Choosing the Right Ride Cymbal For Your Style | Reverb

Drummers: do you know which ride cymbal best suits your style? Beat master Jessica Burdeaux (J-Burd's Beats) is here to help you decide on an ideal ride.
Read more on Reverb: bit.ly/2GF0Aj1
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Check Out Jessica's KZbin Channel: / jessicaburdeaux

[@TomTobin67]

I'm a guitar player and not a drummer so I learned alot from this video. Now, I feel I can talk to my drummer in his language and Lord knows drummers have their own language.

[@maturanjohnmartinowenb7998]

Hell yeah we do, lmao

[@Christopher-md7tf]

Well, just as much as any other instrumentalists have their own language. I think what you're doing is great, bc a lot of guitarists don't really understand ANYTHING about drums/drummers beyond "they play the beat part". Just as much as some drummers get so lost in stickings, rudiments, different techniques etc. that they lose track of the actual music and their part in it. Though I have to say, you're really getting into fine details with this video. Many guitarists would benefit from just knowing the difference between a crash and a ride cymbal.

[@victoriawilliams8570]

😂😂😂

[@CarlosAnglada]

@@Christopher-md7tf VERY well said!

[@jayvalle50]

Hellyeah we do😂😂😂🤘😎🤘

[@19maurice66]

Why am I watching this? I don't even have ears

[@ChristopherSackett]

@Jess Vermont r/woosh

[@jerbear97]

@@ChristopherSackett r/whoosh

[@Christopher-md7tf]

I don't even exist and I watch every one of these

[@JeremyForTheWin]

How do you keep your glasses up?

[@xxtheswagger8xx263]

Jeremy Meyers how r u verified

[@TABBYMUSIC]

If I’ve learned anything from Indiana Jones, go for the blandest rustiest one

[@devinftf]

“A carpenter’s ride.”

[@Cobalt985]

Oh hai TABBY! I don't remember the specific other places I've seen you but I have seen you around quite a bit.

[@imcharming4808]

The videos she does are just fantastic. Just top notch. The bees knees. The cats pajamas. The cats meow, even.

[@rust2092]

I agree.

[@jburdsbeats]

:)

[@kumquat2728]

the cats meow, the horse neigh, the duck quack, and so on

[@ripmopgoorippity3127]

Simp

[@TheAnalyticalObservers]

I love how she spreads her ass on that throne too.

[@reginaldperiwinkle]

She's obviously super cool.

[@jan-lr4uv]

i don't even play drums, but still watch every single one of these videos...

[@ahmetcanyapc8119]

i was in the same position, then i started working in a music studio.

[@sparks3423]

I play the drums and watch all the videos too

[@leocomerford]

Solution: start playing the drums!

[@rulax8608]

I hate these sort of comments.

[@MrMmnngghh]

@@rulax8608 at least you don't hate cock rings. Some people go on da innanet to complain about them too.

[@paradigmshiftz7]

The Zildjian 21" Brilliant A Sweet Ride is even better for punk because you get more ping while still having that crashability and loud bell

[@Christopher-md7tf]

Yeah I was thinking 23" is pretty damn big for fast-paced punk rock

[@nanditdesai3384]

Really loved the Istanbul ride! Beautiful sound..The regular Zildjian 20/22" K ride is the most versatile in my opinion.

[@robbiegrier1514]

What a wicked jacket!! And great playing and information

[@robertvelluso1562]

Really enjoying this series. Keep up the good work Jessica!

[@kyleboggs1966]

Honestly, a ride is so subjective in most scenarios. you can pretty much apply almost any type of ride cymbal in almost any musical application. I usually play with 2 rides on a kit, one with a crashable sound like a meinl sand ride and one with a dryer, more defined ping

[@lifeofapotato4595]

yeah yeah we know it now cool

[@Christopher-md7tf]

I think the opposite is true. Ride cymbals are the cymbals with the most character. A super dry, pingy ride may be great for metal but shit for jazz. Likewise, a dark and complex and articulate jazz ride is very out of place in a pop/rock context. There are ride cymbals which are more versatile than others, but overall, ride choice usually depends heavily on the genre.

[@PeteS_1994]

Life Of A Potato I haven’t played drums but from my music production knowledge would think the different cymbals are about avoiding frequency masking and accentuating other parts of a mix. I only recently realised how different kick drums do this for different genres.

[@alihutton]

@@Christopher-md7tf not really, for example a modern day rock band like catfish and the bottlemen mix between jazzy complex zildjian rides and a 21 a sweet but all the rides work really well for the music on each concert occasion. I suppose the consistency comes from the cymbals quality and the drummers style and technique.

[@DG-sf9ei]

A drummer who knows how to hit a cymbal/drum or kick a bass drum with the right technique and dynamics can make the median line(middle of road sound) percussion product work for any genre. The rest is all sales gimmicks$$$$$ and hype to rip off a person who owns a drumset, but doesn't know how to play it.

[@J_Z666]

my fav is sweet ride good for anything got the 21 in best ride ive ever used and heard good crash ride too super good bell perfect for metal and other genres i play

[@davidbcg286]

These recent gear videos are so nice! Very helpful!

[@catface101]

You're killing it with these videos!

[@tituus96]

I love my 20" PST7 from Paiste, I really dig that K Ride really for any style

[@Christopher-md7tf]

I'm a rock drummer and I've been playing a Paiste 2002 22" ride for a decade now, and I'm still in love with it. I got it after I had heard Brad Wilk use it with Audioslave. It's got an amazing crash, but I also love the bell and the sound of every other part of the cymbal. I don't know if I'll get another ride cymbal ever again.

[@hannes1734]

Yeah the 2002 rides are amazing. Not so big fan of the current 22" Classic one though. Seems a bit too heavy for me. I'm gonna get the 24" one. If i'm gonna go 2002, i'm gonna go big!

[@5150eruption]

Paiste are the best hands down!!

[@HenkeEdge]

Have also a Paiste 2002 22". And my "Baby" weighs 3206g =)

[@andyham6094]

I play progressive metal and I use a meinl jazz medium ride, meinl 22 inch sand ride, and the meinl polyphonic ride which is the most versatile ride I’ve ever played. But I usually don’t prefer bright pingy rock rides. Love the thin darker rides yet with crashability and a defined bell

[@dennisnipulon2356]

Just picked up a paiste 22in rude reign ride, greatest thing on my set

[@juliaabatemarco3532]

Loving these videos, I'm going to put my extra 'Rona time to good use and watch all of them.

[@matthewbalos1729]

22” K Constantinople Medium Thin Low is my favorite

[@freecitizen2760]

K Custom Dark ride, 22”, and a K Hybrid Crash, 19” (often used as a ride).

[@GEMINDIGO]

Great drumming!! Thanks for the info!

[@nicky4917]

23" is amazing, when i first played on it I literally knew I had to get it

[@marcuswood6571]

i needed this video so bad! thanks!!

[@MrBrombomb]

I use the Zildjian "A" 21-inch Rock Ride. Great sound for all types of rock music.

[@BanBanChi]

I played one of those for over 20 years and loved it! When it finally died I switched to a 21" Armand ride and it's by far the best all around cymbal I've ever played.

[@cenaga3]

The bests rock rides of all time are Zildjian A Earth Ride and Z Mega Bell Ride... and Paiste Rude Ride

[@filibertogiron]

This production is superb and above mainstream music production.

[@5150eruption]

I love my paiste dark energy 22" and paiste 22" powerslave signature ride and last but not least my 22" paiste 2002.

[@jerrygamez5723]

Thanks for the video

[@MrWumbologist]

KEEP MAKING THESE

[@ebeep]

Thank you!

[@KarlstadDrums]

Eventhough the Sweet ride has great crash ability I still find it to have a much more cutting bell than some other "rockier" rides, at least my 21"

[@gcvrsa]

Those Paiste 2002 Black Label Big Beats are my current favorite cymbals, possibly even my most favorite of all time. Are they crashable rides, or rideable crashes? Yes to both! I only wish they made a 14" hi-hat to go with them, as I find the 15" a little too low-pitched for my preference, thought they are still liveable. I want the 21" for my "ride", the 18" for my "crash", and a set of the 15" hats.

[@caudillodrums]

Gemma Seymour 100% agree - have you tried 14” Giant Beat Hats?

[@zdravkonovosel122]

I have new Zildjian S series "22 medium heavy rock ride. Man..when I hit this ride..ears fell off lol! Really BRUTAL!

[@leviackerman7067]

Fantastic video 👌

[@net6403]

honestly i think the best all-round rock ride out there is the zildjian a/k sweet ride

[@hoborec]

Great demo! I need to get some better ride alternatives for the studio. Funne how the snare dropped in tune after the punk beats ;)

[@AaronLevyDrums]

The demonstrated Jazz cymbal maybe for bop, hard bop, latin jazz etc, but if you're playing for a big big band you want to have/use a medium to medium heavy ride cuz it needs to cut through the music with a very defined bell and a very articulate bow.

[@DopeboySpoon]

That lace track jacket is fucking FIERCE, queen

[@SirEnVo]

This video implys most Punk drummers know anything about gear lol. Great video though and really interesting in hearing the tonal difference.

[@jamesb1710]

Bayley McNamee you really went for them there

[@GioGioPietromica425]

As a punk drummer I know quite a bit about equipment Great generalization there buddy

[@SG-qx1fg]

Bayley be careful your trash opinions may get you in trouble.

[@johncarpentersthething7189]

im gay

[@davidcurtis4478]

"Ride" on! 👍🥁👍

[@PanaxPanaxPanax]

Zilldjian K custom special dry ride - very specific cymbal with almost NO bell sound :D Good as big dry dark crash) Paiste - one love

[@Pericles777]

I play heavy technical music, but over the years of trying to find a single ride to do the job, i've now moved to having a more washy jazz ride that has volume and a mega bell ride next to it LOL

[@cymbalmonke]

The Zildjian Planet Z Ride Cymbal has an obscene bell, really good cymbal for the price

[@YearleyDrummer93]

Don’t even bother

[@yom3r3ngu3s]

cool video, you can see how the cymbal vibrates after she plays

[@janineinnacesosa8930]

What do you suggest for pop? Not the really pop songs but in middle of classic rock n pop....beatles, bad company, stealy dan, goo goo dolls, cars etc

[@nichtimmer9134]

Btw. Jazz cymbals work in every genre ;) love thay

[@agnelodcunha6702]

So cool

[@lucentshadow]

I wanna know where those heavy rides come from that sound like someone’s taking a hammer to a metal wall.

[@Thefuzzion115]

Just a super fat bell or even some bands are known for using tuned percussion, so totally metal lol

[@adamdiazzz]

sweet ride all day

[@physycopathicdog]

First ride sounded a little choked out. I'm actually surprised nothing from meinl was on this list, i use both a 22" symmetry ride and 24" big apple dark for all sorts of music and they are like nothing I've heard before.

[@TylerCritti]

If you want a sound like the Istanbul Agop just drill a bunch of holes in a cymbal or wait for it to crack.

[@CarlosAnglada]

What is it that you use/like?

[@andrewferrara11]

I use 3 ride cymbals, a 22” Zildjian ZBT Ride, a 22” Sabian XSR Monarch Ride, and a 20” Zildjian A Custom Ride.

[@tangyuanhong893]

Because of the influence of Dave Weckl,I’ve been using Sabian for quite a long time.But I still can’t resist Zildjian’s rides.

[@CarlosAnglada]

Dave Weckl started out with Zildjian. In fact, I think he helped design a specific ride: the K Pre-Aged Dry Light Ride (is.gd/5ms8dD)

[@justovision]

Jessica is awesome. I'm a guitar and synth guy who never missed a chance to sneak onto a drum kit. What's the best buy for some good shells and decent hardware?

[@quinchorus-40]

Justin Driscoll Ludwig questlove break beats, inexpensive but it gets the job done right

[@Amarilliobrillo]

I use a ride which none of you have ever heard of from a line called “5 star Super Zyn” which was made by premier in the 60s, I would highly recommend them and they’re analogous to the Zildjian sweet ride but 20” instead of 21 or 23

[@JayBear-fv7be]

I like the AAX....really cuts through. More defined ride sound

[@MichaelEMJAYARE]

Its really crazy how different a fuckin’ slab of metal can sound.

[@matthewhackett3429]

Can cymbals be mixed and matched? I love my 20” dark K Ride but a new beat style high hat. Please do a segment on high hats

[@matthewhackett3429]

matt g not brands necessarily but dark and bright although the brands do differ

[@PanaxPanaxPanax]

@@matthewhackett3429 it depends on your musical tasks, but mixing different alloy would be weird. Anyway a couple dark-dry-bright-etc cymbal in your set is normal

[@alesh_k]

@@matthewhackett3429 You can do whatever u want to lol. If they sound good to you, then go for it! You may want to consider how loud they are (thin soft jazz ride probably won't fit that great with a heavy loud crash)

[@Christopher-md7tf]

@@alesh_k Exactly. I have mixed Paiste and Sabian and other brands in the past. Now I have mostly Paiste Signature cymbals and a Paiste 2002 ride. OP: There are no rules here, dude. Well, some people will tell you that there are, but they're missing the point. Do what YOU want to do. That's the whole point of making music. If you want to mix and match, go for it. If you want to have everything from one single cymbal line, go for it. Experiment. Go wild. Life is short, man. You tend not to see famous drummers mixing cymbal companies, bc they are usually endorsed by one of them and cannot use other brands live. But in the studio, anything goes.

[@jimmybuckets5863]

Yeah definitely, the trap set is relatively new as far as music goes...and it all started and evolved by people mixing and matching different pieces.

[@rogerwelsh2335]

I disagree many times with this idea and reviews that tell us a 24” ride out projects a 22” or 20”. I find that the bigger the diameter the tone goes way to low and it’s harder to pull out sound when riding the top. Brighter sounds usually come from 20”-22” and brighter sounds cut more through louder music. So if you want to cut through go lower diameter and medium to med/heavy weight with lathing.

[@faperito2389]

I found that perfect medium in a "weird" cymbal, the 20" K custom hybrid ride embodies just what you're talking about.

[@bubba101010]

I’m using a 19” X-plosion crash HHX Brilliant as my ride! (And crash of course). Discovered it a couple of years ago on a rented kit; I was amazed to prefer it to a conventional size ride (different series) that was set up next to it!

[@skipwave]

I recoil at the sight of a Zildjian Sweet ride in a recording session. It completely disappears behind even moderately distorted guitars in the mix. There’s no choice but to spot mic it, and only a few very expensive microphones flatter a cymbal when close up on it. Whose got an extra Beyerdynamic ribbon microphone lying around that you wouldn’t rather be using on something else? Consider me soured on the Sweet ride.

[@audenoakes]

Can you do this video with crashes or hi hats next?

[@demonicsweaters]

In my opinion the only one she chose that actually had drastically different characteristics was the AAX, granted it sounds horrible, but it was at least different. All of the others are pretty much dark and washy. Better for rock would have been something like a Paiste 2002 Ride, or standard Zildjian A Medium Ride, punk really isn't going to be much different than rock, and basically all the first 4 she chose could all work in jazz.

[@dineshrustagi1156]

It would be nice if they covered rnb and funk styles more.

[@woopeedyscoop1858]

advice some ride for techno pls

[@jeromedavis8575]

Which ride cymbal would you recommend for indie rock?

[@guacadu]

You are beautiful and talented!

[@ZOB4]

20" or 22" K Constantinople all day. Best ride cymbal ever.

[@josephyantin7639]

I am a metal drummer and tend to go to cymbals with huge ear piercing bells. For example, I'm using a 21' Z Custom Zildjian Mega Bell. It cuts through everything, has great tones and can be used pretty versatilly.

[@necrodamus5481]

That's odd to hear from a metal drummer. Ive always figured heavyrock/metal would likely use bigger cymbals but what im finding out from people on forums and from you and from checking metal drumming legends setups. A lot of em used medium rides like 20"-22". That's strangely shocking to me

[@thaddeusfromsonar]

im a metal drummer and i am madly in love with the one and only 21” Meinl Brilliant Serpents Heavy Hammered ride. i use nylon tips and i NEVER crash my ride. it’s so unbelievably loud and pronounced and the bell sounds absolutely sick

[@skipwave]

The bell is the best part of a ride and most them minimize their best attribute. Mega Bell gets it.

[@ArkhBaegor]

@@necrodamus5481 The bigger the ride the lower the tone and the less defined the sound. A smaller ride will be way easier to hear over distorted guitars.

[@necrodamus5481]

​@@ArkhBaegor I might go with a '21 then.

[@jf542]

incredibly controlled drummer

[@spyderlogan4992]

I like whatever Michael Shrieve uses...

[@chronicdisease1722]

Tech Death Alien Grind Eat Flesh Nuke Matter is the genre. Do you have any preference for Splash/Chinese cymbals

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

X-plosion ride is probably more applicable to rock than metal. Giant beat is more classic rock than modern rock. But they’re both rock rides. Metal rides of note: Z Zildjian power series, Paiste Rude series, Sabian HH power bell, Sabian Metal-X series, Meinl Classics series... or honestly even a PST, ZBT, or B8 heavy ride would sound ok in the mix. It should literally be uncrashable and the bell should deafen you like a knife the the ear drum. Great video, I like the cymbals in it, and the playing. There’s just no real metal ride.

[@nunovyobeeswax4177]

the sabian sounds freakin sweet

[@szymonobrebowski3055]

Sabian HHX Evolution Ride 20", a ride for all genres ;)

[@FunkyDrumm3r]

OR you can buy a k zildjian 20 ride that is good for all genres of music (exept maybe metal)

[@litteratus5845]

The istanbul Ride sounding for me as crash that can be used as ride

[@AlexSlavenDrums]

I pick 2002s

[@rara387]

That Paiste is looking pretty dusty

[@MichaelVoorhees1331]

23 sweet ride is good for jazz, that basically my jazz ride.

[@Itsallawesome]

Those Paiste's though...!!

[@spasevrp]

'70's Paiste 20" 2002 ride. Nuff said!

[@spiritualpoetry]

Istanbul is the best! As the T-cymbals

[@finnhall3869]

I would say k custom sweet is the best for fusion like arron spears

[@CyrilViXP]

Here I liked Istanbul Agop Special Edition Jazz Ride

[@jamieanderson7757]

Same here. Love it! Looks like it's been dried up with some tape underneath.

[@sidmarks265]

Great drummer. Could make pan lids sound good.

[@satan1168]

it´s way easier than that. Visit your local music store, hit a cymbal, if you like it: buy it. If not, hit the next cymbal and so on... Trust your ears. If you play brutal death metal but like the jazz hihat go ahead and buy it. Nothing can stop your creativity and your way to find your own style if you trust yourself. Otherwise you´ll just be a copy of a copy of a copy

[@TheDayisMineTrebeck]

That K Custom is what Marco Minneman uses

[@ZackRL96]

I'm just watching this because of my crush on Jessica

[@delisub2910]

ZackRL same

[@LetsTalkAboutFeelings]

I don't have a crash on her.. ba dum tss

[@bizzjoe]

Just buy Zildjian K cymbals, and use them for whatever the hell you want.

[@tracktuary]

Old K = best ride for any genre

[@elliotjharris9908]

All Zildjian

[@jmdrummer7]

Zildjian A Sweet Ride 23"

[@emotionalrelation997]

When Punk came up the worLD was like "awwww yeA with a capital 2nd A"

[@shreddedbylight]

@1:00

[@hellothere3430]

Am I the only one who thinks of the test kitchen at 0:57 ?

[@anthonykueber6098]

Yes

[@richardtorres5513]

How about the BLUES, you didn't cover that ?

[@jesseolsson1697]

Richard Torres jazz and blues have frequent parallels

[@DrummerGrrrl]

Ugh! I absolutely hate that first ride, for some reason. It doesn't have much sustain. Very nice stick articulation, though.

[@AudiophileTommy]

Needs MORE cowbell

[@CarlosAnglada]

I think the ride cymbal as I came to regard it is dying - and you can see it on this very video. You could deduce that, given the amount of time spent discussing/demonstrating how well each of these models crashed, this characteristic has taken almost complete precedence to the stick sound itself. Might as well buy a big, heavy crash and just wail.

[@deaterk]

Carlos - True! Good observation! ...And, I'm not sure if this is a bad thing or a good thing... One easily could make the argument that while (broad) labels such as 'ride' and 'crash', are useful to the consumer, narrow specific labels like 'Dry Ride', 'Thin Ride', 'Pre-Aged Ride with a side of gravy' are arbitrary marketing tools that do little to describe the sonic character of any given cymbal, and that they are all just CYMBALS. When Paiste reintroduced their fabled Big Beat line a few years back, they did not assign these labels...they were 18, 20, 22, 24 Big Beat, and it was up to me what I choose to do with that cymbal. I've also noticed many drummers using 16, 17, 18 crash cymbals in pairs as hi hats...again, what's screen printed on the cymbal shouldn't matter. All The Best!!! Cheers!

[@CarlosAnglada]

@@deaterk so very well put!

[@deaterk]

Carlos Anglada - Thanks! I just appreciate you taking it the way I meant it & didn’t think I was trolling or starting an argument.

[@deaterk]

Rick Delair - yes rick!...Giant Beat, rather than big beat. Thank You! I guess my point is (as your input seemed to confirm) that the things written on cymbals by their manufacturers (weather in red, blue, or brown ink) is arbitrary, and that all cymbals are in the end ‘multi-use’...

[@deaterk]

Rick Delair - right on Rick!!!