There are a ton of options in the market now when you are looking for suspended cymbals to enhance the sound of your front ensemble. We thought we would take some time to give you some of our top recommendations if you are looking to upgrade your sound this fall.  

Things to Consider when Purchasing 

When considering what option may be best for your ensemble, it is important to think about the following: 

1. What is the size of your ensemble? Consider both your percussion and wind players. 

1. Are you looking for year-round use or just for marching band? If you do indoor percussion you may want to have different options available.  

1. How many people do you see playing suspended cymbal rolls at a time? This relates to question 1 about the size of your ensemble. 

What Size of Cymbal Should I Use? 

While there are many great options from 16” – 20” for suspended cymbals, for our recommendations below we are using 18” cymbals. We would suggest that you consider using different sizes across your front ensemble if possible. But if you are looking for a more unified sound from all performers the 18” cymbals tend to sit in middle of the sound profile. 

Our Top Recommendations

Zildjian 18” Classic Orchestral Suspended Cymbal

The Zildjian Classic Orchestral Suspended Cymbal is arguably one of the most popular options for the marching band idiom.  This cymbal has a full-bodied sound with shimmering crescendo rolls and bright crashes. This works so well outdoors as it sounds great at all dynamic ranges and is an excellent blend of both low and high overtones.  

https://www.chopspercussion.com/product?item=ZCLSU

Meinl 18” Symphonic Suspended Cymbal

Made from B20 Bronze this suspended cymbal from Meinl is one of the best options on the market for suspended cymbals. The hand-hammering construction of this cymbal with medium-thin weight gives it a very musical and warm sound. The shallow and flat profile give means this cymbal has immediate and sensitive response with a long sustain. Whie this may not be the most well-known cymbal option in the marching band space, we highly recommended doing the research on this cymbal! 

https://www.chopspercussion.com/product?item=MESUS 

Sabian 18” HHX Suspended Cymbal

Sabian has many great offerings in the suspended cymbal category and the HHX Suspended Cymbal is one of the best for outdoor marching band use. This highly sensitive cymbal has a dark and wide tonal range. The thin construction of this  

https://www.chopspercussion.com/product?item=HHXSU 

Sabian 18” AA Molto Suspended Cymbal

The AA Molto cymbal from Sabian is excellent all-around cymbal for marching band use. It has a very smooth sound profile with bright and shimmering tones. Because of the higher timbre of this cymbal makes it an excellent option as a standalone cymbal across your ensemble or as an additional color pallete. 

https://www.chopspercussion.com/product?item=AAMOL

Zildjian 18” K Constantinople Suspended Cymbal

The K Constantinople Suspended Cymbal from Zildjian is likely one of the top cymbals uses by orchestras and top performing groups around the world. Although this is a great cymbal option for marching band, we believe this would be a great option as a complimentary cymbal rather than one that is used by all members. The lush, dark cymbal sound will enhance any ensemble sound. The darker tones can get lost outside, which is why we would recommend using these more as a complimentary offering in your ensemble. 

https://www.chopspercussion.com/product?item=ZCOSU 

Honorable Mention (Budget Friendly) – Sabian 18” XSR Suspended Cymbal

If your budget is a concern, we think the Sabian XSR is an excellent option for a suspended cymbal. Made of B20 alloy like other suspended cymbals, the is a value of sound and price. Bright and mid timbre with thin construction give it overtones that will work nicely with most programs. 

Of course, there are many other sizes and options out there for suspended cymbals. The truth is that they each have different characteristics that you may or may not fit the sound you are trying to make for your ensemble. You can find all this information and more on by visiting the different manufacturers websites and social media channels. We plan to do a comparison video soon to help highlight some of these differences as well. 

If you have any other questions or need further recommendations please contact us at 317-813-2070 or chops@chopspercussion.com  

Band directors and percussion directors are always looking for budget friendly accessories that hold up to the constant use that happens in middle school and high school programs. The new Overture by Black Swamp Percussion instrument line is a start of that vision from one of the most reputable companies in concert percussion instruments. Long known for their top quality instruments such as snare drums, tambourine, triangles and more, Black Swamp recently released a new series of instrument that will bridge the gap and give their same great quality instruments at a budget friendly price. For now, the Overture series includes a tambourine, castanet machine and woodblocks.

We take a look in todays blog, what each instrument has to offer from this new series.

TDOV – Tambourine

The Overture Series Tambourine (TDOV) has actually been in the Black Swamp line-up for a while and has quickly become a favorite among middle school directors.  The textured brass jingles give this tambourine a bright sound and combined with the Remo Renaissance Head that gives a pure tone when struck. The increased durability of the synthetic head also allows for the purchaser to know they are getting a tambourine with durability and longevity of use. The ply shell and double-row of jingles allow this tambourine to be played in a professional manner and get a professional sound at an economical price. Includes a protective bag and wax.

OV-CM – Castanet Machine

The Overture Series Castanet Machine is a new model of castanets from Black Swamp and adds a dedicated castanet machine to their already high quality professional castanet line-up. The fiber castanets used give excellent projection through an ensemble without being overbearing or to high in pitch. User friendly design with no elastic or rope to control the tension on the castanets. The tension adjustment is done with a knob and is the same design that is used on the Black Swamp pro level castanets and castanet machine. The base of the castanet machine is made of ply wood with a threaded insert for attaching to a cymbal stand or rubber feet if you prefer to place it on a trap table when played.

OV-WB – Woodblocks

The Overture Series Woodblocks will be a great addition to any band room with their excellent sound and focused tone. Unlike the other Black Swamp woodblocks that are made of maple, the Overture series woodblocks are made from rubberwood. These woodblocks have the same great design with strict standards on the lumber that is used and designed in a way to give the perfect sweet spot when played. Available in 3 different sizes, you can rest assured that you can find the sound you are looking for.

We are proud to carry these quality products in store and online. If you have any questions or looking for some other suggestions on products from Black Swamp Percussion be sure to contact us by phone or email.

chops@chopspercussion.com

(317) 813-2070

As with many things in percussion, tuning drums is a very personal thing that is often guided by preferences picked up in past performance and teaching experiences. This has never been more true than in how a group will tune their concert bass drum and this is often overlooked when preparing for the upcoming season. We thought we would offer a few good ways to tune your concert bass drums in this week’s blog. Before we dive into the various tuning methods we suggest you try, let’s talk about the many things that will affect how you might ultimately find your preferred sound.

What sort of things will affect the sound of my drum?

Depth/Diameter

The diameter and depth of your drum will definitely play a large role in ultimately finding the sound that you prefer. If you have a 32″ x 16″ drum you can’t expect it to have the same full, deep sound that a 40″ x 22″ drum will have. However, you can still find a nice low sound that will work best for you drum. When it comes to the depth and diameter of your drum, it is important to keep your expectations relative to those measurements. When looking for a good fundamental tone, the diameter will ultimately set the limits on what you can do.

Shell Type

The three most popular wood for concert bass drum shells are Mahogany, Maple, and Kapur. Kapur wood is most often used in entry-level drums but shares many characteristics with Mahogany and is very durable. Maple is very popular in mid to high end concert bass drums. Maple is well known for having a balanced volume and warm sound. Mahogany is by far the most popular choice of wood for a concert bass drum shell. The softness of Mahogany allows for the warm, low tones that are so characteristic of these drums.

Head Choice

Again there are many different directions you could go with head choice. You may want to consider using a thicker head on the batter side and a thinner head on your resonant side, as this gives you increased durability and overtone control. Some good combinations for this would be something like you see below:

Batter Head                                                   Resonant Head

                        Remo Emperor Renaissance                 Remo Ambassador Renaissance

Evans Strata 1400 w/Power Dot          Evans Strata 1000

What are some good ways to tune my drum?

While there are many different ways to approach we want to focus on three of the more popular methods used for tuning your concert bass drum for the indoor percussion season. Each will have their advantages or disadvantages but it is important to keep in mind the size and make of your drum when trying on of these tuning methods. We suggest no matter what method you use, tune it up close and have a student play it while you stand back listen for the overall sound. We also suggest not using any sort of towel or dampening method in the initial process, but rather get a feel for the natural sound of the drum first.

Both Heads Same Pitch

This approach for tuning is exactly like it sounds. Tune both sides of the drum to the same pitch. We suggest trying to get the drum to either C, C#, D, Eb and see which one you feel works best for you and your set-up. This method is particular great for giving maximum resonance and long decay and is particularly great for larger 40″ drums or 36″ drums that are 22″+ inches in depth. It is worth noting this tuning method will sound best when played in the center of the drum as well.

Batter Head Lower

Another popular method for tuning the concert bass drum is tuning the batter head lower than the resonant head. With this tuning approach, you want to tune the batter head to it lowest possible pure tone, meaning that when struck you don’t hear any rattling of the head or paper like sounds. After find this pitch, you will want to tune the resonant head anywhere from a Major 2nd to Major 3rd interval above the batter head. This will produce a low fundamental tone when struck but will have a faster decay and less sustain. Tuning with this method is great for 36″ drums especially if you are using thinner heads on both sides such as the Ambassador Fiberskyn Heads.

Resonant Head Lower

This is a less popular option but is the exact opposite of tuning the previous method and you will tune the resonant head to it’s lowest pure tone and then tune the batter head a Major 2nd to Major 3rd interval above the resonant head. This will give a more punchy, short sound while give a low tone because of the reverse tuning. We would suggest you try this type of tuning method for smaller 36″ or 32″ drums, especially if using a thicker head on the batter side.

Which is the best for me?

Ultimately you may need to dedicate some time during rehearsal to finding out what tuning method will work best for you and your equipment. Of course there are other things to keep in mind like the type of music you are playing, how often the drum is played, and your performance venues. We suggest picking one method and going with that for a week to see how it fits in with your overall sound, especially if it is something different than what you normally do. That will give you and your staff time to determine if it is working out for you.

Lastly, keep in mind that if you aren’t getting the sound you desire and haven’t changed heads in a while it may be time to explore some new options. Give us a call and we can help find the right heads for your drum. Happy tuning!