Sizzle Cymbal - Accessory Sizzlers

Accessory Sizzlers

In order to produce a sizzle sound without the need to bore holes in the cymbal, sizzlers may be used. There are two main patterns:

• Rivet sizzlers suspend rivets above the rim of the cymbal, normally in two groups 180 degrees apart.
• Chain sizzlers suspend several short lengths of ball chain on the surface of the cymbal, most often either near the rim or more commonly in many places along a diameter. These chains may be fixed, adjustable in length, or completely removable. Sometimes a single chain of balls from a cabasa is used.

When a sizzle cymbal is required in an orchestra, most often a chain sizzler is used. The positions of the chains can be adjusted allowing finest control and greatest range of tone in the hands of a skilled percussionist. This also allows any cymbal to be used without any permanent effect on its tone.