Cymbal

Cymbal, percussion instrument of very ancient origin. When 2 of these shallow concave metal discs are clashed together, swept by each other, or hit with a drumstick they produce a variety of sound effects. Today cymbals are made in many different sizes to produce sounds of varying pitch and intensity. The cymbal is a basic instrument in the military band, and is frequently used in modern orchestral music. Cymbals used in jazz or dance bands, mounted in pairs and operated by a foot pedal, are called choke cymbals.