Sizzle! features 3 families of percussion instruments: membranes (bongos, snare drum, toms, bass drum), metals (suspended cymbals, China cymbal, hi-hat), and woods (claves, woodblocks, temple blocks, log drums, slap stick). A 4th family is created with the players voices whispering intensely various syllables from the word "Sizzle." The piece is set primarily in 4/4 with a section of 6/8. However, the occasional 5/8 and 7/8 bar creeps up just to keep the audience on their toes.