How the clash cymbals makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the clash cymbals belongs to the struck idiophones: the body is struck directly – bells, gongs, xylophones and cymbals.
More broadly it is one of the idiophones, where the solid body of the instrument itself vibrates, without strings or a stretched membrane.
Its timbre – the colour that lets you tell it apart from other instruments playing the same note – comes from the mix of overtones its body and resonator emphasise.
From Wikipedia
Clash cymbals (also called concert cymbals, orchestral cymbals, or crash cymbals) are cymbals played in matched pairs by holding one cymbal in each hand and striking the two together.
To differentiate this type of cymbal from a suspended cymbal, they are also called hand cymbals.
Other struck idiophones
Frequently asked questions
What does a clash cymbals sound like?
As one of the struck idiophones, its sound comes from the way the body is struck directly.
What type of instrument is the clash cymbals?
It is classified as struck idiophones (Hornbostel–Sachs 111.142).