Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 150:5

"Praise him with loud cymbals: Praise him with high sounding cymbals." — Psalms 150:5 (ASV)

Praise him upon the loud cymbals - literally, “the cymbals of sound” or hearing. That is, let joy be audibly expressed. The allusion here is to an instrument of music that was most distinctly heard in union with other instruments. The sound of the cymbal would be most clearly audible in its accompaniment of the other instruments referred to, much as the sound of cymbals, or the “triangle,” would be today.

The Hebrew word rendered cymbal means a tinkling, clanging, or ringing, as of metal or arms; then, a whirring, as of wings (compare the notes at Isaiah 18:1); then, any tinkling or clanging instrument, such as a fish-spear or harpoon; then, cymbals, instruments of music.

The cymbal, as used today, is an instrument of brass, circular in form like a dish, producing a sharp, ringing sound when two are struck together (Webster). An instrument of this kind is evidently referred to here. The word occurs in the Bible in the following places only: Deuteronomy 28:42, rendered locust; 2 Samuel 6:5, rendered, as here, cymbal; Job 41:7, rendered fish-spears; and Isaiah 18:1, rendered shadowing with.

Praise him upon the high-sounding cymbals - that is, the cymbals of joyful voice. Regarding the word teruah, rendered high, see the notes at Psalm 89:16. A loud, lofty sound or shout, such as on the reception of a conqueror, is the idea here; and the meaning is that God’s praise was to be celebrated with what would, in the highest sense, express joy and triumph.