Exciting Percussion Instruments Used in Bands – What Instruments to Look for

When it comes to percussion instruments used in bands most people think about drum kits. Drums are some of the best known percussion instruments in the world, but as we already know, the percussion family is the biggest one of all types of instruments out there. So it’s definitely worth taking a closer look at the subject, exploring some of the many diverse instruments that are out there, and finding out which of them are best used in a band.

 

Common Percussion Instruments Used in Bands

 

Did you know that the piano is considered by many to be a percussion instrument? Even though some argue that it might actually be considered a string instrument, the piano is actually a combination between the two. You hit keys on the keyboard, which in turn activates hammers that hit the strings responsible for the sounds that piano notes and chords are able to produce. Pianos are not just instruments used for classical music and individual pieces. Bands also use different types of pianos and keyboards on a regular basis, so the child interested in percussion lessons can start with piano.

 

The xylophone is a popular instrument that features keys arranged similarly to the keys of the piano, but this time there are no strings involved. Instead, you hit each key with a small mallet, and notes are produced as a result, through the use of wooden resonator tubes which are responsible for generating the actual sound. Modern xylophones are typically made from wood.

 

The bass drum is the biggest member of the percussion instrument family, and the sound it makes is the lowest. Bass drums are an integral part of any self-respecting band, and drummers who know how to use it properly are usually those who lead their bands to resounding popularity.

 

Maracas are used by some Mexican and South American bands for their distinctive sound and appearance. They are considered a percussion instrument due to the fact that they use small, dry seeds or beads trapped inside gourds to make sound. Maracas require more knowledge of rhythm rather than intensity, and you can simply play them by shaking them in your hand.

 

Lesser Known Instruments

 

Aside from the aforementioned musical instruments, there are also percussion instruments used in bands that we don’t normally hear about. Some of these instruments are designed to produce a unique and distinctive sound that will impress you from the start. Others are less common versions of the instruments presented above, but featuring their own unique sounds.

 

Chimes are a good example. Chimes might seem similar to xylophones because they also use tubes and mallets to produce sounds. However, the sound made by chimes is more like the bells of a church, rather than the sound created by a xylophone.

 

Another less common but also beautifully sounding instrument is the celesta. The celesta actually looks like a small, upright piano, and it also has a bell-like sound that resembles more the sound of a glockenspiel.

 

 

If you want to consider additional percussion instruments that bands use today (or have used in the past), the tambourine, triangle, cymbals and snare drum are some of the best examples you can do your research on.

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