The splash cymbal is a small cymbal that some drummers add to their drum sets or kits as an afterthought. This type of cymbal is sometimes referred to as an accent cymbal because, rather than serving a vital role in the drum set, it accents a traditional crash cymbal by producing an additional cymbal tone, allowing a drummer to play a wider range of sounds or, as some experts put it, providing more “color” or “tone variation.” The china cymbal, which is also smaller than the average cymbal on a drum set, is another similar cymbal. When accent cymbals are mounted in different areas of the set, they can allow drummers to play less extreme cymbal sounds or provide more opportunities for simultaneously striking cymbals.
Splash cymbals have small diameters when compared to more traditional cymbals. A 10 inch (approximately 25 cm) diameter is a common size for this cymbal. These smaller crash cymbals have a much larger diameter than regular crash cymbals. Splash cymbals are smaller than traditional crash cymbals and produce lighter sounds.
Splash symbols are used in a variety of musical genres as distinct types of percussion accents. They can be found in rock and pop music, as well as Latin American dance music and other world music genres. These smaller cymbals could also be used by jazz drummers to create more varied sounds. These cymbals are most commonly associated with rock music in modern music.
Cymbal stacking is a technique for using splash cymbals in drums. The drummer places one cymbal next to another in this position. The smaller cymbals are usually mounted on top, with the larger cymbals underneath, so that when the drummer strikes the entire set at once, the sound is distinct.
Other drummers use a variety of splash cymbal mounting techniques. Some people place them upside down on top of a traditional crash cymbal. The option of “piggybacking” cymbals, which involves mounting two or more cymbals on the same stand, is also available. Depending on the drummer’s overall style and technique, these smaller cymbals can add functionality to a drum set in a variety of ways. The sound of the cymbal can also be altered by a free or fixed mount.