The Cymbals

Cymbals, percussion musical instruments, two thin, round, concave plates of copper-tin alloy that are clashed together or struck separately with hard or soft beaters, producing a long-lasting loud or soft sound of indeterminate pitch. Cymbals typically have handles or leather thongs attached to their backs; in dance bands one cymbal may be suspended from a frame and sounded either by a pedal-actuated cymbal or by metal brushes or a cloth-covered drumstick. Cymbals, used in religious ceremonies since ancient times, were known in Europe since the Middle Ages, and during the 18th-century vogue for Turkish military music, became a regular part of the orchestra. Traditionally made in Turkey and China, they may be almost flat or may have a high central dome. Small finger cymbals with a bell-like tone have also been known since antiquity.

In a rock band, cymbals are usually held above the drums by a stand with a long ajustable arm and positioned to be at a reasonable height above the drums and in reach of the drummer. Usually hit with sticks or brushes, they can be used to 'ride' on (keeping a steady constant beat) or just hit to make a 'crash' or a 'splash' noise a fill in.