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Percussion instruments and their infinite facets
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Lots of drums and even more cymbals! That's what most people understand by the word drum set today. But one should not keep the frame too small! There is in fact an infinite number of instruments that belong to the so-called "percussion" category. From plucking the egg cutter with the little fingers to hitting the anvil with the heavy hammer, there are no limits to the imagination and creativity of musicians when it comes to percussion instruments.
Table of contents
- Often seen and yet new
- The handpan
- Castanets
- The whip
- The kalimba
- Two lesser-known percussion instruments that everyone should know about
- The wah-wah tube
- The washboard
- Even more inspiration can be found on mukken
That's why the job as a percussionist is much more extensive than many people think. You have to master so many instruments, and when a new instrument is written in the notes by the composer, you have to try to learn it as quickly as possible. But for me, that's exactly the appeal of it: it never gets boring. If you play one of the many instruments, you are not yet satisfied, because you can play it in so many other ways:
- with a violin bow
- a rubber ball with a nail twisted into it
- the usual mallets, varied by hardness and material
- with bare hands
... and much more. In this blog post, you will therefore get to know different instruments in more detail. Some you've seen many times before and others are probably new territory. Enjoy this little insight into the world of percussion - maybe you'll discover some new creative ideas for your future career.
Often seen and yet new
Everyone has already seen these five percussion instruments. But what are they actually called? You probably know it: You're standing on the sidewalk, watching a cool concert, or even see them in YouTube videos. People play on these interesting instruments, and they're not exactly new. But it's like with many famous people: you know what they look like and where you know them from, but in the end you don't know their names. That's why I'm going to show you the four most famous unknown instruments:
The handpan
The handpan is certainly familiar to you as a picture - you can see it most often used by street musicians who create warm, soft, and meditative sounds with this instrument. It is a kind of "tin drum," consisting of two hemispheres, specially shaped and glued to each other. On the bottom side there is an opening in the drum. The inner part serves quite well as a resonator so that the music can be heard from a distance. The lowest tone of the instrument is located on the field on the top of the drum. Around this, the notes are distributed in the order of a zigzag pattern. This means playing a scale requires not playing in a circle, but going from front to back, alternating between the left and right side.
The tones are different depending on the handpan and you can find many different variations of this instrument. In most cases it is played—as the name suggests—with the hand. But you can also use different types of mallets to vary or change the sound. What most people don't know when they see it on the street is that the instrument also carries a pretty hefty price tag, coming in at around 800 to 1,800 euros. However, the investment is worth it when listening to its beautiful sound.
Castanets
Castanets are surely something everyone has heard. They are part of most Spanish dances, but found their origin in the Orient, before finally taking the stage in Spain in the first century BC. From Spanish the word can be translated to "chestnuts," which also applies to their color and shape. They are two shell-shaped wooden rattles placed on top of each other and tied together at one end, typically with a string. They are also often found in pairs on a small wooden plate on which the two halves of the castanets are held apart. When beating on it, the classic sound is produced. As a small, light, yet distinctive instrument, they add an intense and exciting atmosphere to any Spanish dance.
The whip
The word "whip" sounds very dangerous at first, and—in a way—it is. In the orchestra, this instrument imitates the sound of a whip, as the name suggests. It is often used in Western music or in fast riding scenes and is held high in the air by the musicians.
The instrument is probably much better known from PE classes in school where it is used as a start signal for short-distance running because of its loud, far-reaching sound. The whip is very simple to build: All you need are two smooth boards of equal length joined at one end by a movable hinge. Due to its sound, it always brings varied sound effects to orchestral music and tends to startle listeners.
The kalimba
A kalimba belongs to the group of lamellophones and—like the handpan—produces soft, relaxing and meditative sounds for listeners. Several metal tongues are clamped between two plates, which in turn are attached to a resonating body. These tongues are now plucked with the fingers. Players can give their imagination free rein and create beautiful melodies. The number of tongues (and thus the number of tones) varies with the size of the kalimba. However, a limited selection of tones is not an obstacle for a musician, but rather an advantage. Why? Because now you have to come up with new ways of playing or variations of sound production, and in this way you can bring much more diversity and variety of sound into your music.
This is also my tip for you as a musician. If you have no idea what new things you can bring into your music, then limit yourself to only four tones, two drums, or one hand. In no time at all you'll see that you've come up with new ideas about how you can use technology or new methods of sound production to make exciting music and inspire listeners.
If you'd like to explore the world of instruments even further and are curious, check out the post "8 obscure instruments you surely don't know yet."
Two lesser-known percussion instruments that everyone should know about
Now we have already learned the interesting names of well-known instruments. Next we'll take a look at a few instruments that are probably even more unknown to you. But they can certainly enrich your life in the music world! You can use them all for special, surprising sound effects at gigs or even for new composition ideas. Most of the time, the audience also finds joy in exploring these new sounds and listening to something new again. Since you have to stand out nowadays, these instruments are an ideal eye-catcher, and a good recognition feature.
The wah-wah tube
The wah-wah tube's name already describes its function and the sound it produces. It is a pure effect instrument, which can be used especially for quiet and meditative pieces or passages. When you look at the instrument, you can see an aluminum sound tube that has a small hole in one place. You can strike the tube with any kind of mallet and make it sound. Use harder or softer mallets for a corresponding sound. The sound is long-lasting and rich in overtones, which can now be changed by opening and closing the hole with the thumb. This then creates the so-called "wah-wah effect," which gives the instrument its exciting name. I recommend everyone who has not yet tried this sound tube to take the time and play it once. And who knows? Maybe it will become your new, faithful companion!
The washboard
The washboard, of course, finds its origins in the laundry room, where many years ago there were no modern washing machines. But its suitability as a rhythm instrument for percussionists was also quickly discovered. Thus it established itself in the field of jazz as early as the beginning of the 1920s. In the past, washboards were borrowed from households and still had real wooden frames around the zinc board. Today you can get them already in music stores, where they are built concretely to be able to produce the best sound and are only made of metal. The washboard can be played with hands, brooms, or even drumsticks. Of course, the motto of any percussion instrument applies here as well: "There are no limits to freedom!" In addition, there are different ways of playing a washboard depending on the style or setting:
- In Zydeco bands in Louisiana they hung the board in front of their chest
- In the classic jazz and swing of the 20s to 40s, it was fixed on tables
- And in skiffle bands they usually put the boards on their thighs and played sitting down
This instrument is especially useful for small street gigs or parades where you can't take a big drum set with you because the whole band wants to move through the streets together, as was the case in the past, for example, in Dixieland. In addition to being easy to transport, its 50 euro-ish price tag also makes it a very affordable new accompanying instrument for your band.
Even more inspiration can be found on mukken
If you want to get more involved with new things or learn a new instrument, stay tuned to mukken. Maybe you want to learn more about wind instruments or the piano - then our blog is just right for you. Here you will find everything a musician's heart desires. And if you are missing a contribution to a topic, just write for our blog yourself and enrich other music enthusiasts with your knowledge.
Originally published on February 6, 2023, updated on March 10, 2023
Main topic: Billie Eilish and the tragic
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