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Splash cymbals are often overlooked by beginner drummers as a non-essential when building their first kit, and also by listeners who aren’t even aware they exist, or what they sound like. And with fair reasoning – the splash is the smallest in the cymbal family, usually around 8-10 inches, sometimes shrinking all the way down to four, and generally much thinner too.
But what they lack in size and stature, they can make up for in sound. A splash is, in essence, a mini-crash cymbal; one that delivers a quick and cutting attack with a bright blast that comes in fast and then fades. It has an almost mystical, ancient feel to it, and much like a crash, it’s there to enhance and accent your fills, riffs, and solos. It’s also used for special drumming effects too, usually alongside other similar cymbals, such as a China, salsa, bell or sizzle.
“The splash cymbal is my favorite accessory to the drum set,” says Christiana Athena, drummer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist for Athena and the Night Owls. “I use them to add personality and flair when I want to make music feel upbeat and playful, and prefer ones with a lower pitch because it gives a more complex sound.”
“I also enjoy a thinner splash that crashes easily and has a quick decay,” she continues. “This way, it adds a nice accent to the end of a roll or fill, but doesn’t conflict with the frequency of other instruments.”
For a small cymbal, the splash was originally designed to be hit pretty hard in order to deliver its effect audibly. Unlike other larger cymbals, there’s not much taper on a splash in order to reinforce its strength, and some of the original ones were the same thickness all the way from the bell to the rim.
The splash was widely used in 1920s and for 1930s jazz, and then, much like its fast-fading effect, seemed to vanish for the next few decades. Stewart Copeland, the legendary drummer for the The Police, began using one in his kit, which helped bring it back to the mainstream, and companies began creating a heavier, slightly-tapered version that’s still used by rock musicians today.
To get you started on the right splash, we’ve selected three from the world’s top cymbal makers below. This short, sharp addition to your kit unlocks new opportunities to build unique combinations in your playing, and to experiment with finding your overall sound as your skill level evolves and progresses.
