Upcycled Percussion Jar Lid Ching Ring

The Ching Rings are multiplying. If you can't get enough drum and percussion surface textures, here comes another one!

The Jar Lid Ching Ring is made from small metal screw-on lids, crimped and folded into little pods. Slightly thicker and heavier than the materials used in our other Ching Rings, these pieces produce a chunkier sound with great clack and tinkle from the metal surface.

Like our other Ching Rings, this useful little creation "activates" much easier on a hi hat cymbal than any of our hand rattles do, and it can really add a crunchy layer to hi hats parts. The ring can obviously flex, bend and become somewhat amorphous because of the chain at its core, which also allows for easy placement on cymbals for a sizzle/rattle effect.

Depending on how you position or play your hi hats, the ring may move off center - and that's not a bad thing! Because the chain is not stiff, the ring can be pulled toward to edge of the hi hats, for added effects when the hats are played closed (see video). This Ching Ring can also be used for cool rattle effects on other surfaces, and, while not nearly as controlled as our hand rattles, it can be played by hand for a tinkle-y, ambient effect.

We tried many configurations with these - but sixteen pieces was the best blend of presence, weight, response and contact. Fewer pieces sounded sparse, more pieces sounded choked and less responsive.

In an already crowded market of jingly hi hat things, we'd like to believe, the different materials and construction here allow for some flexibility and different tones than what's already available. Be sure to check the video to see several of the applications in action!

And for a look at all of the Upcycled Percussion builds, visit our YouTube channel:
youtube.com/channel/UCyNdxU3I1NQchErgK3aJKSw