* Accents: Crash cymbals are often used to accent the downbeat of a measure, or to emphasize important moments in a song.
* Builds: Crash cymbals can also be used to build tension or excitement, by gradually increasing the number of crashes in a crescendo.
* Accenting: Crash cymbals can also be used at the end of a musical phrase, giving added impact to the conclusion.
* Fills: Crash cymbals are often used to fill in gaps between other musical phrases.
Ride Cymbals
* Timekeeping: Ride cymbals are most commonly used to keep time, by playing a steady eighth-note or sixteenth-note pattern.
* Accenting: Ride cymbals can also be used for accenting, or to add emphasis to certain beats in a measure.
* Patterns: Ride cymbals can also be played in a variety of different patterns, such as the bell pattern or the swish pattern.
In addition to their use in rock music, crash and ride cymbals are also used in a variety of other genres, including pop, metal, jazz, and blues.