How to Play a Cymbal With the Butt of a Rod

When it comes to playing the cymbals, you might think it's pretty straightforward, but a drummer with a full kit has different options at his disposal. Instead of playing cymbals with sticks, a drummer can choose to use rods, which have different kinds of materials for producing radically different cymbal sounds.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Grip rods by the tops so that the plastic or rubber "butt" of the rod is facing toward the cymbal.

2. Reach out and hit the cymbal, either on the dome, the ride area, or the edge. You'll hear a more muted sound than if you attack the cymbal with a stick.

3. Hit different areas of the cymbal with the rod to hear how the tool produces a variety of sounds that can fit into your percussive composition. Hitting up near the dome produces a shorter sound. You can also scrape the rod across the cymbal head for a drawn-out sound.

4. Use the rubber side of the rod to hit the edge of the cymbal. Swing your rod perpendicular to the cymbal and tap it from the side, and you'll hear yet another short cymbal sound you may be able to use.

5. Try a "wash" with rods. Taking both rods, hit first with one, then the other, first gently, then with gathering force, so that the sequence of hits crescendos, and you hear a gradual eruption of sound. You can do this on the face of the cymbal or again, from the side using the side of the rods.