I have been looking through my samples and notice a ride sounds like a open hi hat, closed, crash I mean can a ride be any cymbal?!?! When are they used in songs/drum patterns mainly.

 

in techno, trance styles from mid 90's to mid 00's classical electronic ride was used right with kickdrum going. very often, it was popular especially in the end of 90's - beginning of 00's. If overcompress the ride it sounds like endless flat noise in track.

 

It's purpose it to be hit with a stick, mallet, or brush.

The better question is, "Haven't you ever heard of Wikipedia?"

 

That's mostly the best answer, but in this case, the wiki entry is about the "common used" ride cymbal as real instrument, whereas most (at least many) sample libs are refering to the ones from a 707/909, which have a very own, characterictic sound.

But to answer the question: It (just talking about the Roland ones) is used in many electro genres (initally Detroit Techno) and are mostly played on every offbeat either toghether with a (mostly open) hihat or alone to give some sections of a track a "driving/riding" feel in the hi freqs in contrast to the bassdrum.. Rides are more "harsh" than hats and so its peaks are in higher freqs (depends also on the settigns, can be adjusted with the detune nob on a 707/909)

 

Great answer. Makes sense. Wikipedia would not have given me that answer

 

I would say a ride is like a "legato" tempo keeper.

 

Rides (usually) have a ping attack and noise tail. To fill the spectrum and add rhythmic patterns where the soundscape might need it.

 

Last edited: Mar 22, 2017

To be the best ride cymbal it can be, to find a nice compatible accompaniment, and together make loads of little ride cymbals

 

Purpose of a ride symbol is to go ting ting ting.

 

There's actually two types of rides: a crash/ride (that's typically more of a "bell" sound) and a regular ride cymbal. I usually use the regular ride on slower music (it works especially well on ballads), and the bell-type crash/ride, which is more rock or heavy-metal sounding, I use as an accent (it doesn't work out too well as a repetitive sound, as it's sharper than a normal ride), especially on choruses, solos or towards the end of a song when you need to switch up from a regular hi-hat pattern.

 

Isn't the crash cym not there for introducing new sections of a song resp. to finish a fill? So played only on the first beat of a track section with a very long release over some beats or even bars? Often used in house? At least that was the intenion of it, I believe.

 

I know I sound stupid but I just really wanted to know and because I asked I got so many awesome answers!

 

Your welcome & don't worry, inital question is clarified. Just continuing offtopic conversation/discusses here

 

you use where you feel it needs to be... there are no rules when it comes to making music or using sounds. some people start a drum pattern with the kick..... some people prefer to let the snare hit first.

 

It's like a cowbell but differently......

 

The bell of the ride cymbals is one of my favorite sounds. I love how real drummers of all styles will use it to accent the last beat of a monster fill. actually the 3 and, right before the crash.
And lets not forget the 808 ride, that and the 808 sidestick/rimshot are more of my favorite drum sounds. Practically famous sounds by now. Great for accenting your EDM beats, just because theyre so familiar.

 

Last edited: Mar 23, 2017

Ride cymbal's purpose is to put it on your head while driving a car, for protection, isn't it?

 

Ride symbol? LoL

Its for the bridge, like the fuzz gtrs. U kno?

 

Dude, these samples are the pieces (parts) of real drum instrument. You need to see some drummers playing drums...
Here is the best drummer you can see... and the big cymbal at his right hand is the Ride Cymbal...

 

Yes, drummers usually will incorporate it into the changeups. Use it to accent a different part of the song, so its not the same cymbals all the time