rimclick

Rimclick, or rim-click, is a percussion articulation produced by striking the rim of a drum or other percussion instrument to produce a short, sharp click with little or no resonance from the drumhead. The sound is dry and high in pitch, making it useful for precise rhythmic punctuation separate from a full drum tone. Rimclicks can be produced on a snare drum, toms, or on the rims of tambourines and cowbells, as well as on electronic drums where a rim contact triggers a click sample.

Technique varies, but common approaches include striking the rim with the tip of a drumstick near the outer edge, or tapping or flicking the rim with a finger or the palm of the hand. The exact timbre depends on contact point, stick tip versus butt end, and the degree of damping from the other hand or from the drum head. Rimclicks are typically performed as a short articulation rather than a sustained hit and may be integrated into grooves in place of or between full-tone drum hits.

In performance, rimclicks are valued for clean timing, subtlety, and the ability to mark subdivisions without adding resonant body sound. They are widely used in jazz, funk, pop, and electronic genres, and are also taught in modern drum pedagogy as a basic articulation. The technique is distinct from rimshots, which involve simultaneous contact with both the rim and the drumhead and produce a louder, longer sound.