Cymbal facts for kids

A crash cymbal

Cymbals (say it like "symbol") are musical instruments that you hit. They are round, flat discs, usually made from copper, bronze, or a special metal mix called an alloy. They look a bit like saucepan lids, but they have a raised part in the middle. This part has a hole with straps for holding them.

There are two main ways to play cymbals. One way is to use a pair of cymbals that are the same size. The player holds one cymbal in each hand by its strap. Then, they bang the cymbals together. You can make many different sounds this way. For example, you can rub the edges together for a quiet sound. For a very loud sound, you hit them together and let them ring in the air.

Another way to play is using just one cymbal. This cymbal hangs on a stand. You can hit it with a beater, stick, or wire brush. Hitting it at the edge, in the middle, or somewhere in between makes different sounds.

Cymbals come in many sizes. Some might be as small as 25 centimeters (about 10 inches) across. Large ones can be up to 60 centimeters (about 24 inches) wide. Cymbals usually don't have a specific musical note. However, there are small ones called "crotales" that do. There are also Chinese cymbals, which have edges that turn up.

You can hear cymbals in many types of music groups. They are used in an orchestra, jazz bands, percussion groups, and marching bands. A drum kit always has at least one cymbal. This might be a "crash cymbal" on a stand. Or it could be a pair of "hi-hats," which are small cymbals played by pressing a foot pedal.

Where Do Cymbals Come From?

The word "cymbals" comes from the Latin word cymbalum. This word itself came from the Greek word kumbalom, which means "small bowl". Cymbals were used in many old cultures. This includes ancient Egyptian civilizations.

How Are Cymbals Used in Orchestras?

Cymbals are often used in orchestras. The first composer to use them was probably Joseph Haydn in his "Military Symphony" in 1794. They are often played during a big, exciting part of the music. An example is in the "Academic Festival Overture" by Johannes Brahms. But sometimes, they can also be played very quietly.

After a big crash, players might let the cymbal ring for a long time. Other times, they might quickly hold the cymbals against their body to stop the sound. This is called "damping" the sound. Cymbals have often been played with the bass drum. This creates a loud "crash-bang" sound.

Images for kids

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  Characteristic rock hi-hat pattern.

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  Ancient Greek bronze cymbal, 5th century BC, National Archaeological Museum, Athens

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  A musician playing cymbal in a musical group, from the 8th-century bas-relief of Borobudur Temple, Central Java, Indonesia

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  A pair of bronze cymbals from the Chinese Jin dynasty (1115–1134)

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  A pair of clash cymbals in cross section. The bell is in green and the straps are in red.

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  A type of crash cymbals used in Assam, India. It is similar to Khartal. This instrument is used in Assamese dances called Bihu.

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  Chinese-style crash cymbals in use

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  Hi-hats. The clutch holds the top cymbal on a rod operated by a pedal.

See also

In Spanish: Platillos para niños