tuned percussion

Tuned percussion can play a range of notes at different pitches, for example the glockenspiel, timpani or xylophone. Untuned percussion mostly only have one pitch or sound, e.g. bongo drums, cymbals, drum kit, güiro, snare drum or triangle.

Based on clinical use there are three types of percussion – comparative, topographic and auscultatory.

The term unpitched percussion covers all percussion instruments that are not tuned to specific pitches. This includes instruments such as bass drum, guiro, maracas, cymbals, and shakers.

Tuned percussion instruments: have pitch and play different notes. Examples include the xylophone, the timpani, and the piano. Untuned percussion instruments: only play one pitch or sound.

Most of these instruments are untuned (unable to produce a specific pitch). They are notated with normal rhythmic notation, but each instrument is placed on a separate line. Untuned percussion instruments include: Bass Drum. Claves.

Untuned percussion instruments include the bass drum, side drum, anvils, triangles and jingles. The bass drum makes a massive sound. Even when the full orchestra is playing above it, you can still feel its power.

Tuned percussion instruments include:

• Glockenspiel.
• Marimba.
• Timpani.
• Tubular bells.
• Vibraphone.
• Xylophone.

percussion instrument, any musical instrument belonging to either of two groups, idiophones or membranophones.

Broadly classifying, there are four types of percussion sounds: resonant, hyper-resonant, stony dull or dull. A dull sound indicates the presence of a solid mass under the surface.

Conga, bongo, drum sets, cowbell, clave, cymbals and certain chimes, gongs and bells are examples of untuned percussion.

In music tuning an instrument means getting it ready so that when it is played it will sound at the correct pitch: not too high or too low. When two or more instruments play together it is particularly important that they are in tune with one another.

Some percussion instruments are tuned and can sound different notes, like the xylophone, timpani or piano, and some are untuned with no definite pitch, like the bass drum, cymbals or castanets.