China type cymbals typically have a
bell that is cylindrical or shaped like a truncated cone with its base the top of the bell, an outer rim that is turned up in the reverse direction to the main bow of the cymbal, little or no
taper (change in thickness) from bell to rim, and an area including the inside of the bell that is unpolished. However, many china type cymbals have only several or in some cases none of these distinguishing characteristics. The distinguishing feature of a china type cymbal is the one that is hardest to define: its sound. China cymbals are those whose sounds are derived from the Chinese, rather than the Turkish, tradition of cymbal making. Cymbals are classified into two or three tonal families: Turkish; Chinese; and some would say European, although others would include the European family of tones as a development of the Turkish sounds. The best Turkish (and European) cymbals have a rich, swelling tone that some describe as "sweet". To western ears, the best china types have an abrasive, cutting sound that is described by western drummers as "trashy". The families do to some extent overlap. Notably,
pang and
swish cymbals have some characteristics of china types, and some characteristics of traditional Turkish cymbals. On the other hand, the
Sabian rocktagon cymbals, and some
Ufip models, are considered china types while having none of the physical characteristics of the normal china type, while the
Paiste crystal crash is considered a European cymbal despite its squarish bell. Cymbal making in China is claimed to predate the development of the art anywhere else in the world. The most universally acclaimed
cymbal alloy, bell bronze, appears to have been independently developed in China. Today in China a wide range of cymbals are manufactured of both traditional and imported patterns. Traditional Chinese types with distinctive names and sounds include
chung,
jing, and
water cymbals, as well as many other types. In Western music these are all referred to as china type cymbals. China type cymbals are available in a wide range of sizes from down to , most types singly but some in
pairs. Those of or smaller are normally referred to in Western music as
china splash cymbals. When used in a
drum kit, they are regarded as
effects cymbals and are used to give colour and variety. In a drum kit, china-type cymbals can be mounted either with the bell facing upward (similar to other cymbals) as well as with the bell facing downward. When mounted bell-down, the upturned rim becomes a downturned rim, allowing a normal stick technique to be used for both ride and crash patterns. This assumes that the bell is formed in the typical direction; some china type cymbals (e.g., the
Paiste 2002 Novo china) have an
inverted bell and an upturned rim, and so must be mounted bell up to achieve this downwards rim orientation. ==Types==