That is just an opinion and something I don't follow at all. I play/teach professionally and my cymbal set up varies from job to job, but more often than not I have more cymbals in the set up then I do toms etc. It all comes down to the sounds I'm after and what will work for the gig I'm on. So in a nutshell there isn't any rule that you have to follow, it's all personal choice. Why limit your creativity!?

Hope that maybe helps a little :)

Wakk!

Never heard of that before.....maybe you should suggest to the bass and guitar player that they need to limit the number of strings they use to the number of thumbs they have....DOH

Kinda saying the same thing to them as they are saying to you in my book.....

See yet again, I have also heard the phrase "Less is More" when it comes to drums. Ive been told that players that play on a 4 piece kit are more creative and have better freedom around the kit than someone who would play on a full double bass 11 piece kit, due to getting lost or confused and not knowing on what to do next. I dont know if its me being gullable, or being too willing to learn, so I believe peoples opinions as facts...

But thanks for the responses so far. I do appreciate it.

well, I can think of very few gigs that would require more than a hh, ride and 1 or 2 crashes....

It matters to the drummer playing. When I play, I play a 4-piece kit with 3 crashes, ride, and hats. I like to have a high, a medium, and a low crash cymbal, because that's how I like to phrase when I play. Totally my choice, and nobody has the right to tell me to use a different setup.

1 cymbal per tom = opinion

"less is more" = opinion

...the nice thing about drumming and our set ups is that it's a personal choice, and there are no established "rules", only what has come before. Anytime somebody tries to put a limit or a rule on how YOU set up YOUR drums, it just shows a problem that they have, be it insecurity or control issues or...???

why would they care how many cymbals you use. Unless you're taking up space on stage, i can see it from that point of view.

Mostly I only use 1 ride and a couple of crashes and hats, but I will throw up more if time and music suit.

Is the guitarist trying very subtly to make the point that you are occupying all available sonic space with cymbals. I know a few drummers like that and they really can annoy their fellow musicians. If there is any chance that he is suggesting you are overplaying your cymbals, it may be worth considering his advice.

Otherwise, enjoy your cymbals, however many,

Patrick

i started off with 18 ,16 and 14 in the old days and in between then and now i had so much brass up there at time's i felt like the old yes drummer with king crimson in there starless white and bible black tour but since then i've compacted to the 14 hats a 16,and 13 and it works good for me heck you can get so many sound off of 1 cymbal if you don't hammer them but i play lite with my down beat i mite try my 18 too so i've come full circle less is more

It is 100% dependent upon the drummer and the music being played and the room.

I've heard that 1:1 ratio before. I laughed and ignored him ... as should you. Unless you're working a session and the artist/producer has a request, I wouldn't pay it any mind.

I've played with over 30 cymbals and I've played with only a ride. Both extremes, I made the call.