Ride cymbals come with many modern drum kits and “rides” with the music after it is struck because it sustains its sound instead of creating the quickly fading sound that comes from the crash cymbal. The ride cymbal’s sound “shimmers’ or lingers some time after it is hit, helping to fuse together the percussion with the rest of the music. Other types of cymbals can be used as ride cymbals, but because they are frequently included with drum sets, most people use them as such.
Generally speaking, the smaller and thinner the ride cymbal is, the darker the sound and the more shimmer it has. Larger and heavier ride cymbals “ride” better when the performance involves high volume. Ride cymbals, like other cymbals, come in a myriad of sizes ranging from eight inches in diameter to twenty-six inches. However, eighteen to twenty-two inches is the norm for most drummers with twenty inches being by far the most common included with pre-arranged drum kits.
As with other cymbals, ride cymbals tend to be made from assorted alloys, most commonly brass (zinc and copper), nickel silver (zinc, copper, and nickel) and bronze (tin and copper). However, as ride symbols tend to be thicker and are played more like hi-hats as opposed to crash symbols, the exact formulation is less important. Instead, the real key to effective playing the ride cymbal is type of stick or instrument used to hit it. Wooden drum sticks create a smoother, mellower sound while nylon or plastic tipped drum sticks create a more bell-like “ping” sound when they strike the ride cymbal. Many interesting sound effects can be made by playing the ride cymbal with unconventional beaters like brushes.
The ride cymbal, with its prolonged “shimmering” sound is the key to blending with the other musical instruments used by the band and keeping the percussion section integrated with the music. It takes some practice to play well because much of it relates to nuance as opposed to basic rhythm.