Introduction
Percussion musical instrument are the most primitive forms of musical instruments. It is one of the simplest and easiest instruments to play and sound is produced by when an instrument is struck or scraped with beaters, rattles and even hand.
History
There are two types of percussion musical instruments; they are tuned percussion instruments and unturned percussion instruments. While the former produces notes that have an identifiable pitch the latter does not. Tuned percussion instruments that play tunes are xylophone, timpani, glockenspiel, vibraphone and tubular bells. The untuned percussion musical instruments include drums, cymbals, tambourines, claves, and the like.
There are numerous percussion sounds and rhythms and every civilization of the world has its own set of such instruments. Percussion musical instruments range from cymbals to drums and vibraphones. These are played rhythmically by shaking or hitting. Percussion musical instruments like drums, xylophone, etc make noise when they are hit, other instruments like maracas, egg shakers etc make noise when they are shaken.
Percussion musical instruments make different sound when hit differently. Drums are the most popular of all percussion instruments. Percussionists who have to have a good sense of rhythm are adept at playing different drum kits that include bass drum, side drum, cowbells, tom-toms, cymbals, etc. The other instruments players and singers in an orchestra often rely and depend on the percussionist to keep the beat.
Features
A percussionist who can play a percussion musical instrument can usually play all kinds of percussion instruments as all require a few basic playing skills.
Drums are normally tuned to play a specific note. They are tightened to produce a higher note and loosened to produce a different note. If the drum is large it produces a lower pitch. Some of the simplest percussion instruments are cymbals, triangle, gong, maracas, tambourine, and hand drums. Cymbals made of different combinations of metals and are normally up to twenty-two inches in diameter.
Triangle is a bend steel rod in the shape of a triangle. It is open at one corner and is suspend by a sting. It is played by striking it with a steel beater. The bronze gong, when stuck by a beater produces a high ringing sound. Maracas are made from dried gourds held and played in pairs. The gourd shells or coconut shells or the modern ones made of plastic or wood are covered with beads and these making a rhythmic rattling sound when shaken. Bells, chimes, castanets, caxixi, kokinko, egg shakers, etc are some of the most prominent percussion instruments that are widely used in different parts of the world.
These percussion musical instruments make ideal gifts and are sure to bring out the percussionist in a person. Any person with a sense of rhythm can make beautiful music with percussion instruments.
Tips and comments
Various cultures over different periods of time have evolved their own unique instruments and rhythms. The percussion instruments form an integral part of peoples lives and are played at all social and religious events and gathering so all kinds and nature and reflects the local culture and ethnicity.
