Best Cymbals for Rock Music

Best Drum Set Cymbals for Rock Music

3/31/2022

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If you're interested in taking Drum lessons on Zoom or In Person in Burbank, Glendale or North Hollywood, we have some of the best drum lessons in Los Angeles. Our drum instructors are picked by interviewing hundreds of drum teachers and we have really high standards on both their teaching ability as well as their personality. If you'd like to talk to one of our instructors or set up a first lesson we have a guarantee that if you don't absolutely love your first lesson you don't have to pay for it. Please contact us at (818)902-1233 or on our website at https://www.losangelesmusicteachers.com/online-drum-lessons-in-burbank-ca.html

One of our drum instructors wrote this article on Drum Set Cymbals for Rock Music

We have reviewed the best cymbals for rock music. They come from the world’s greatest cymbal manufacturers; Paiste, Sabian, Meinl and Zildjian.

Paiste legendary 2002 series
Zildjian A custom series
Sabian AAX series
Meinl Dark Custom

Why I picked these series?
I decided to pick the rock cymbals from the biggest cymbals manufacturers in the world

Paiste

Zildjian

Sabian

Meinl

Some of these series are used more than 20 years in the rock music both in studio and live. A lot of rock drummers use these series so they are well established.

Let me tell you some main characters that these companies offer so you can narrow your choices.

If you are looking for old school rock sound with low pitch and strong attack go with Paiste
If you are looking for modern cymbals with a high pitch that opens up and sing beautifully go with Sabian
If you are looking for versatile cymbals, well made with a great number of choices in terms of sound go with Zildjian
If you are looking for heavy cymbals with intermediate pitch, dry sound and very strong attack go with Meinl

This is just a short synopsis when it comes to rock cymbals that these companies offer, but of course there’s more to it.

The fact that every rock drummer in the world plays one of these series says enough about the purpose behind them and their character.

What they have in common?

They are all loud and mostly with higher pitch of course some series pitch stay in the middle and for some goes into deep.

Mostly they all have brilliant finish in order to get a better attack. Regarding sustain is long except with Paiste rude where idea is “hit and run” strong punch and after that it disappears, the same goes for Meinl Dark Custom.

What are the differences?

The most important component of premium cymbals is B20 bronze. All these companies use it. Sometimes in clear for sometimes they add some other components so they can make a magic sauce like Paiste and Zildjian.

Find out more about cymbal materials here.

I already mention that pitch can differentiate as well as the versatility. Some series like Zildjian A custom are very versatile while series like Paiste Rude has only one purpose.

The main difference is in character and the sound. From Paiste 2002 which has that old school sound, over Rude which has a deep sound with a strong attack up to AAX totally modern cymbal with a bright sound and not too much “in your face”.

You see every cymbal from the list has its own sound character.
Regarding the series level, Paiste 2002 is the top-level with Paiste same goes for Meinl Dark Custom while Zildjian and Sabian have higher series than these.

Paiste and Meinl cymbals are more expensive due to that fact but in comparison to two other companies they do offer a slightly better sound but totally different.

If you're interested in taking Drum lessons on Zoom or In Person in Burbank, Glendale or North Hollywood, we have some of the best drum lessons in Los Angeles. Our drum instructors are picked by interviewing hundreds of drum instructors and we have really high standards on both their teaching ability as well as their personality. If you'd like to talk to one of our instructors or set up a first lesson we have a guarantee that if you don't absolutely love your first lesson you don't have to pay for it. Please contact us at (818)902-1233 or on our website at https://www.losangelesmusicteachers.com/online-drum-lessons-in-burbank-ca.html