On drums...

This is actually a continuation of a thread started by Gregory on, "They look like this", viewtopic.php?f=11&t=30
but, considering where it went, I decided a migration was appropriate.

Mel Lewis, IMHO, one of the greatest big band drummers on the planet... during his time on the planet... once said something to the effect that,
"Every cymbal should be ridable and crashable." Although I don't strictly adhere to that notion, Mel evidently did, generally limiting himself to three cymbals, all of which he crashed and rode.
Ron

There are too many fun cymbals to limit myself to Mr. Lewis's number, but I can and do, at one time or another, use all my cymbals as crashes and as rides. Even a tiny splash makes a great ride under certain circumstances!

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Gregory

Tough subject.
I got a ride, why would I want my crashes to ride?
I guess what he is really saying is he only needed one cymbal.
I've never heard a crash I liked ride well and vice versa.
I keep anything off I don't use. Right now I'm trying to use a splash proper with little success. Can't help but crash the thing.
I use two sets of hats. Sometimes I have 3 sets of hats on the kit. Experimental purposes. Left and right closed and still have foot.
I'm in a pickle right now with amount of drums. I normally play 8,10,12, two floors. But I don't have an 8 and an additional floor right now so making do. I really think I could have used both wisely last Saturday with a band. Nothing they would have noticed but I would have liked the seperation.

Kelly, I think the point was to have crashable rides. Mel was of the era when a jazz drummer's default kit was 4 drums, 2 cymbals + hi hats.
Both the primary ride and the crash-ride would be crashable, because even the heavier of the two was usually light enough to crash.

Mel's 3rd cymbal was a 'swish knocker' with rivets... a kind of 'occidental' version of a chinese... which he would sometimes ride as well as crash.
I saw him several times leading his big band at the Vanguard playing only those three cymbals. He played with a deeply swinging, tasteful, yet powerful uplifting ease that was inspiring.
Ron

Different situations, different purposes. In rock, there are precious few moment to ride a crash because the stroke necessary to cut through the volume makes a crash explode rather than ping, but there are plenty of moments when one might crash a ride - if it's a good sounding crash.

As music becomes less loud, the opportunities increase for riding a crash increase, providing tonal shift from the main ride. Makes the instrument broader.

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Gregory

I have a hard enough time finding a crash and ride I love nevermind asking them to do both.
I know I could play with less....but I don't want to
Hell, can prolly do a whole show with a kick, snare and hats and no one would even notice....cept me.