A Guide to Percussion Instruments

TANVI
3 min readJan 26, 2024

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Percussion instruments are available in a wide variety depending on their appearances and the type of sounds that are produced by them. To elicit sound, every percussion instrument requires handwork, however, each of these instruments has different techniques in which they are operated. These percussive instruments are made out of different materials such as wood, plastic, metal, and textiles.

What are the different types of percussion instruments?

To produce sounds from the percussion instruments, they have to be hit by a stick, hand, or any other instrument that is specially made for the purpose. Drums, cymbals, folk, and world percussion, hand percussion, orchestral percussion, and further the list is way too long and melodious.

What are the different types of drums available?

In the category of drums, sets, kits, electronic, snare drums, bass drums, toms, and many more are available. Drum sets and kits are mostly used in different types of bands. Geres that are prevalently known for including drums are jazz and rock. However, the contemporary world has embraced the fusion of genres which in turn, has widened the genres and utilization of drums.

Snare drums are round in shape and are comparatively flatter. Wooden drumsticks are used to play them to get a hollow and mid-pitched sound. Bigger in size are the bass drums that have to be placed on a stand or harnessed to play. Mallets that consist of a cover made of some fabric that hits the center of the drum to produce sounds are used. They produce a low and deep sound. Then comes the tom, which is available in various sizes that are chosen on the basis of the pitch required.

What sort of hand percussion instruments are there?

Shakers, tambourines, singing bowls, kalimbas, and other sorts of percussion instruments are included in the hand-percussion group. All these instruments are played with a single hand or might involve both as well. Tambourines are of plastic or leather and create a circle adorned with tiny little cymbals which produce a pleasant sound when the tambourine claps against the other hand or is shaken. There are singing bowls that are played either by striking the bowl or using a special mallet that is moved around the surface of the outer rim to produce sound. Kalimbas require the involvement of the fingers of both hands. The strings are plucked according to the tune required and then it gives out different notes.

Some of the folk and world percussion instruments

Congas, hand pans, cajons, bongos, djembes, darbukas, steel drums, tablas, Irish drums, tamburas, and dholaks are some of the percussion instruments that some in this segment. All of these instruments are played with different parts of the hands, such as the palms, knuckles, and fingers. The sound they produce entirely depends on the place they’re being hit upon and the application of the part of their hand being touched.

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TANVI
TANVI

Written by TANVI

Freelance Blogger and Content Writer

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