The Best of Shorties, Volume 2: Cymbals Book

This collection gives cymbal players substantial material across 18 charts without requiring endless page-turning. The mix of familiar songs (Batman Theme, Hey! Baby!, Hips Don't Lie) means cymbals stay engaged throughout the season rather than sitting silent on ballads and slower concert pieces. López's cymbal writing respects the instrument's role in rhythm section support while giving players tasteful moments to punctuate and drive the ensemble.

Playing from this book feels like being given permission to be part of the fun. These are songs audiences know and love, arranged with energy and clarity that makes every cymbal crash feel purposeful. Whether you're crashing on a superhero anthem or riding through a disco groove, the writing makes your part feel like part of the story.

Marching bands and pep bands with intermediate cymbal players ready for genuine musical responsibility across a full season of charts. This book is essential for any program that uses time-outs, quick-change concert slots, or pep band performance as part of its performance calendar.

• Lock the cymbal crashes with your drumset's kick drum on the opening hits of each section. Clarity of impact matters more than volume.
• Listen for the conga and bass lines in charts like Conga and Jungle Boogie. Your rhythmic precision with those players creates the groove foundation for the whole band.
• On swing-feel tunes like Sing, Sing, Sing, avoid playing cymbals too bright or metallic. Let the sizzle come from control, not tension.
• Balance shut and open cymbals across the chart. Overusing closed technique on every backbeat flattens energy; vary your approach to support dynamic shape.

Schedule these 18 charts as your pep band and time-out repertoire for football season and basketball games. Their compact length (all under five minutes) makes them perfect for quick set changes. You can also rotate selections into rehearsal as palate-cleansers between more demanding full-band charts.

• Groove-based cymbal technique in pop and rock idioms
• Rhythmic lock with bass drum and electric bass lines
• Balance between closed and open cymbal articulation
• Listening for and supporting clave and conga rhythms
• Quick entrances and section awareness in short-form charts