The Percussion Family
While the percussion family is typically the smallest family in the orchestra in terms of the number of musicians, it is the largest in terms of the number of types of instruments. That means that percussionists must learn how to play many different instruments and will often be required to play more than one instrument in the same song.
Percussion instruments are musical instruments that produce sound by being shaken, scraped or struck by a stick or mallet, against another similar instrument or by hand. Some percussion instruments are pitched or tuned meaning that they play distinct notes or pitches. Examples of pitched percussion instruments are the xylophone and timpani. Other percussion instruments are non-pitched or untuned and do not play distinct pitches. Examples of non-pitched percussion instruments are the snare drum, cymbals and maracas.
​
To see and hear the percussion section of the orchestra in an excerpt of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, click here.
​
​
snare drum
The snare drum has a hollow metal body with plastic stretched over the top and bottom. It has a set of wires, called snares, stretched against the bottom drum head which give the snare drum its unique rattling sound. It is a non-pitched instrument, meaning it does not make distinct pitches, or high and low sounds. It is played with drumsticks or brushes. Snare drums are commonly used in marching bands and are also part of the drum kit or drum set, which is used in many types of music such as rock, pop and jazz.
​
To see and hear a snare drum, click on the following song:
​
Scheherazade, Mvt. III - Rimsky-Korsakov
​
bass drum
The bass drum is the largest drum and so it plays the lowest sound, although, like the snare drum, it is non-pitched meaning it does not play distinct high and low pitches. In the orchestra and concert band, it is played on a stand using a large, soft mallet. The bass drum is also used in the drum kit and is paced on the floor and played with a foot pedal.
To see and hear a bass drum, click on the following song:
​
timpani
Timpani, also know as kettledrums, are large copper pots with a plastic drumhead stretched over the top. Unlike the snare and bass drums, timpani are pitched or tuned instruments, meaning they can play distinct pitches. They are tuned using the foot pedal, which tightens or loosens the drum head, making the pitch higher or lower. Most orchestras have four timpani played by one musician. Each timpani can be adjusted to play a different pitch. Often, the player will need to change the pitch during the performance. Timpani are played using felt-tipped mallets.
​
To see and hear timpani, click on the following song:
​
xylophone
The xylophone is a barred instrument made of wood. Each bar plays a different pitch, just like a piano. The metal resonators, or tubes, attached to the bottom of the xylophone help the sound to vibrate and give the xylophone its bright sound. The player uses mallets to strike the xylophone and can pick between a variety of hard and soft mallets to change the characteristic of the sound.
There are other barred instruments that are similar to the xylophone. The marimba is a larger version of the xylophone and has wooden or plastic resonators, giving it a mellower sound. The vibraphone has metal bars and resonators as well as a motor which creates vibrato (a wiggly pitch.) The glockenspiel is a miniature xylophone with metal bars instead of wood.
​
To see and hear some barred instruments, click on the following songs:
​
other percussion instruments
There are many other percussion instruments. Here are just a few of the more common ones:
​
Cymbals are large metal disks that can add a lot of excitement and rhythm to the orchestra or band. There are several types. Crash cymbals are two cymbals that are held and hit together. Other types of cymbals are placed on a stand and are struck with sticks, mallets or brushes.
The triangle is a metal bar bent into the shape of a triangle. It is played with a metal striker and makes a ringing sound.
The tambourine is a small drum with metal jingles set into the edges.
Maracas are a kind of shaker that makes a rattling sound. They can be made of a gourd filled with seeds, or wood or plastic filled with beads.
Claves are a pair of short dowels made of wood. When tapped together they make a bright clicking sound.
​
To see and hear some of these percussion instruments, click on the following song:
​
Beyond Basic Percussion - Clave and Sons
​
drum kit
The drum kit is made up of a variety of drums and cymbals. Drums included in a typical set are the bass drum, snare drum and toms. Cymbals included are the crash, the ride and the hi-hats. Drum kits are used in many styles of music including rock, pop, blues and jazz.
​
To see and hear the drum kit, click on the following songs:
​
Activities
colouring and activity sheets
listen and draw
Listen again to one of the songs on this page. Draw a picture of what you imagine as you listen.
write
Write a few sentences about your favourite percussion instrument. Why is it your favourite? Does it remind you of an animal or another sound? What have you learned about this instrument? What else would you like to know about this instrument?