Editing Percussion instrument

{{short description|Type of musical instrument that produces a sound by being hit}}
{{Redirect|Percussion}}
{{Redirect|Percussive|the group of speech sounds|Airstream mechanism#Percussive consonants}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2024}}
[[File:2010Jul1-PercussionByVernBarber.JPG|thumb|[[Orchestral percussion|Orchestral]] [[percussion section]] with [[timpani]], [[unpitched]] [[auxiliary percussion]] and pitched [[tubular bells]]]]
[[File:SoussousGuiembeBalafon.jpg|thumb|[[Djembé]] and [[balafon]] played by [[Susu people]] of [[Guinea]]]]
[[File:Latin jazz clave percussion sticks.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Concussion idiophone]]s ([[claves]]), and struck drums ([[conga drum]])]]
[[File:20070727-beleuvenissen-gocoo-11.jpg|thumb|Modern Japanese [[taiko]] [[percussion ensemble]]]]
[[File:Terry Bozzio drums.jpg|thumb|Very large [[drum kit]] played by [[Terry Bozzio]]]]
[[File:T_S_Nandakumar_self135.jpg |thumb|[[Mridangam]], an [[Music of India|Indian]] percussion instrument, played by T. S. Nandakumar]]
[[File:Evelyn-glennie.jpg|thumb|[[Evelyn Glennie]] is a percussion soloist]]
[[File:Timpani and cymbals.jpg|thumb|Timpani, cymbal, and a set of orchestral crotales.]]
A '''percussion instrument''' is a [[musical instrument]] that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a [[percussion mallet|beater]] including attached or enclosed beaters or [[Rattle (percussion beater)|rattle]]s struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or struck against another similar instrument. Excluding [[Zoomusicology|zoomusicological]] instruments and the [[human voice]], the percussion family is believed to include the oldest musical instruments.<ref name=companion>''[[The Oxford Companion to Music]]'', 10th edition, p.775, {{ISBN|0-19-866212-2}}</ref> In spite of being a very common term to designate instruments, and to relate them to their players, the percussionists, percussion is not a systematic classificatory category of instruments, as described by the scientific field of [[organology]]. It is shown below that percussion instruments may belong to the organological classes of [[idiophone]], [[membranophone]], [[aerophone]] and [[String instrument|chordophone]].

The [[percussion section]] of an orchestra most commonly contains instruments such as the [[timpani]], [[snare drum]], [[bass drum]], [[tambourine]], belonging to the membranophones, and [[cymbals]] and [[Triangle (musical instrument)|triangle]], which are idiophones. However, the section can ''also'' contain aerophones, such as [[whistle]]s and [[siren (noisemaker)|siren]]s, or a blown [[conch (instrument)|conch]] shell. Percussive techniques can even be applied to the human body itself, as in [[body percussion]]. On the other hand, [[keyboard instruments]], such as the [[celesta]], are not normally part of the percussion section, but [[keyboard percussion]] instruments such as the [[glockenspiel]] and [[xylophone]] (which do not have piano keyboards) are included.

== Function ==
Percussion instruments may play not only [[rhythm]], but also [[melody]] and [[harmony]].{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

Percussion is commonly referred to as "the backbone" or "the heartbeat" of a [[musical ensemble]], often working in close collaboration with bass instruments, when present. In jazz and other popular music ensembles, the pianist, bassist, drummer and sometimes the guitarist are referred to as the [[rhythm section]]. Most classical pieces written for full orchestra since the time of [[Joseph Haydn|Haydn]] and [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]] are orchestrated to place emphasis on the [[String instrument|strings]], [[Woodwind instrument|woodwinds]], and [[Brass instrument|brass]]. However, often at least one pair of [[timpani]] is included, though they rarely play continuously. Rather, they serve to provide additional accents when needed. In the 18th and 19th centuries, other percussion instruments (like the [[Triangle (musical instrument)|triangle]] or [[cymbal]]s) have been used, again generally sparingly. The use of percussion instruments became more frequent in the 20th century classical music.

In almost every style of music, percussion plays a pivotal role.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elephantdrums.co.uk/blog/guides-and-resources/drums-from-around-the-world/|title=Drums from around the World • Elephant Drums|date=2019-03-13|website=Elephant Drums|access-date=2019-03-13}}</ref> In military [[marching band]]s and [[pipes and drums]], it is the beat of the bass drum that keeps the soldiers in step and at a regular speed, and it is the snare that provides that crisp, decisive air to the tune of a regiment. In classic jazz, one almost immediately thinks of the distinctive rhythm of the [[Hi-hat (instrument)|hi-hats]] or the ride cymbal when the word-swing is spoken. In more recent popular-music culture, it is almost impossible to name three or four rock, hip-hop, rap, funk or even soul charts or songs that do not have some sort of percussive beat keeping the tune in time.

Because of the diversity of percussive instruments, it is not uncommon to find large musical ensembles composed entirely of percussion. Rhythm, melody, and harmony are all represented in these ensembles.

==Percussion notation==
<!-- Perhaps this deserves its own stub? --><!-- See discussion...about this question. -->
{{Main|Percussion notation}}
Music for pitched percussion instruments can be [[musical notation|notated]] on a [[musical staff|staff]] with the same [[clef|treble]] and [[bass clef|bass]] [[clef]]s used by many non-percussive instruments. Music for percussive instruments without a definite pitch can be notated with a specialist rhythm or [[Percussion clef|percussion-clef]]. The guitar also has a special "tab" staff. More often a bass clef is substituted for rhythm clef.

==Classification==
{{main|Classification of percussion instruments}}
{{see also|List of percussion instruments}}

Percussion instruments are classified by various criteria sometimes depending on their construction, ethnic origin, function within musical theory and orchestration, or their relative prevalence in common knowledge.

The word percussion derives from the Latin verb ''percussio'' to beat, strike in the musical sense, and the noun ''percussus'', a beating. As a noun in contemporary English, Wiktionary describes it as the collision of two bodies to produce a sound. The term is not unique to music, but has application in medicine and weaponry, as in [[percussion cap]]. However, all known uses of ''percussion'' appear to share a similar lineage beginning with the original Latin percussus. In a musical context then, the ''percussion instruments'' may have been originally coined to describe a family of musical instruments including drums, rattles, metal plates, or blocks that musicians beat or struck to produce sound.

The [[Hornbostel–Sachs]] system has no high-level section for ''percussion''. Most percussion instruments as the term is normally understood are classified as [[idiophone]]s and [[membranophone]]s. However the term ''percussion'' is instead used at lower-levels of the Hornbostel–Sachs hierarchy, including to identify instruments struck with either a non sonorous object hand, stick, striker or against a non-sonorous object [[Body percussion|human body]], the ground. This is opposed to ''concussion'', which refers to instruments with two or more complementary sonorous parts that strike against each other and other meanings. For example:

111.1 ''[[Concussion idiophone]]s or clappers'', played in pairs and beaten against each other, such as [[zill]]s and [[clapstick]]s.

111.2 ''[[Percussion idiophone]]s'', includes many percussion instruments played with the hand or by a [[percussion mallet]], such as the [[hang (instrument)|hang]], [[gong]]s and the [[xylophone]], but not [[drum]]s and only some [[cymbal]]s.

21 ''Struck drums'', includes most types of drum, such as the timpani, snare drum, and tom-tom.

412.12 ''[[Percussion reed]]s'', a class of wind instrument unrelated to ''percussion'' in the more common sense 
 
There are many instruments that have some claim to being percussion, but are classified otherwise:
* [[Keyboard instrument]]s such as the [[celesta]] and [[piano]].{{Ref label|ida|a|none}}
* [[Stringed instruments]] played with beaters such as the [[hammered dulcimer]].
* Unpitched whistles and similar instruments, such as the [[pea whistle]] and [[Acme siren]].

[[Image:Percussion Beaters.jpg|thumb|Percussion mallets and sticks]]
Percussion instruments are sometimes classified as [[musical pitch|pitched]] or unpitched. While valid, this classification is widely seen as inadequate. Rather, it may be more informative to describe percussion instruments in regards to one or more of the following four paradigms:

===By methods of sound production===
{{main|Hornbostel–Sachs}}
Many texts, including ''Teaching Percussion'' by Gary Cook of the University of Arizona, begin by studying the physical characteristics of instruments and the methods by which they can produce sound. This is perhaps the most scientifically pleasing assignment of nomenclature whereas the other paradigms are more dependent on historical or social circumstances. Based on observation and experimentation, one can determine how an instrument produces sound and then assign the instrument to one of the following four categories:

====Idiophone====
{{Main|Idiophone}}
{{See also|Category:Idiophones}}

"Idiophones produce sounds through the vibration of their entire body."<ref name=cook>Gary D. Cook, ''Teaching Percussion'', p.2, 3rd edn, 2006, Thomson Schirmer, {{ISBN|0-534-50990-8}}</ref> Examples of idiophones:
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[Bell]]s
* [[Bock-a-da-bock]]
* [[Cabasa]]
* [[Cajón]]
* [[Castanets]]
* [[Celesta]]
* [[Tubular bells|Chimes]]
* [[Claves]]
* [[Cowbell (instrument)|Cowbell]]
* [[Cymbals#Crash cymbals|Crash cymbals]]
* [[Crotales]]
* [[Daxophone]]
* [[Flexatone]]
* [[Glockenspiel]]
* [[Güiro]]
* [[Handbell]]s
* [[Hi-hat]]
* [[Lummi stick]]
* [[Maraca]]
* [[Marimba]]
* [[Orchestra bells]]
* [[Quadrangularis Reversum]]
* [[Ratchet (instrument)|Ratchet]]
* [[Singing bowls]]
* [[Slit drum]]
* [[Steelpan]]
* [[Suspended cymbal]]
* [[Temple blocks]]
* [[Thumb piano]] (or Kalimba)
* [[Triangle (musical instrument)|Triangle]]
* [[Txalaparta]]
* [[Vibraphone]]
* [[Vibraslap]]
* [[Woodblock (instrument)|Wood block]]
* [[Xylophone]]
{{div col end}}

====Membranophone====
{{Main|Membranophone}}
{{See also|Category:Membranophones}}
Most objects commonly known as [[drum]]s are membranophones. Membranophones produce sound when the membrane or head is struck with a hand, mallet, stick, beater, or improvised tool.<ref name=cook />

Examples of membranophones:
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
*[[Bass drum]]
*[[Bongo drum|Bongos]]
*[[Conga]]
*[[Darbuka]]
*[[Djembe]]
*[[Kuzeh]]
*[[Mridangam]]
*[[Octoban]]
*[[Parai]]
*[[Rototom]]
*[[Snare drum]]
*[[Tabla]]
*[[Thavil]]
*[[Timpani]]
*[[Tom-tom drum|Tom-tom]]
*[[Lion's roar (instrument)|Lion's roar]]
*[[Urumi (drum)|Urumi]]
*[[Wind machine]]

{{div col end}}

====Chordophone====
{{Main|Chordophone}}
{{See also|Category:String instruments}}
Most instruments known as chordophones are defined as [[string instrument]]s, wherein their sound is derived from the vibration of a string, but some such as these examples ''also'' fall under percussion instruments.
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
*[[Hammered dulcimer]], [[Cimbalom]]
*[[Onavillu]]
*[[Piano]]
*[[Berimbau]]
*[[Jhallari]]
*[[Kolitong]]
*[[Takumbo]]
{{div col end}}

====Aerophone====
{{Main|Aerophone}}   
{{See also|Category:Aerophones}}   
Most instruments known as aerophones are defined as [[wind instrument]]s whereby sound is produced by a stream of air being blown through the object. However, [[plosive aerophones]], such as the [[udu]], are percussion instruments and may also overlap with the idiophone family. In certain situations, such as in an [[orchestra]] or [[Concert band|wind ensemble]], wind instruments, such as the [[Acme siren]] or various [[whistle]]s, are played by percussionists, owing to their unconventional and simple nature.   
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
*[[Apito]] or samba whistle
*[[Siren (noisemaker)|Siren]]
*[[Slide whistle]]
*[[Udu]]
*[[Whistle]] or police whistle
{{div col end}}

===By musical function or orchestration===
When classifying instruments by function it is useful to note if a percussion instrument makes a [[definite pitch]] or [[indefinite pitch]].

For example, some percussion instruments such as the [[marimba]] and [[timpani]] produce an obvious fundamental pitch and can therefore play [[melody]] and serve [[harmony|harmonic]] functions in music. Other instruments such as [[crash cymbal]]s and [[snare drum]]s produce sounds with such complex overtones and a wide range of prominent frequencies that no pitch is discernible.

====Definite pitch====
{{main|Pitched percussion instrument}}
Percussion instruments in this group are sometimes referred to as pitched or tuned.

Examples of percussion instruments with definite pitch:
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[Aluphone]]
* [[Tubular bells|Chimes]]/[[Tubular bell]]s
* [[Crotales]]
* [[Glass harmonica]]
* [[Glass harp]]
* [[Glockenspiel]]
* [[Handbell]]s
* [[Marimba]]
* [[Mridangam]]
* [[Rototom]]
* [[Steelpan]]
* [[Tabla]]
* [[Timpani]]
* [[Triangle (musical instrument)|Tuned Triangle]]
* [[Vibraphone]]
* [[Wind chime]]s
* [[Xylophone]]
* [[Xylorimba|Xylo-marimba]]
{{div col end}}


====Indefinite pitch====
{{main|Unpitched percussion instrument}}

Instruments in this group are sometimes referred to as non-pitched, unpitched, or untuned. Traditionally these instruments are thought of as making a sound that contains such complex frequencies that no discernible pitch can be heard.

In fact many traditionally unpitched instruments, such as triangles and even cymbals, have also been produced as tuned sets.<ref name=miayf>{{cite web |url=http://www.miayf.org/percussion/ |title= Percussion — Musical Instruments at your Fingertips|website=www.miayf.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704044454/http://www.miayf.org/percussion/ |archive-date=July 4, 2015}}</ref>

Examples of percussion instruments with indefinite pitch:
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[Bass drum]]
* [[Castanets]]
* [[Cymbal]]s
* [[Rainstick]]
* [[Slapstick (instrument)|Slapstick]] or whip
* [[Snare drum]]
* [[Gong|Tamtam]]
* [[Tom-tom drum|Tom-tom]]
{{div col end}}

===By prevalence in common knowledge===
It is difficult to define what is common knowledge but there are instruments percussionists and composers use in contemporary music that most people would not consider [[musical instrument]]s. It is worthwhile to ''try'' to distinguish between instruments based on their acceptance or consideration by a general audience.

For example, most people would not consider an [[anvil]], a [[brake drum]] (on a vehicle with [[drum brake]]s, the circular hub the brake shoes press against), or a fifty-five gallon [[steel pan|oil barrel]] musical instruments yet composers and percussionists use these objects.

Percussion instruments generally fall into the following categories:

====Conventional or popular====
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
*[[Drum kit]]
*[[Gong|Gong (tamtam)]]
*[[Tambourine]]
*[[Triangle (musical instrument)|Triangle]]
{{div col end}}

====Unconventional====
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
*[[Anvil]]s
*Automobile [[Drum brake#Use in music|brake drum]]
*[[Beer keg]]s
*[[Broom]]s
*Clay pots
*[[Firearm]]s or explosive charges
*[[Five gallon bucket]]s
*[[Garbage can]]s
*Glass bottles
*[[Hammer]]
*Metal pipes
*Metal pots
*Plastic bottles
*[[Plastic bag]]
*Rocks in a bucket
*Shopping carts
*[[Spoke]]s on a bicycle wheel
*[[Tableware]] 
{{div col end}}
[[File:ImprovisedDrumLondon.jpg|thumb|Improvised [[bass drum]] in [[Trafalgar Square]], [[London]].]]
One pre-20th century example of found percussion is the use of [[cannon]] usually loaded with blank charges in [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky|Tchaikovsky]]'s ''[[1812 Overture]]''. [[John Cage]], [[Harry Partch]], [[Edgard Varèse]], and [[Peter Schickele]], all noted composers, created entire pieces of music using unconventional instruments. Beginning in the early 20th century perhaps with ''[[Ionisation (Varèse)|Ionisation]]'' by [[Edgard Varèse]] which used air-raid sirens among other things, composers began to require that percussionists invent or find objects to produce desired sounds and textures. Another example the use of a hammer and saw in [[Penderecki]]'s ''[[De Natura Sonoris No. 2]]''. By the late 20th century, such instruments were common in modern percussion ensemble music and popular productions, such as the off-Broadway show, [[Stomp dance troupe|Stomp]]. Rock band [[Aerosmith]] used a number of unconventional instruments in their song [[Sweet Emotion]], including [[shotguns]], brooms, and a sugar bag. The metal band [[Slipknot (band)|Slipknot]] is well known for playing unusual percussion items, having two percussionists in the band. Along with deep sounding drums, their sound includes hitting baseball bats and other objects on beer kegs to create a distinctive sound.

===By cultural significance or tradition===
It is not uncommon to discuss percussion instruments in relation to their cultural origin. This led to a division between instruments considered common or modern, and folk instruments with significant history or purpose within a geographic region or culture.

====Folk percussion instruments====
[[Image:2002-dmuseum-musik002-800.jpg|thumb|right|Some percussion instruments]]
[[File:Eastern Zhou Bronze Bells, 6th Century BC (10433990375).jpg|right|thumb|Ancient Chinese musical bronze bells from the [[Eastern Zhou]] dynasty, {{circa|6th century BC}}.]]
[[Image:Traditional indonesian instruments02.jpg|right|thumb|A traditional Indonesian [[gamelan]] orchestra, composed almost entirely of percussion instruments]]

{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
*[[Berimbau]]
*[[Bodhrán]]
*[[Bombo legüero]]
*[[Bongo drum]]
*[[Cajon]]
*[[Conga]]
*[[Dhaa]]
*[[Dhime]]
*[[Dhol]]
*[[Dholak]]
*[[Djembe]]
*[[Dunun]]
*[[Gamelan]]
*[[Ghatam]]
*[[Kalimba]] (Thumb Piano)
*[[Kpanlogo (drum)|Kpanlogo]]
*[[Monkey stick|Lagerphone]]
*[[Latin percussion]]
*[[Madal]]
*[[Marimba]]
*[[Marimbula]]
*Naykheen
*[[Pogo cello]]
*[[Skrabalai]]
*[[Spoon (musical instrument)|Spoons]]
*[[Steelpan]]
*[[Tabla]]
*[[Taiko]]
*[[Tambourine]]
*[[Thavil]]
*[[Timbales]]
*[[Tonbak]]
*[[Urumi (drum)|Urumee]]
*[[Udukai]]
{{div col end}}

===="Common" drums====
This category includes instruments that are widely available and popular throughout the world:

{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[Drum kit]], typically consisting of:
** [[Bass drum]]
** [[Crash cymbal]]
** [[Ride cymbal]]
** [[Floor tom]]
** [[Hi-hat (instrument)|Hi-Hat]] cymbals
** [[Snare drum]]
** [[Tom-tom drums]]
* [[Marching]] percussion instruments
* [[Orchestra]]l percussion instruments
{{div col end}}

===By capability of melodic production===
*Non-melodic percussion: [[bongos]], [[snare drum]], etc.
*[[Melodic percussion]]: [[glass marimba]], [[gendér]], etc.

===By percussive beater===
The percussionist uses various objects to strike a percussion instrument to produce sound.
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* Hands:  [[hand drums]], [[body percussion]]
* Sticks:  [[drum kit]]
* Mallets:  [[mallet percussion]], [[timpani]]
* Auxiliary:  [[Triangle (musical instrument)|triangle]], [[cymbal]]s
* Feet:  [[Step dance]], [[Tap dance]]
{{div col end}}

== Names for percussionists ==
The general term for a musician who plays percussion instruments is "percussionist" but the terms listed below often describe specialties:

{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
*[[Balafonist]]: a [[balafon]] player.
*'''Bombisto''': a [[bombo legüero]] player.
*[[Bongocero]]: someone who plays [[Bongo drum|bongos]] and usually cencerro (a [[Cowbell (instrument)|cow bell]]).
*'''Congalero''', [[conguero]]: someone who plays [[conga]]s.
*'''Cymbalist''': someone who plays [[cymbal]]s.
*[[Djembefola]]: [[djembe]] player.
*[[Drummer]]: someone who plays the [[Drum kit|drumset]], [[hand drum]]s or a single drum such as [[Snare drum]].
*'''Dununfola''': [[dunun]] player.
*'''Glockenspielist''': someone who plays the [[glockenspiel]].
*'''Güirero''': someone who plays the [[güira]], a Dominican scraper used in merengue music.
*[[Marimbist]]: a [[marimba]] player.
*'''Panman''', [[pannist]]: a [[steelpan]] player.
*[[Timbalero]], '''timbero''': someone who plays [[timbales]].
*[[Timpanist]]: a [[timpani]] player.
*[[Vibraphone|Vibraphonist]]: a [[vibraphone]] player.
*[[Xylophonist]]: a [[xylophone]] player.
{{div col end}}

Within rock music, the term "percussionist" is often used to refer to someone who plays percussion instruments but is not primarily a drummer. The term is especially found in bands where one person plays drums and another plays other hit instruments.

==See also==

* [[List of percussion instruments]]
* [[List of percussionists]]
* [[Lists of tuned and untuned percussion instruments]]
* [[Orchestral percussion]]
* [[Percussion notation]]
* [[Vocal percussion]]
* [[Rudimental percussion]]
* [[Percussion Ensemble|Percussion ensemble]]

==References==

=== Notes ===

# {{note label|ida|a|none}}Note however that percussion instruments such as the xylophone, which share the layout of the piano keyboard but themselves have no keyboard, are termed keyboard percussion and are universally regarded as being within the percussion family.

=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
*[[James Blades]], ''Percussion Instruments and Their History'', (1970).
*Shen, Sinyan, Acoustics of Ancient Chinese Bells, Scientific American, 256, 94 (1987).
*{{cite book |first=Steven |last=Schick |author-link=Steven Schick |url=http://www.urpress.com/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=10918 |title=The Percussionist's Art – Same Bed, Different Dreams |date=May 2006 |publisher=University of Rochester Press |isbn= 978-1-58046-214-3}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Percussion instruments}}
*[http://www.drummer.com.br/ Drummer Brasil] — Website for drummers and percussionists
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110723002940/http://www.agababa.net/instruments/instruments.asp Video clips of percussion instruments demonstrated]
*[http://www.drummuseum.com/ Drum Museum, Information about antique hand drums from Africa, New Guinea and the Himalayas]

{{Percussion instruments}}
{{Percussion instruments brands}}
{{Authority control}}

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