"Pitched" cymbals

[rdrummer322]

I would be very interested in finding a cymbal maker who can pitch cymbals so that they could be used in playing melodic themes. Sometimes you get lucky and find a nice cymbal tuned to a particular note, but it's a real trial and error approach. Imagine using a G crash when a G chord is played, an A crash for an A chord, etc. Saluda! Are you out there listening?

[Woody]

Other than crotales?

W.

[Poopypants]

You could be overthinking this one...

[...gach]

ya crotales??? cymbal makers make those...

[rhjanes]

When I went Masterworks, I called up Greg Nickle on his close out stuff. I told him what I needed and he picked them based on pitch. only my 18 Jazz is not in 'pitch' with the rest....
trouble is, you have to have a lot of cymbals in front of you, all at the same time. All the old jazz greats did it this way. Plus, back 50 years ago, 50 percent of the cymbals were crap anyway...

[rdrummer322]

crotales are too bell-like. I'm talking cymbals here! If a master craftsman is hammering cymbals, why can't he stop on a C? gach, you've seen my set, you know what I'm aiming for. Total melodic drum playing. Why limit your description to a high shimmer with a nice wash? Tell me what note the main crash or china will be.

[...gach]

sorry man, i know i have seen your kit, but i cant picture it out of all the kits i see on here, got a link?!?!

[Woody]

I could be off base here, but it seems that a thin cymbal (like a crash) would have far too many overtones to carry a predominant pitch. That's why all the "pitched" metal instruments seem to be thicker, like a crotale or bell. Less overtones, purer tone.

Is "purer" even a word?

Besides, how flexible would a set of pitched cymbals be? Unless you had a ton of em you'd be out of key on some songs.

W.

[beatkeeper02]

I could be off base here, but it seems that a thin cymbal (like a crash) would have far too many overtones to carry a predominant pitch. That's why all the "pitched" metal instruments seem to be thicker, like a crotale or bell. Less overtones, purer tone.

Is "purer" even a word?

Besides, how flexible would a set of pitched cymbals be? Unless you had a ton of em you'd be out of key on some songs.

W.


then not only would the band blame you for making them go out of time, but they will blame you for playing the wrong chords. damn them.

[Woody]

Drummers can't play chords--we're not musicians, remember?

W.

[thoughtwithoutreason]

do masterworks have an english website and do they ship to the uk?

[rhjanes]

contact Mic or Robert-Jan (RJ) here on this forum. they have some major connections over on your side of the pond. MW are about extinct here in the USA now. Became Buzin.

Mic and RJ can be found by doing some searches or scanning over the memberlist.
Ray

[-Brian-]

Weren't the Sabian Radia cymbals pitched cymbals?

[beatkeeper02]

Drummers can't play chords--we're not musicians, remember?

W.



geese it must of been all the drugs an alcohal speaking, we are drummers right?

now if I can only find out how to screw in this lightbulb...

[Woody]

I think there were some Radia cup chimes, but the rest were traditional (relatively speaking) cymbals.

W.

[smoke_n_drums]

Cymbals are "tuned" relative to both the other cymbals in the "set" and the pitch/overtones of the individual pie. **Crotales and Paiste cup chimes are "tuned" to a specific note or interval**

Sabian's TB Radia's are dry and quick with a predominant "note" and a fair amount of "trash." I would not however characterize them as "tuned."

I look for even intervals in my crashes all of the same type. This isn't as easy as it sounds since each pie is it's own instrument. **Even Paiste aren't perfectly all the same.** A good start is the appropriate spacing of diameters. **14", 16" & 18" are my favorites** But in the end somebodies' ears are needed to "tune" a set of cymbals.

[minimalist]

Cymbals are "tuned" relative to both the other cymbals in the "set" and the pitch/overtones of the individual pie. **Crotales and Paiste cup chimes are "tuned" to a specific note or interval**

Sabian's TB Radia's are dry and quick with a predominant "note" and a fair amount of "trash." I would not however characterize them as "tuned."

Paiste Crotales and Tuned Discs are tuned to a specific pitch, but aren't cymbals in the traditional sense. Their Cup Chimes have a melodic character, but aren't tuned to specific pitches. They are matched to create a melodic set tuned to itself.

Sabian's Radia's are designed to match each other in a melodic sense that is not tuned to specific pitches, but still forms a melodic set.

You can get sets of gongs tuned to a chromatic scale. These types are almost always bossed gongs with a raised center nipple. They are fairly thick walled and deliver a true pitch when played on the boss. A cymbal would have to be fairly thick & heavy (like a crotale) to produce a predominant fundimental note with little overtones. Most standard cymbals are too thin and produce a fundimental pitch with many overtones, creating a wide harmonic spectrum.

You can put together sets of cymbals that are harmonically matched and form melodic sets. That's what I have done on my solo kit, but they are still very harmonic cymbals with no true dominant fundimental note.