Questions tagged [percussion]
Musical instruments played by striking with the hand or with a hand-held or pedal-operated stick or beater, by shaking, or by rubbing.
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3answers
105 views
Can a timpani player play more than one note at a time?
Is it possible for a timpani player to play multiple notes at the same time such as a guitar or piano player would do?
4
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0answers
67 views
Path for learning cuica
Really hard to find anything for this lovely crazy little thingy. Can anyone give me hints for a learning path?
What is the first skills I need to acquire? Even sounding up and downstrokes I guess? ...
2
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3answers
146 views
Mnemonic or memory aid for Xylophone, Glockenspiel, Marimba, and Vibraphone
I am a choral director who has been transplanted to concert band. I know the differences between the percussion keyboards in theory, but in practice I still need to do an internet search to remember ...
6
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4answers
735 views
In a rhythm, what word best describes the duration of an on/off beat cycle?
I'm writing some software that composes drum-lines.
I'm looking for a word that describes the lowest unique combination of down- and up-beats.
Eg: Let's say the following are quarter notes:
(Disco ...
3
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1answer
37 views
Tubulum Construction: How does including elbows affect the pitch?
I am considering building a tubulum out of 2" PVC pipes. (Like Blue Man Group) There are some specs on the internet for making the notes, but no one really says when inserting an elbow into the length,...
3
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0answers
44 views
Did the rain stick originate independently in multiple continents?
There is a traditional rain stick (percussion instrument) in African, Latin America, and I believe in Australia as well. Was it invented separately, or did one culture influence another?
Here is a ...
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1answer
71 views
Has anyone else composed for the Mahler Hammer?
The title pretty much sums it up: Has anyone else (other than the composer for whom it's named) written music that incorporates the "Mahler Hammer™"?
Some more links:
Walt Martin's blog about ...
0
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2answers
80 views
How do I turn a regular instrument into electric (with aux port, etc)
Once I get a waterphone I was wondering if I would be able to get a kit or something that would let me plug it into my PC to record it. Would this be feasible for someone who has no experience with ...
0
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1answer
80 views
What is this instrument? [closed]
In the first half of the GoldenEye Overture (called Half Of Everything Is Luck), there is a percussion instrument I've been wondering about. It appears at the fourth beat (or on the off-beat just ...
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0answers
74 views
What is this percussion instrument? [closed]
Latvian electronic music band Jumprava use/used a particular percussion instrument in a number of their pieces, which can be seen in this 1987 concert recording:
The ...
7
votes
7answers
4k views
Should I treat the piano like a percussion instrument?
I'm just wondering if I one should see the piano like a percussion instrument? Where the left hand is on some beat that develops. Basically, if you take the view that the piano is a percussion ...
3
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2answers
181 views
Timpani Choke Notation
I'm writing a timpani part for a concert band score. I've seen timpanist "choke" the note with their hand (on the head) after striking it to stop it from sustaining. How can I notate this?
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4answers
1k views
Why does unpitched percussion play a less prominent role in classical music than many other genres?
With my little knowledge of classical music I noticed, and I believe most people would agree, that unpitched percussive instrument play a much less prominent role in classical music than in most ...
5
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1answer
173 views
Understanding sound in a lamellophone (kalimba, karimba, or mbira)
I am familiar with the construction of a lamellophone and of a metallophone. I played anklung gamelan for several years and of course I've played around with a thumb piano.
As I understand it with a ...
3
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2answers
396 views
Percussion Rhythm Help
Hey, so I need help counting the two measures underlined in red (43-44). I play the conga for this and I need help with counting the rhythm here.
Thank you!
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1answer
53 views
Exercises for marching with tenor drum
All I have is a pair of marching sticks and a cheap pad, what are some exercises that can help with coordination and muscle required for marching tenors.
3
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3answers
84 views
What is the effect of “Conglomerising” your percussion?
When writing music, I use a program called Fruity Loops.
Of the music that I write that has percussion, some of them are written with all the percussion instruments being grouped into one pattern. ...
0
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2answers
576 views
how do you get the pitch of a triangle to get higher or lower?
how to get the pitch of a triangle higher or lower?
2
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1answer
2k views
How many grades are there in learning the drums?
I've gotten to grade 8 in the drums and I want to know how many more grades are left for me to finish.
3
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1answer
266 views
Do I need a microphone to record percussion on electroacoustic guitar?
I'm a fingerstyle guitar player and at the moment I own an electric and a classical guitar and I'm looking forward to buy an electroacoustic guitar mostly for the sake of recording covers. The ...
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1answer
168 views
What is this japanese wooden instrument called?
Yesterday I stumbled upon an interesting percussion instrument:
(Instrument at 3:28 of the video)
The instrument takes the form of an oblong wooden block with 12 ...
2
votes
2answers
253 views
What is the recommended notation for bowed marimba?
I've been writing a piece for winds and marimba, and I was looking to see if there was a proper way to notate this technique. I haven't seen an answer on music forums, but have heard many pieces use ...
3
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4answers
2k views
What acoustic percussion instrument sounds like handclaps?
When there's a group of musicians playing, it's often not practical for several of them to stop what they're doing so they can clap instead, so is there an acoustic percussion instrument that can be ...
1
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1answer
74 views
How is such an instrument called?
Recently we took an empty Pringles chips can (a long cylinder), filled it with groats and now can use it to play rhythms or imitate the sound of rain. How is such an instrument called and where could ...
1
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1answer
76 views
What kind of wood is 'Lava Burl' in Cajon?
I was checking out on some cajons, and found the Meinl Artisan Buleria Cajon. On its specs, I found that its body is made of birch, yet its frontplate is of 'Lava Burl'. What is this about? Is it a ...
3
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5answers
2k views
Drums in Apartment
I am currently in the market for a new apartment/house. I am aiming for a house since I want to be able to jam with others, but was wondering if this was ever possible for others in apartments. There ...
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1answer
241 views
How do you maintain a cuica in good playing condition?
I have a cuica I am learning to play and want to make sure there are no maintenance issues obstructing my practice. It's a very temperamental instrument - it can require slight adjustments in ...
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1answer
2k views
Which wood is best for cajon [closed]
I saw on www.amazon.in kadence cajon with variety of wood used in . But i am new to this so i need to know which wood is best the price is almost same for all wood.
3
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2answers
90 views
Wood vs Stone first drum
What was the first drum instrument? Was it wood or stone? Maybe there is an answer out there, but all I found were mere discussions.
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1answer
232 views
What is the name of this percussion instrument?
I'm listening to the song "There Goes the Fear" by the Doves. There's a peculiar percussive instrument that fades in starting around the 6:15 mark and then becomes the foremost percussive instrument ...
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votes
1answer
491 views
The clarinet, flute, trumpet and timpani [closed]
I'm trying to learn instrumentation but then I still don't understand the range of these instruments. It's too complicated for me to understand the range, key and notation. Can anyone explain it to me?...
3
votes
2answers
330 views
Is a triangle okay for rock music?
My friends and I are performing "Don't Stop Believing" and I think the triangle is the only instrument I can play and not ruin everything. Are there any better basic instruments. We are just doing ...
3
votes
5answers
7k views
String vs Percussion - What is a Piano?
Online, I have researched what a piano is, and it says it is a percussion instrument. But when you look inside a piano, there are many strings, which are hit to give the piano its noise. Also, you can ...
2
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2answers
449 views
How can I improve my interpretation of rhythm and percussion?
I am a non-drummer/non-percussionist well versed, for my personal purposes, in tonal harmony - up to the point where tonal chord structures can be implemented without functional movement and serve to ...
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1answer
1k views
Is there a word for drum beats that sound like a heartbeat?
I've heard this in two songs over the years: deep, slow drum beats that sound like a heart beating. Is there a word for this unusual sound?
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2answers
3k views
What is the name of these tubes, that emit sound when being swung?
The group "Walk off the earth" are performing a video cover of "Hello" using some colourful sound generators, that emit sound when being swung (e.g. in seconds 00:05 to 00:10):
...
4
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3answers
3k views
Why is A=442 the common tuning for percussion instruments?
When looking at percussion instruments, I noticed that the default tuning for most companies is A=442 for tuned percussion (vibes, marimba, tubular bells, etc…). I wonder if there is a reason for ...
2
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2answers
5k views
Cajon - What thickness Plywood should I use for the playing surface?
A stadard Cajon is not easily available in my locality. So I have started building my own, using plywood.
For the playing surface, the minimum thickness of plywood available is 4mm. Is it good ...
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2answers
8k views
How do you tune a conga set?
Getting a conga and a quinto, how to tune each other to obtain the most harmonious sound ? Do they need a specific tone shiftting ?
8
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4answers
3k views
Should tabla drum produce any buzzing?
Earlier today I was trying out two tabla drum sets in a music shop and I noticed that both sets they had were producing a buzzing sound while being played. I am no tabla player but I have been playing ...
2
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1answer
179 views
How is the hihat played in the intro to the Donna Summer song “Could It Be Magic”?
I'm new to playing drums, and have noticed that there's a technique to play hihat patterns, used for example in the intro to Donna Summers' "Could It Be Magic".
Listen to the the intro, at 00:00--00:...
4
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3answers
2k views
What should I think about when acquiring a triangle (percussion)?
What should I consider when buying a triangle to use for recording popular music percussion? For example:
What are the differences between cheap and expensive ones (the price range is enormous)?
...
1
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7answers
13k views
When a drummer wears headphones, what is he listening to?
I recently watched a recording of Jean Michel Jarre's Twelve Dreams of the Sun concert and noticed that his drummer seems to rhythmically move to a beat not audible to the audience, e.g. as 11:10. You ...
2
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3answers
300 views
What techniques can be used to get a bigger, more resonant orchestral bass drum sound?
In college we had a conductor who really like deep, resonant bass drum sounds (think movie explosions). What are some ways to get more oomph out of a concert bass in a live setting?
2
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2answers
472 views
Marimba Bars on a Vibraphone Frame
Would it be possible to put marimba bars on a vibraphone frame? I am trying to get a cheap marimba with a damper pedal, but cannot seem to find anything that isn't custom built by the manufacturer or ...
5
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3answers
814 views
Practical limitations of the 4 mallet technique for idiophones from a compositional point of view
Pretty much as the title puts it. I haven't found any literature (so far) that covers it well, and I don't have any percussionists among my current acquaintances (more's the pity). Essentially, what ...
4
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1answer
601 views
Where can replacement parts be acquired for adams vibraphones?
I have an Adams Endurance Field Frame for a vibraphone and the high capacity spring that allows the pedal to function has broken due to wear of the medal. I have been searching around but cannot find ...
4
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2answers
488 views
Ηow can I replicate the sound οf this instrument?
If you go ahead and watch this video, the guy with the drums has a percussion instrument with his right hand that produces the shaky sound, kind of like the maracas.
What is it called?
Is it ...
6
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1answer
2k views
Ideal Cowbell Placement
When I was younger, I had a cowbell clamp that I fixed to the top of my bass drum hoop.
I wouldn't dream of doing that today.
I have tried setting up a percussion array with my cowbell and woodblock, ...
6
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3answers
7k views
What is needed in order to start learning percussion?
I'm thinking about learning percussion in the conservatory and I want to know what I'll need to have in my house to practice. Percussion covers a lot of different instruments and objects.
Does it ...
