are my cymbals loud enough?

[el_frenko]

i have 2 crashes: 15" AAXplosion and 16" HHXevolution. i love these cymbals and they seem to work well no matter what im playing. however, im starting to wonder if i need a bigger cymbal (17") for my rock gigs. i can never really tell how well they're cutting from where i sit. what do you reckon? are my crash cymbals big enough for rock gigs?

[Velimor]

Without hearing your band there's not really a way for us to know. My advice would be to ask people at your shows (preferably other musicians) and go from there.

[jayp]

Your cymbals should be fine but maybe for rock you should check out some 18" crashes its all preference in the end.
Have someone listen to your playing, preferably a drummer and have them let you know.

[Deathmetalconga]

I have been playing 24 years and I have never, ever heard anyone say a drummer should be louder. But people like the concept of a drummer more than the reality of a drummer and a lot of bands would be happy if they couldn't hear the drummer at all.

Try to get someone to record your band, even with a cheapo device. That will help some.

[hawk9290]

I have been playing 24 years and I have never, ever heard anyone say a drummer should be louder. But people like the concept of a drummer more than the reality of a drummer and a lot of bands would be happy if they couldn't hear the drummer at all.

Try to get someone to record your band, even with a cheapo device. That will help some.
ditto that man, I finally accomplished one of my goals in drumming on friday- playing so driving and loud but still in the style of a song that a jazz enthusiast and a famous composer cried out in pain at the end of a song with the big drum finale (playing a driving rock song, meant to be played loud and hard, at a jazz festival may not have been our conductors wisest choice, but most everyone else really loved it and it was fun). nothing against jazz or the guys, but some songs just need to be played loud and hard with a drum focus (something a lot of jazz people and conductors don't like).
How does this relate? I was using 1 16inch crash and 1 18inch crash, and the 16 was more piercing and loud because I hit it equally as hard as the 18 inch. So if they aren't loud enough, play out man!!! thats what drummers have to do sometimes! Those AAX cymbals are meant to be played loud

[thumper]

I usually get told to "play lighter" at our gigs, except for one memorable instance..we were playing at a dance hall with another band, and both kits had to be tucked back farther on the stage because of scarcity of space. On our first set, I was playing at a normal "subdued" volume, until my wife, and other people told me that the drums could barely be heard . (no mic'ing availiable) What a treat it was to break out the Vic Firth nylon tip 5B's and play as hard as I could! Man what a workout...my normally sweet and defined 22"K ride sounded like a waterfall when I whaled on it, and all my skins recieved quite a bit of damage. It was worth it though...took off the brakes and played like Keith Moon for once!!!

[Tetley]

i get told i'm too loud for gigs on an 18 studio hhx and aaxplosion 19.

it depends on the band and how hard you hit, i hit hard so i probably need smaller cymbals! but i have heard other drummers complain their 16"s were too small.

give it a go with your current ones, ask another drummer or a couple of members from another band their opinion.

[el_frenko]

cheers for the replies. iv got a 17" AAXplosion on the way from ebay, so hopefully that'll even things out. i play at various dynamic ranges, depending on the situation. its just difficult to know what the score is when your playing a loud gig with no/few monitors.