How to Use a Ride Cymbal
Using a ride cymbal is not that difficult—after all, with any type of cymbal, all you need to do is hit it, right? Well, not exactly. There is some technique to it, of course, but it’s not complicated. In fact, it’s basically used in the same way the hi-hat cymbal is used. All you need to do to get some sound out of your ride cymbal is to hit it with the end of your drum stick. By hitting the cymbal and the bell, you’ll get that amazing ride sound. If you want more of a crash, just smack the ride cymbal with the shoulder of the stick. This is great for the chorus. Most people use the ride cymbal to create a continuous sound. This means you’ll be hitting it at regular intervals, which is one of the reasons why you want it to be near your dominant hand and in a good position for you to reach it often. The volume of your ride cymbal, like all cymbals, depends on how hard you hit it, although remember that the ride cymbal isn’t going to produce the same crashing noise that other cymbals do.
The major thing that’s going to affect how you use your ride cymbal is where you put it. This can be just about anywhere. Most put it between the floor tom and the second tom near their dominant hand, but it doesn’t have to go there. Instead, you can put it just about anywhere that’s comfortable to you. While many drummers do use their dominant hand to hit their ride cymbal, you don’t have to use your ride cymbal like this. Instead, you can use your off hand if you like. It all depends on what works best for you.
