The percussion group includes a broad range of instruments. Cymbals fall into this category as they produce sound when hit together or struck with a stick. They are usually round plates made from a variety of alloys. Many ensembles use cymbals including jazz, orchestra, heavy metal bands and marching groups to name a few. Marching band and band kits generally include cymbals as well. Heavy metal bands are known for using crash ride and hi-hat symbols in their music. There are different types of cymbals that produce differing sound making them each type more suited to various genres of music.

Orchestras use crash cymbals. The clash cymbal comes in pairs and has a leather strap set in the center for the player to hold. The cymbals produce a sizzle sound when rubbing the edges together and striking them against each other causes a clash. Player may also tap the edge of one cymbal against the body of other to produce a tap clash. Skilled musicians can achieve a dynamic range of sounds from clash cymbals. Sounds range from the loud clash that project against the sounds of a full orchestra to the sizzling just to add color.

Early Jazz drummers incorporated cymbals into their music. The suspended cymbal gets its name from the fact that the cymbal hangs from leather strap or rope allowing it to vibrate freely for musical effect. From there it evolved into the horizontally mounted clash cymbal that is part of the modern drum kits. The modern drum kits use a mount used of felt or other dampening fabric instead of leather because this acts as a barrier to hold the cymbal between metal clamps. This became the modern-day ride cymbal. Musician use yarn, sponge or chord wrapped mallets to play suspended cymbals.

Ancient, or tuned, cymbals' use is rare today. Musicians do not strike them full against each other, rather they use one of the edges. The cymbals are thicker, smaller and produce a higher note. The tone is different from other cymbals and resembles the sound of small hand-bells or a keyed harmonica. The Bible mentions ancient cymbals as an instrument used to praise the Lord, so they have a long history. The crotales, small tuned bronze disks about four inches in diameter, descended from the ancient cymbal. These are commonly played by striking the disks with mallets, but can also be struck together like finger cymbals.