Percussion

Kick and Snare drum

The kick and snare drums are found in almost all kinds of music. The kick drum is big and boomy, making a deep sound when you hit it. The higher-pitched snare drum has wires underneath that rattle and give it a sharp sound when you hit the top. Drummers use both to make awesome rhythms.

Cymbals

A long time ago, people started using metal plates to make rhythmic and crashing sounds in their music. Over the years, drummers made cymbals by shaping and banging different metals together. They vibrate when hit, creating awesome clangs and splashes that add a pulse of energy to music.

Cowbell

A very long time ago, people started using clanging metal bells to keep track of their cows by listening for the sound they made. Over time, musicians thought the cowbell had a cool sound, so they started using it in music. The cowbell works by hitting it with a stick, and it makes a bright and distinctive sound. It's like a musical spice that adds a fun beat.

Marimba

This instrument has wooden bars that you hit with mallets. There are tubes underneath the bars, which make cool sounds of different pitches. Over time, the marimba traveled from Central America to different parts of the world and became a fun instrument in several types of music. The marimba is considered a tuned percussion instrument because it can play melodies.

More!

There are countless other percussion instruments. They make sounds when you hit, shake, or scrape them. Some are big, like a gong, and some are small, like maracas. Percussion instruments add rhythm and excitement to the music world! See the Vibraslap in "Reggae," the Flexatone in "Funk," and the Maraca in "Hip Hop" and "K-Pop!"

Vibraslap

Flexatone

Maraca

Back to Learn Page