This is a new post on the Cymbalistic blog. I do post good stuff there (I think) which I don’t share on this blog, so I encourage you do scroll through and check in regularly.
Here is a glossary of words I use to describe cymbal sound and performance. It’s a funny thing about cymbals— even people in the business aren’t that great at talking about them. There seems to be an irreducible element of mystery about them.
These are mainly for describing the general sound of a cymbal, or its harmonic profile. They also pertain to the ride sound, crash sound (strong accent on the edge of the cymbal), accent sound (shoulder of the stick on the ride area) and bell sound. Also for describing definition and response, which are qualities of riding, accenting, and crashing.
If you have other words you use, I invite you to share them in the comments.
Bright
Higher harmonics are emphasized generally.
Dark
Lower Harmonics are emphasized generally. An over-used word; I may use it to describe a very broad category of cymbal, or to mean, with specific individual cymbals, very dark, compared to warm or smoky.
Warm
Mid and lower harmonics subtly emphasized, generally harmonious profile.
Smoky
Lower harmonics moderately emphasized. Many Holy Grail cymbals fall in this category.
Gong-like
The cymbal crashes with a bwah sound; in my mind suggesting a low sound. Can be a pleasing quality, or it can be a flaw.
Exotic
Suggests an unusual Chinese cymbal or gong like sound or pitch bend.
Splashy
Suggests a cymbal that is very responsive to crashing, possibly with a high sound.
Clean
Focused, harmonious profile.
Dry
Harmonics de-emphasized relative to the direct stick sound.
Dead
Excessively dry or muffled, lacking in expected overtones. Not always a negative quality.
There’s more…
Live
Full harmonic profile, big wash, easily crashable.
Fast
Responds quickly to the touch of the stick. When crashing and rolling, builds to a peak and fades quickly.
Slow
Long crash sound that peaks well after the cymbal is struck. Could also describe a cymbal that requires a lot of force to get an explosive crash sound.
Funky
A mysterious combination of dark, dry, trashy, and exotic.
Noisy
Pronounced random harmonics. Could be used interchangeably with trashy, but noisy has a more negative implication.
Trashy
Harmonic profile tending towards a white-noise like sound; random harmonics dominating the sound.
Cutting
Strong, focused attack, tending to be higher-pitched, to cut through a large ensemble or electric band.
Piercing
Unbalanced high harmonics present. I would never use this word as a positive adjective.
Metallic
A persistent, obnoxious metal sound.
Clangy
A forceful metal sound. Generally negative, but moderate clanginess can be desirable; it can give raw energy.
Airy
Bright, light, non-metallic sound. I use airy to describe many of our Leon Collection cymbals.
Glassy
Lacking in body; almost an empty sound. Airy and glassy could be used interchangeably by different people, but for me, airy is positive, glassy is more negative.
Thin
Not referring to the actual thickness of the metal— suggests an insubstantial, tinny sound.
Other words:
I have never thought to describe a cymbal as hot, but it is used. Sweet is a commonly used word the meaning of which I am unclear on, other than “sounds pretty”, or a pleasantly bright sound. I have played a few cymbals with a distinctly tubby sound. I have encountered a few very strange cymbals with a springy, slinky-like tone. Some people say sticky to refer to a cymbal with a pronounced stick sound. Some have described sounds as actual colors: blue, red, green, yellow. I have no idea what is meant by that.