Cymbal vs. Symbol — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on April 30, 2024
A cymbal is a percussion instrument used for sound effects in music, whereas a symbol is an object or sign representing an idea, quality, or concept.
Difference Between Cymbal and Symbol
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Cymbals are metallic discs that, when struck, produce a loud, resonant sound, used primarily in musical contexts to enhance rhythm and dynamics. In contrast, a symbol is a broader term referring to any mark, sign, word, or object that conveys a specific meaning or represents something else beyond its literal existence.
While cymbals are tangible and have a physical presence in the world of music and sound, symbols are often abstract, existing as part of language, art, or other forms of communication where they signify deeper meanings or concepts.
Cymbals are crafted from various alloys and come in different types like crash, ride, and hi-hat, each designed for specific sound effects within a musical composition. On the other hand, symbols can be linguistic, such as words or phrases, visual like logos, or even actions that culturally convey particular messages.
The use of cymbals can be traced back to ancient civilizations and has evolved through cultural exchanges in music, adapting over centuries. Symbols, however, have been integral to human communication since the dawn of language, serving as foundational elements in developing written scripts, religious icons, and national emblems.
Musicians specifically choose cymbals based on their tonal quality and the style of music being played, whereas the use of symbols depends on the context, audience, and intended message, varying widely from one culture to another or even within different fields of study like semiotics, psychology, and art.
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Comparison Chart
Nature
Physical musical instrument
Conceptual representation
Material
Metal alloys
Various (can be linguistic, visual, etc.)
Usage
Musical performances
Communication, representation
Types
Crash, ride, hi-hat, etc.
Linguistic, religious, national, etc.
Cultural Role
Enhance music rhythm and dynamics
Convey meanings, ideas, concepts
Compare with Definitions
Cymbal
A percussion instrument made of metal.
The drummer crashed the cymbals together at the climax of the song.
Symbol
Can be an action representing broader concepts.
A handshake as a symbol of agreement and mutual respect.
Cymbal
Used to produce a resonant sound in music.
He tapped the ride cymbal lightly during the jazz solo.
Symbol
Used in language to convey specific meanings.
Every word in a poem is carefully chosen for its symbolic value.
Cymbal
Part of a standard drum kit.
He set up his drum kit with several cymbals arranged for easy reach.
Symbol
Visual symbols include logos and icons.
The company’s logo is a symbol of its brand identity.
Cymbal
Used globally in various music genres.
Cymbals are essential in both orchestral performances and rock concerts.
Symbol
Found in religious and cultural contexts.
The cross is a central symbol in Christianity.
Cymbal
Comes in various types like crash, hi-hat, and ride.
She preferred the bright sound of her new crash cymbal.
Symbol
A mark or sign used to represent an idea or entity.
The dove is a symbol of peace.
Cymbal
A cymbal is a common percussion instrument. Often used in pairs, cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys.
Symbol
A symbol is a mark, sign, or word that indicates, signifies, or is understood as representing an idea, object, or relationship. Symbols allow people to go beyond what is known or seen by creating linkages between otherwise very different concepts and experiences.
Cymbal
A percussion instrument consisting of a concave brass plate that makes a loud clashing tone when hit with a drumstick or when used in pairs.
Symbol
A mark or character used as a conventional representation of an object, function, or process, e.g. the letter or letters standing for a chemical element or a character in musical notation
The chemical symbol for helium is He
The symbol r in Figure 5 represents a gene which is ineffective
Cymbal
(musical instruments) A concave plate of brass or bronze that produces a sharp, ringing sound when struck: played either in pairs, by striking them together, or singly by striking with a drumstick or the like.
Symbol
A thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract
The limousine was another symbol of his wealth and authority
Cymbal
A musical instrument used by the ancients. It is supposed to have been similar to the modern kettle drum, though perhaps smaller.
Symbol
Symbolize.
Cymbal
A musical instrument of brass, shaped like a circular dish or a flat plate, with a handle at the back; - used in pairs to produce a sharp ringing sound by clashing them together.
Symbol
Something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention, especially a material object used to represent something invisible
The lamb is a symbol of innocence.
Cymbal
A musical instrument used by gypsies and others, made of steel wire, in a triangular form, on which are movable rings.
Symbol
An instance that typifies a broader pattern or situation
His striking out to end the rally was a symbol of everything that had gone wrong with the team over the past month.
Cymbal
A percussion instrument consisting of a concave brass disk; makes a loud crashing sound when hit with a drumstick or when two are struck together
Symbol
A printed or written sign used to represent an operation, element, quantity, quality, or relation, as in mathematics or music.
Symbol
(Psychology) An object or image that an individual unconsciously uses to represent repressed thoughts, feelings, or impulses
A phallic symbol.
Symbol
A character or glyph representing an idea, concept or object.
$ is the symbol for dollars in the US and some other countries.
Chinese people use word symbols for writing.
Symbol
A thing considered the embodiment of a concept or object.
The lion is the symbol of courage; the lamb is the symbol of meekness or patience.
Symbol
(linguistics) A type of noun whereby the form refers to the same entity independently of the context; a symbol arbitrarily denotes a referent. See also icon and index.
Symbol
A summary of a dogmatic statement of faith.
The Apostles, Nicene Creed and the confessional books of Protestantism, such as the Augsburg Confession of Lutheranism are considered symbols.
Symbol
(crystallography) The numerical expression which defines a plane's position relative to the assumed axes.
Symbol
(obsolete) That which is thrown into a common fund; hence, an appointed or accustomed duty.
Symbol
(obsolete) Share; allotment.
Symbol
(programming) An internal identifier used by a debugger to relate parts of the compiled program to the corresponding names in the source code.
Symbol
(telecommunications) A signalling event on a communications channel; a signal that cannot be further divided into meaningful information.
Symbol
To symbolize.
Symbol
A visible sign or representation of an idea; anything which suggests an idea or quality, or another thing, as by resemblance or by convention; an emblem; a representation; a type; a figure; as, the lion is the symbol of courage; the lamb is the symbol of meekness or patience.
A symbol is a sign included in the idea which it represents, e. g., an actual part chosen to represent the whole, or a lower form or species used as the representative of a higher in the same kind.
Symbol
Any character used to represent a quantity, an operation, a relation, or an abbreviation.
Symbol
An abstract or compendium of faith or doctrine; a creed, or a summary of the articles of religion.
Symbol
That which is thrown into a common fund; hence, an appointed or accustomed duty.
They do their work in the days of peace . . . and come to pay their symbol in a war or in a plague.
Symbol
Share; allotment.
The persons who are to be judged . . . shall all appear to receive their symbol.
Symbol
An abbreviation standing for the name of an element and consisting of the initial letter of the Latin or New Latin name, or sometimes of the initial letter with a following one; as, C for carbon, Na for sodium (Natrium), Fe for iron (Ferrum), Sn for tin (Stannum), Sb for antimony (Stibium), etc. See the list of names and symbols under Element.
Symbol
To symbolize.
Symbol
An arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance
Symbol
Something visible that by association or convention represents something else that is invisible;
The eagle is a symbol of the United States
Common Curiosities
What makes a symbol effective?
Its universal recognition and the depth of its conveyed meaning.
Are cymbals used in all music genres?
They are common in many but not all genres.
How do you choose the right cymbal for a music piece?
Based on the desired sound and music style.
Can a cymbal itself be a symbol?
Yes, in some contexts, it can symbolize celebration or warfare.
How do different cultures use symbols?
Symbols vary widely in meaning across different cultures.
What is the primary function of a cymbal?
To produce a range of sounds in music.
What are some common symbols in global cultures?
Icons like the heart for love, the skull for danger, etc.
Do symbols evolve over time?
Yes, their meanings can shift with cultural changes.
Can symbols be non-visual?
Yes, they can also be linguistic or actions.
Why are cymbals important in a band?
They enhance the rhythmic component and dynamics.
Are there any silent symbols?
Yes, like gestures or certain ceremonial actions.
What is the significance of symbols in literature?
They add deeper meaning to the narrative.
What are the oldest known symbols?
Ancient religious and cultural symbols found in cave paintings.
How can symbols influence behavior?
By evoking specific emotions or actions based on their cultural significance.
How are symbols used in communication?
To convey complex ideas succinctly.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
