breaking cymbals.

[cthetranspire]

This is a good thread.

When the cymbal is clamped down incredibly tight, the vibration of the impact is forced through the stand. Think of when you death grip the stick while playing, and your hands hurt when you're done. Your hand has absorbed all your energy, along with the tendons, muscles, etc. With plates, the vibrations are intended to travel through the air, not the stand. (duh).

If your plates are not clamped down, your sound will project, your cymbals will not break, etc. If you're death grip on the sticks, instead of transfering energy to the stick and subsequently through the drum head, there is a waste of energy. I mean, hold the sticks, don't get me wrong, but use the meat of your hand to transfer the energy. Strike the cymbals in the same fashion as the drum. You don't try to wail the shoulder on the drumheads, right? Don't change your stroke for the plates.

Sorry, I'm a bit long winded. If that's confusing or anything, please ask for clarification and hopefully I can manage to do so.

[neal79]

If you keep the cymbals loose like everyone has said so far and use proper technique you should be fine. Proper technique is more of a glancing blow than a direct hit. Not to say a direct hit is bad but it will cause your cymbals to wear faster.