percussions

Percussion refers to musical instruments that produce sound mainly by being struck, shaken, rubbed, or scraped. The percussion family covers a wide range of timbres and is used to maintain tempo, articulate rhythm, and add color in ensembles across many traditions. In Western music, percussion parts may be written for rhythm-focused unpitched instruments as well as for pitched, tunable instruments.

Per percussion are commonly classified by how they produce sound: idiophones (sound produced by the vibrating body itself, such as bells, xylophone, wood blocks); membranophones (sound produced by vibrating membranes, such as drums); and electronically generated percussion (electrophones or electronic pads). Pitched percussion includes timpani, marimba, vibraphone, glockenspiel, and chimes; unpitched percussion includes snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, tambourine, and a wide range of auxiliary percussion.

They are played with sticks, mallets, brushes, hands, or rods, depending on the instrument and desired effect. Notation varies: some percussion parts indicate exact pitches for tuned instruments, many unpitched parts use non-pitched notation or cue notes, and electronic percussion uses MIDI or digital audio interfaces.

In ensembles, percussion provides rhythm, accentuation, color, and texture. Its historical roots span many cultures and periods, from ancient ceremonial drums to modern drum kits in popular music. Today percussion remains central in classical, jazz, world music, and contemporary genres, often bridging traditional and electronic timbres.