PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS
Definition: Percussion instruments are instruments that make their sound by
being shaken, scraped, or struck by another object.
` Two Categories: A.Definite Pitched Instruments (they produce specific notes or
pitches)
B.Indefinite Pitched Instruments (only play one undefined
Pitch)
A.Definite (Tuned) Pitched Instruments
1. Timpani (also called Kettle Drums)
a. The original percussion instrument of the orchestra (Baroque Era).
b. The “bowl” of the drum is made of copper or brass.
c. The “head” of the drum is a piece of Mylar plastic stretched over the
rim of the bowl. (These heads were originally made of calfskin)
d. A pedal mechanism is used to change the pitch.
e. To raise the pitch, the tension must be increased.
f. In 19th or 20th century music, three, four, or five timpani are used.
2. Glockenspiel (Concert or Orchestral Bells)
a. Thirty tuned steel bars mounted in a portable case.
b. Laid out in two rows similar to a piano keyboard.
c. The size of each bar determines its pitch. The longer the bar, the lower
the pitch.
d. The mallets used to play the bars are made of plastic, rubber, wood,
or metal.
3. Xylophone
a. Very similar to the glockenspiel, but the bars are made out of wood.
b. Resonator tubes are set under the bars to help the sound project.
c. Arranged like a keyboard. Range varies from 2-4 octaves.
4. Marimba
a. Very similar to the xylophone. Has wooden bars and resonator tubes.
b. Deeper and larger than the xylophone and played with softer mallets.
5. Celesta
a. Looks like a small upright piano, but more closely related to the
glockenspiel.
b. The keys are connected to hammers that strike steel bars.
c. Much softer sound than the glockenspiel.
d. “The Nutcracker” features a celesta part.
6. Chimes
a. A set of suspended metal tubes.
b. Each set consists of eighteen chimes ranging in length.
c. The length of the tube determines the pitch.
d. Sound like church bells.
B.Indefinite (Untuned) Pitched Instruments
1. Snare Drum (also called the Side Drum)
a. Two heads stretched over a shell of metal.
b. Upper Head – called the Batter Head
c. Lower Head – called the Snare Head
d. The snares are strings of plastic or twisted wire that vibrate against
the lower head when the drum is struck.
2. Bass Drum
a. They vary in size and can be tuned to a pitch.
b. Hit with a large padded mallet.
3. Cymbals
a. Large circular and concave brass plates.
b. Can be crashed – leather handles are attached and they are clashed by
sweeping them past each other sideways.
c. Hi-Hat – Two cymbals stacked and operated with a foot pedal. Used
with a drum set.
d. Suspended Cymbal – cymbal is suspended on a stand and struck with
wooden or felt drumsticks.
4. Gong
a. Large circular bronze disk with the rim turned down.
Must be suspended and struck with a heavy soft-headed “beater”.
Auxiliary Percussion
5. Tambourine
a. A single-headed drum with loosely hanging jingles inserted in its shell.
b. Shaken and struck by the hand.
6. Triangle
a. A small steel bar bent into the shape of a triangle. One end is open.
b. They vary in size.
c. Struck with a short metal rod.
7. Castanets
8. Woodblock
9. Claves
10. Sleigh Bells
11. Shaker
12. Ratchet
13. Guiro
14. Maracas
15. Whip (slapstick)
16. Cowbell
17. Vibra-slap
18. Flexitone
19. Slide Whistle