Finger Cymbal Glossary
Aaraj - a term for 3s
Clack - zils strike parallel to each other and stay together, top zil may be muffled by index and ring fingers
Clap - clapping the hands so the middle finger zils and thumb zils of each hand strike those of the opposite hand.
Double Roll (aka box flutter) - hold the thumb and finger zil of the dominant hand close together and between the thumb and finger zil of the non-dominant hand. Shake the dominant hand so the cymbals strike each other and strike the cymbals that are surrounding them.
Doubles - playing two strikes per beat, alternating hands (1&2&3&4&; RLRLRLRL)
Fancy Fingers (aka butterfly stroke) - striking the thumb zil of one hand to the middle finger zil of the other hand.
Gallop - a term for 3s
Longa - a term for 3s
Muted Ring - Open Ring played with the ring and index finger muting the middle finger zil, the tumb zil is unmuted
Ones (aka slow singles) - playing a single strike on the beat (1234; RLRL)
Open Ring - zils strike parallel to each other and immediately pull a way, loud ringing sound
Quad - playing four strikes in the time you would normally play three (time: &a1 strike: RLRL)
Rim Ring - zils strike perpendicular to each other with the edges hitting and releasing - a quieter ringing sound than the Open Ring
Rish - roll ending in a clack
Roll (pattern) (aka fast singles) - playing every 1/16th note (1e&a2e&a3e&a4e&a; RLRLRLRLRLRLRLRL)
Roll (sound) (aka flutter aka ring the bell) - hold thumb and finger zils close together but not touching and shake the hand
Sagat - Egyptian Finger Cymbals have one round hole, are attached with round elastic (or cord) and are made of heavier (thicker) metal. They typically have a deep bowl and the metal is hammered.
Singles - usually means a zil pattern of evenly spaced strikes that alternates back and forth between the hands (1s, doubles, rolls)
Tik (aka Click) - zils strike perpendicular to each other with the thumb zil going into the bowl of the finger zil
Together (aka Double Hit) - both hands strike at the same time, often as a Clack
Tok - zils strike perpendicular to each other with the finger zil going into the bowl of the thumb zil
Threes - playing three strikes leading up to the beat with the final on the beat (&a1 &a2 &a3 &a4; RLR RLR RLR RLR)
Triple - a term for 3s
Triplet - three evenly spaced strikes, usually over one beat of music, but may be more spread out.
Clack - zils strike parallel to each other and stay together, top zil may be muffled by index and ring fingers
Clap - clapping the hands so the middle finger zils and thumb zils of each hand strike those of the opposite hand.
Double Roll (aka box flutter) - hold the thumb and finger zil of the dominant hand close together and between the thumb and finger zil of the non-dominant hand. Shake the dominant hand so the cymbals strike each other and strike the cymbals that are surrounding them.
Doubles - playing two strikes per beat, alternating hands (1&2&3&4&; RLRLRLRL)
Fancy Fingers (aka butterfly stroke) - striking the thumb zil of one hand to the middle finger zil of the other hand.
Gallop - a term for 3s
Longa - a term for 3s
Muted Ring - Open Ring played with the ring and index finger muting the middle finger zil, the tumb zil is unmuted
Ones (aka slow singles) - playing a single strike on the beat (1234; RLRL)
Open Ring - zils strike parallel to each other and immediately pull a way, loud ringing sound
Quad - playing four strikes in the time you would normally play three (time: &a1 strike: RLRL)
Rim Ring - zils strike perpendicular to each other with the edges hitting and releasing - a quieter ringing sound than the Open Ring
Rish - roll ending in a clack
Roll (pattern) (aka fast singles) - playing every 1/16th note (1e&a2e&a3e&a4e&a; RLRLRLRLRLRLRLRL)
Roll (sound) (aka flutter aka ring the bell) - hold thumb and finger zils close together but not touching and shake the hand
Sagat - Egyptian Finger Cymbals have one round hole, are attached with round elastic (or cord) and are made of heavier (thicker) metal. They typically have a deep bowl and the metal is hammered.
Singles - usually means a zil pattern of evenly spaced strikes that alternates back and forth between the hands (1s, doubles, rolls)
Tik (aka Click) - zils strike perpendicular to each other with the thumb zil going into the bowl of the finger zil
Together (aka Double Hit) - both hands strike at the same time, often as a Clack
Tok - zils strike perpendicular to each other with the finger zil going into the bowl of the thumb zil
Threes - playing three strikes leading up to the beat with the final on the beat (&a1 &a2 &a3 &a4; RLR RLR RLR RLR)
Triple - a term for 3s
Triplet - three evenly spaced strikes, usually over one beat of music, but may be more spread out.
