The ride cymbal it is your main cymbal. Used as the name says to ride or to drive the rhythm pattern, it is normally played on the open part of the arrangement when a fuller and sustained sound is needed. It also plays a important rule in the jazz environment where it's consistent driving pattern it's largely regonized.
The 3 basic models of Ride Cymbals are: Light Ride, for soft to moderate volume, Medium Ride, normally an all around cymbal and Heavy Ride for louder and heavier playing. Whitin these models there are variations like the Dry Ride, and Ping Ride, both producing a clearer stick sound and less sustain, the Flat Top, a bell less cymbal for quiet and more articulted playing, and other models that are basically variations of the ones mentioned above. Choosing the ride cymbal is a very personal decision. It depends of the kind of music you play, the volume requirements, the "feel" of the cymbal, and your personal taste. As always time and experience will drive you to the right choice. The Medium Ride it is a good starting point since it is an all around cymbal that will fit most styles of music and has a wider dynamical range. Ride Cymbal sizes range from 18" to 24".
Crash Cymbals are used for accenting or "crashing" notes. Thin Crashes, Medium Thin Crashes, and Medium Crashes are the most common choices. The thinner models are more explosive and brighter. The heavier models are more direct and powerful. Other crash cymbal models include the Crash-Ride, a cymbal that works as a slow crash or as secondary Ride, and the Dark-Crash that produces darker and lower tones. Crash Cymbals sizes range from 14" to 20".
Hi-Hat Cymbals follow the same principle in terms of models. The medium and heavy weights being the most popular. The lower or bottom cymbal is normally heavier than the top, and offer options such as a wavy edge or holes to allow the air to escape quickly. You can use a Light Top cymbal and a Medium bottom cymbal for softer and more articulated playing, or a Medium top and a Heavy bottom which is a good all around sound for contemporary music. Hi-Hat sizes range from 12" to 15".
Splash and Chinese Cymbals are used mainly for accents and colors, the Splash producing a fast and short duration sound, and the Chinese a raw and trashy sound. Their sizes ranging from 6" to 12" for Splashes, and 12" to 20" for Chineses.
Try mixing weights in your set-up to get a larger range of sounds. If you play hard and loud try Medium and Heavy cymbals, they are ticker and more durable with longer sustain and higher pitch. A Medium Ride and Medium-Thin crash is a good combination for moderated to loud playing, and a Light Ride and a Thin-Crash will work for a softer and more articulated playing.
Testing Cymbals: Set it on a cymbal stand, play it with your own drumsticks, try different dynamics. Ask somebody to play it and move further away to evaluate the projection and musicality of the cymbal. Try to play it as if you are playing live.
