Cymbal stands come in a variety of styles, each with a standard or single-braced design as well as a heavy-duty or double-braced design. Cymbal stands, which range from hi-hat stands to boom-type cymbal stands and rack systems that act as a skeleton around the drum kit, are essential in the positioning of cymbals so that the drummer has easy reach and control over all of the drum kit’s components.
The single-braced, straight-style stand is one of the most basic cymbal stands. The cymbal stands, which typically use three folding legs to support the straight stand, are ideal for beginning drummers and provide a modest level of support. This is commonly referred to as an entry-level cymbal stand because it is not designed to withstand heavy or hard-hitting drumming styles. Following these cymbal stands is a double-braced version that is far more durable than the single-braced stands. This stand type is much sturdier, with a heavier main tube incorporated into double legs, and is commonly used when playing in clubs and other types of live shows.
A straight, upright tube with an adjustable cymbal mount sits atop the straight-style stand. Most drum mounts can be tilted in a variety of angles, ranging from 0 to 180 degrees, allowing most drummers to find a comfortable position. The boom stand is a variation of these cymbal stands. A boom cymbal stand is a straight stand with a long boom arm attachment in place of the tilting cymbal mount. The boom stand allows the cymbal stand to be moved away from the drum kit while still keeping the cymbal close to the drummer.
Clamp-on cymbal stands are another type of cymbal stand. The clamp-on style hi-hat cymbal stand, which uses a cable instead of a solid stand to move the cymbals, is primarily used for hi-hat cymbals — two cymbals that move up and down against each other via a foot pedal control. This allows the drummer to place the hi-hats in any position while still using the foot pedal in the traditional position beside the bass drum kick pedal. A rack-style cymbal stand is preferred by many professional drummers. These cymbal stands are made of a cage-like tubing system that surrounds the drum kit and provides the highest level of security and stability for live performances and studio work.