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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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 ...
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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,...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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.
Dom♦
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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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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 ...
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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 ...
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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.
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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 ?
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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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What glue to use to repair maracas?
I was recording a percussion part the other day, and one of my maracas broke during the take.
It wouldn't be all that much money to replace them, but I like the sound they make. I also have ...
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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. ...
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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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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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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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.
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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 ...
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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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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 ...
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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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How similar are struck idiophones, and will learning one help me play another?
I have experience playing gamelan, and this year I wanted to start learning a 'Western' percussion instrument, like the vibraphone, marimba, xylophone, etc.
Are these percussion instruments similar ...
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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)?
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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:...
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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 ...
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Why are double strokes (with the same hand) taboo on timpani but recommened on snare?
I've played snare for a few years now and all my teachers recommended that I use double strokes for evenness of sound and speed. When I started playing some more difficult timpani parts however and ...
Dom♦
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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 ...
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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 ...
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What is the technical term for what the percussion is doing in this song?
In Massive Attack and Burial's collaboration track Four Walls, the percussion in the middle part of the song does something interesting where it shifts around the beat. It can be heard at 6:22 and ...
Dom♦
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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 ...
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mounting bongos skin: which side
I am replacing a bongos skin and I know that the smooth side of the skin should the one to play on.
Problem is that I forgot to check and now the skin is already wet and both sides are smooth.
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How drummers and percussionist should handle change in time signature?
I'd like know how a drummer or percussionist should handle a change in the time signature of a piece such the one found in Low Light by the Pearl Jam.
I am familiar to syncopation as "placement of ...
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Biggest differences between 4 mallet grips
I am aware that there are 2 popular ways to hold 4 mallets while playing the marimba. There is Burton's and there is Steven's. I am not really even sure which grip I currently use, as I just started ...
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creating a simple instrument tuned to a specific frequency
I would like to create a very simple percussion instrument that would match the resonant frequency of an echo-y cave I occasionally visit. Currently I am thinking of using a metal bar, but I don't ...
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I've learned the 40 essential rudiments for snare drum. Where do I go next?
I've dutifully studied the 40 essential snare drum rudiments for several months now. I know I'm far from truly mastering them, but I feel like I'm ready to move on to something new as well while I ...
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How should I dampen timpani?
I've been working on my timpani playing, and the music has it written in that I should dampen certain notes at various parts of the song. But having I'm having trouble figure out the best technique ...
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