The 5 Reasons Why You Are Cracking So Many Crash Cymbals

18Jan/100

The 5 Reasons Why You Are Cracking So Many Crash Cymbals

Makes me angry. Photo credit: Photomishdan

It happened again.

"I just spent a week choosing a great sounding crash cymbal, paid $300 for it and it cracked." Sound familiar? This has happened to me a couple of times and it's so frustrating. The first time, it turned out that the cymbal was defective and I got it replaced free of charge by the manufacturer. The second time I wasn't so lucky.

So why does it happen? Is it the cymbal's fault? Or are you doing something wrong? I have found that these are the 5 most common reasons why you are cracking your crash cymbals:

1. Flat cymbals

Setting your cymbals up flat so that you are hitting them directly on the edge is a sure way to crack them. Set up your cymbals so that they are pointing down toward you a little. If you really like the way they look flat then try and lower them a bit so that you can catch the top of the crash a little. This is what I do.

2. Hitting your crash straight on

Hitting your crash straight on with your stick pointing towards the bell is a sure way to crack it. Try hitting your crash with more of a sweeping stroke towards the right or the left rather than hitting straight down at it.

3. Too tight on the stand

When you hit your crash you are transferring the energy of your moving stick onto the crash. If your crash is loose then a lot of the energy makes the cymbal move around on the stand. If your crash is too tight and it can't move around then that energy has got to go somewhere else. Namely right into the cymbal, tearing it apart. Your cymbals need room to move and breathe.

4. Inflexibile crash

A crash that is flexible will transfer more of the stick strike into movement rather than channeling it into the cymbal itself. It seems strange but a lighter, thinner crash will be less likely to crack than a heavier, thicker, less flexible cymbal.

5. You like it

Come on, admit it! There's nothing more satisfying than seeing pieces break off your crash as you play. You know it looks cool and your audience agrees with you. But try working more into your performance than just "hitting stuff until it breaks." Your bank balance will thank you.

So do these reasons sound familiar to you? Are you making these mistakes? If you decide that you care more about the visual impact of your kit and your performance then that's cool. Just be prepared to pay the price. Literally!

Alex