Percussion Instruments

Percussion instruments:

 The percussion family is the largest in the orchestra.

 Percussion instruments include any instrument that makes a sound when it is
hit, shaken, or scraped.
 This family of instruments is divided in 2 groups: definite pitch and indefinite
pitch.
- The ones that are of definite pitches are the instruments where you can play
notes on them or, in other words they are tuned.
- The ones of indefinite pitch are untuned, or you cannot play notes within these
instruments.
• Unlike most of the other players in the
orchestra, a percussionist will usually play many
different instruments in one piece of music. The
most common percussion instruments in the
orchestra include
the timpani, xylophone, cymbals, triangle, snare
drum, bass drum, tambourine, maracas, gongs,
chimes, celesta..
Percussion instruments- definite pitch
or Tuned
 Timpani
• Timpani: played by 2 sticks, and can be tuned:

Listen:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbwZ_e-zk5w
• 1:30…..
 Xylophone and Vibraphone
• Xylophone and Vibraphone: they are both of definite pitch.
• Xylophone is made of wooden bars
• Vibraphone is made of metal bars.
• Listen:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd9xha3vk58
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFKcMLGNBPY
 Tubular bells
• Tubular bells is a percussion instrument of definite pitch
• Listen:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsDriIwNAmU
 Hang drum
• Listen:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk3BvNLeNgw
 Percussion instruments- indefinite
pitch
• This family of instruments are untuned, or cannot play notes.
• Some instruments of indefinite pitch: drums (snare drums and
bass drums), triangle, tambourine, derbakke or darboukka,
castanets, cymbals, gong…
Drums • A drum kit — also called a drum
set, trap set  or simply drums —
is a collection of drums, cymbals,
and other percussion
instruments, which are set up on
stands to be played by a single
player, with drumsticks held in
both hands, and the feet
operating pedals that control
the hit-hat cymbal and the
beater for the bass drum.
 Snare Drums
• Snare drums: a small cylindrical drum with 2 heads (top and
bottom) stretched over a shell of wood or metal and played
with 2 drumsticks.
• Listen:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0gl9LXq3LA
 Bass Drums
• The bass drum is played with a large, soft-headed stick and
produces a low, heavy sound.

• Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHj9XlV3fFg
 Triangle
• Listen:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvSS6_eDHiE
 Tambourine
• The tambourine is a round, hand-held drum with jingles (little
metal plates that make sound).
• Listen:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UJT9sM_ABo
 Djembe and Conga
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIbRuIm9MxI
 Darboukka
• Listen:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYEGNPBF7Tk
 Castanets
• Castanets are little wood clappers mounted on wooden boards.
Very commonly used in Spanish Flamenco music
• Listen:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8EPgkwDk5U
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxTmv7EAtgU
 Cymbals
• The cymbals consist of 2 large circular brass plates of equal
size. When struck against each other, they produce a
shattering sound.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdYU7RA-IA4
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=addFwnSfuKw
 Gong
• The gong is a broad circular disk of metal. It is often used in
the meditation music.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL2r6E1E7sM
• Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mma2Labgdw0
All percussion instruments together
• Listen: Carmina Burana- Carl orff:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1DEyrAZofU