash Cymbal Positioning
01:47 The Angle Of Your Crash Cymbal
02:53 How To Strike Your Crash
04:19 Things To Note About Your Secondary Crash
05:00 Hi Hat Positioning
05:33 Hi Hat Spacing
05:52 Hi Hat Height
07:03 Ride Cymbal Position
08:22 Ride Cymbal Sitting Position Tips and Tricks
09:33 China Cymbal Positioning Tips and Tricks

In this video you will learn:

- How to position your cymbals
- How to hit your cymbals
- Why you're setting up your cymbals wrong
- How to correct your cymbal setup
- Crash, Hi Hat, and Ride Positioning

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[CameronFleury]

Do you have any tips for other drummers? Leave them below! Also, if you're looking for the mini course, it's right here ➤➤ Double Bass Drumming Control: Free Mini-Course 🎁

[lwestrich]

At least for the hi hat spacing, having a second one slightly closed for double bass stuff and one pretty open for foot control works for me

[wickedwidget]

Man as a beginner drummer this really helped me understand the placement especially seeing as how I want to play metal. So this video really helped awesome brother thank you.

[mrantarctica]

For cymbals that I might choke, I like to place my accent/crash cymbals at an arms length so that it's a comfortable distance to easily choke (not over extending). When the stick is in your hand, it'll be easily reachable still and you can easily play all the articulations (bell, bow, edge) to emphasise the musicality of the cymbal.

[skirwan]

love setup videos, I'd like one on positioning extra items, from cowbells and blocks to where and how to add electronic pads - think Danny Carey's Mandalas. Maybe how to run wires cleanly for mics and edrums?

As for tips, one of my favorites is taking marker to bottom of sticks and doing designs. X/O/Triangle/Numbers so I can easily identify matched pairs from my stick bag when I grab them.

[ciniclay]

may I suggest not having any flat lines when repairing that cymbal? from this angle it kind of looks like you simply had 3 lines.. if there are solid angles, those are potential points where the cracks can expand from, so it would help to round them off ;)

[timhourigan]

Thanks so much for the double bass control mini-course! You are a gentleman and a scholar! Two BIG thumbs up!

[Mudge]

On ride particularly positioning on a multi-rod extension stand, as it tends to be the lowest or at least level with hi-hats. Don’t place it’s stand too high and try to compensate with the extension rod/ tilter to lower it. What will in fact happen is that you’ll have the free play of the cymbal compromised by the reflex angle of the tilter/rod ad damage it during playing. Avoid it by choosing set the cymbal stand base low and projecting the topmost support-rod and tilter upwards from that level; preferably with more than enough angle to prevent the struck cymbal (on the supported side away from the drummer) bouncing off the support-rod. As shown here, tilt the ride cymbal downwards towards the drummer to expose more of it playable surface. For those using crash ride then a higher position overall will provide less problems as you’ll need to have a better edge-swiping arc introduced as the cymbal elevation increases.

[leewhitehead]

Hellhammer is a perfect example of washing over cymbals, I thought it was odd at first but its great when you get used to it and it helps with timing and flow, nice vid

[timbit]

Thanks for this video. I'm going to show it to my roomate for sure, he's been bashing at my kit and it absolutely kills me to think he's ruining my what is now multiple thousand dollar cymbal investment because he doesn't know how to hit them.

[MartinBellamyMBDrums]

Good point about the wing nut on the china. Ive wrecked a few like that LOL. LUCKILY was able to catch the crack early on and cut it out similar to yours. No real sound difference and saves a ton of cash. One thing that I noticed (and it might be the angle of the camera) is to try and file any sharp corners into round edges, then do a light sanding to smooth put the new edge. This should prevent any cracks from starting up again at those points.

[jayburd]

I've literally had an A Custom 16in crash for 20 years hitting it from the side... sure it's warped but still sounds amazing and no cracks....

[troymartinez]

Great video!!!!
Great money saving
I started tilting my cymbals, highlights (I use 2), Chinas (2 again, ) towards me about 5 years ago.
Also, I only use 1, 19" crash, to my left, and it's my least used, the ones I use most are my middle and right cymbals, but these are both 20" ride cymbals, because I won't break them

[NeverSickAtSea]

Thank you for the instructional video! You have two crashes, presumably of different sizes. Which do you place on which side (smaller on the left, for example), and why?

[valtyger]

I was looking for the position of bottom HiHat tilting screw (or bolt). Should it always be at opposite side?

[rocknrolloutlaw]

Good tutorial my friend! Very well explained... ❤️ your channel!!!

[HellenAsante-xtkh]

The high hat that I have has rough edges and its unstable too

[Luemml]

very useful video! I already did some things (i.e. not having tight cymbals via wingnuts, but I hated that anyway, but great to know that also increases longevity), others like striking your cymbals with more surface area is also super helpful because other sound, better ergonomics and less cracks, so your purse is happier are also great additions. bigger issues are usually hi-hat and double pedal setup, because the way I like my hats crashes with the way I like to angle the second bass drum pedal usually... especially with an electronic kit.

[NEALBABBITT]

Drawing the sound out, not bashing and beating. Working with it, not against it.

[lobbyrobby]

Thank you for this. I bought my first drum set a couple months ago. I swear everyday I'm moving something like 2 mm's lol. I only have 1 have 16 inch crash on my left side. I'd like to add a 18 inch crash too. Hell, I might just upgrade all my cymbals as my kit came with Meinl hcs cymbals. I know they are a cheap beginner set. Could you point me in the right direction of a stand that could hold my ride and that 18 inch crash or should I just buy another stand?