Favorite Percussion Instrument

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Poll Results

Option	Votes
Other, A Whole Shit Load of	10
Vibraslap	4
Drums	3
Piano	2
Wood Block	1
Tambourine	1
Guitar (6-string)	1
Dulcimer	1
Xylophone	1
Guitar (bass)	0
Synth	0
Keytar	0
Gong	0
Theremin	0
Singing Bowls	0

― David R., Wednesday, 2 May 2007 13:42 (seventeen years ago) link

there's no drum machine on here? i wouldn't pick it, but i think it probably deserves a mention outside of "other"...

― Mark Clemente, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 13:46 (seventeen years ago) link

other: the high hat

― peepee, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 13:50 (seventeen years ago) link

OTHER: YOUR NOGGIN

― David R., Wednesday, 2 May 2007 13:52 (seventeen years ago) link

My noggin???

― peepee, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 13:53 (seventeen years ago) link

darn I was gonna post something like "yr head" ;__;

― blunt, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 13:59 (seventeen years ago) link

The universal "your," pee. :D

― David R., Wednesday, 2 May 2007 13:59 (seventeen years ago) link

No problem David.
Its just that my noggin IS a great percussion instrument!
How did you know?

― peepee, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:02 (seventeen years ago) link

How are half of these options "percussion"?

― Masonic Boom, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:03 (seventeen years ago) link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhumba_box

― StanM, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:04 (seventeen years ago) link

per·cus·sion (pər-kŭsh'ən) - n.
The striking together of two bodies, especially when noise is produced

― David R., Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:05 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeah.

― David R., Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:05 (seventeen years ago) link

other: Ariel Pink's mouth

― henry s, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:12 (seventeen years ago) link

I would've at least added the bongo and the conga on the list, the "other" option is way too wide now.

― Tuomas, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:18 (seventeen years ago) link

So you're gonna whack a keytar with a synth or what?

― Masonic Boom, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:19 (seventeen years ago) link

where is GAMELAN

― lex pretend, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:21 (seventeen years ago) link

All this discussion is irrelevant, the tambourine is the best instrument.

― Jordan, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:24 (seventeen years ago) link

Not very many listed there.

For me it's probably a tie between timables and doumbeks (even though neither instrument is really very satisfying on its own, but that shouldn't necessarily be a requirement).

Also: theremin? Is it really percussive? Maybe I just don't know too much about it, but I didn't think it had a percussive aspect.

― Rockist Scientist, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:31 (seventeen years ago) link

I guess you could slap the antennae?

― bernard snowy, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:45 (seventeen years ago) link

(Least favorite: constant cymbal tapping.)

― Rockist Scientist, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:47 (seventeen years ago) link

No cuica, no credibility.

― James Redd and the Blecchs, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:48 (seventeen years ago) link

timpani/kettle drum.

― fact checking cuz, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:51 (seventeen years ago) link

and, yeah, guitar and bass definitely don't belong there, unless you're talking about the occasional sound of dudes literally hitting their instruments.

piano IS a percussion instrument (sound produced by hammer striking strings). keytar and synth are not.

― fact checking cuz, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:52 (seventeen years ago) link

What's the difference between hitting strings with a hammer and hitting strings with a pick/finger?

― Jordan, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:55 (seventeen years ago) link

cuica = rubbing doesn't help/count

― Jordan, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:55 (seventeen years ago) link

yeah i want some bongos

― Surmounter, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:56 (seventeen years ago) link

Dudes, if this thread is stopping you from doing another percussion poll that includes the instruments you want listed, then I apologize. Otherwise, DIY, suckas.

Also: Jordan, you are a true bro.

― David R., Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:57 (seventeen years ago) link

Also: bongos blow.

― David R., Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:57 (seventeen years ago) link

YEAH THAT'S RIGHT

― David R., Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:57 (seventeen years ago) link

tell that to the Fonz...

― henry s, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:58 (seventeen years ago) link

(x-post) this is simplifying things a lot but basically:

striking strings = percussion
plucking or bowing strings = not percussion

― fact checking cuz, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 14:59 (seventeen years ago) link

(which is why, for example, a piano is generally considered a percussion instrument but a harpsichord is not)

― fact checking cuz, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:01 (seventeen years ago) link

Bongos are great. You need to listen to some classic salsa, David R. Maybe something by (bongocero/bandleader) Roberto Roena.

― Rockist Scientist, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:03 (seventeen years ago) link

New entry: the hang drum
http://www.hang-music.com/videos.php

― blunt, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:04 (seventeen years ago) link

If we pluck, do we not percuss?

RS: I wasn't really serious, but I'll admit most bongo usage I've experienced has been of the college-hippie variety.

― David R., Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:04 (seventeen years ago) link

if it looks like a pluck and it quacks like a pluck then it is a fully qualified member of the stringed-instrument family. it will not be invited to the percussion-instrument family's home for holiday dinners.

― fact checking cuz, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:06 (seventeen years ago) link

props for no corny "MORE COWBELL" bullshit.

― Alex in Baltimore, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:09 (seventeen years ago) link

vibraslap

― negotiable, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:09 (seventeen years ago) link

Alex OTM. The cowbell thing is so tired and played out.

― Bill Magill, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:16 (seventeen years ago) link

ha - I almost put an option for "Cowbell (FUCK YOU IF YOU VOTE FOR THIS YOU ASSHOLE)"

― David R., Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:18 (seventeen years ago) link

Next thread: GUITAR - THE TOMATO OF INSTRUMENTS?

― David R., Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:18 (seventeen years ago) link

Wait, in what sense is a theremin hit or struck?

― Hurting 2, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:20 (seventeen years ago) link

VIBRASLAP!

Theremin is definitely not percussion.

― emil.y, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:20 (seventeen years ago) link

WIKIPEDIA IS RONG THEN?

Electrophone

Electrophones are also percussion instruments. In the strictest sense, all electrophones require a loudspeaker (an idiophone or some other means to push air and create sound waves). This, if for no other argument, is sufficient to assign electrophones to the percussion family. Moreover, many composers have used the following example instruments and they are most often performed by percussionists in an ensemble. Examples of electrophones:

- Computers and MIDI instruments (i.e. drum machines or zendrums)
- Radios
- Theremin
- Typewriter (Although, mechanical typewriter which do not use electricity are strictly idiophones.)

― David R., Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:24 (seventeen years ago) link

Note to Wiki, tho: LATIN PERCUSSION shouldn't be listed under "World" / "Ethnic" / "Folk" Percussion Instruments. Unless you mean CABEZA.

― David R., Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:25 (seventeen years ago) link

KEYTAR - THE TORMATO OF INSTRUMENTS

― David R., Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:26 (seventeen years ago) link

Piano is sometimes classified as a string instrument, and sometimes as percussion. It's so because of the nature of the hammers on the strings, but also because composers will use it like a percussion instrument. Guitar is always referred to as a string instrument, but I can see the logic there - the way guitars (especially acoustic guitars) are often used in pop music is like a percussion instrument. You don't hear tone as much as you hear rhythm. I wouldn't say that applies to bass guitar, though. There's nothing percussive about keytar, synth, or theremin. That's some really weird reasoning - anything that requires a loudspeaker is a percussion instrument? I've never heard that before, and I don't buy it - it doesn't seem useful to group them that way.

And you left out lots of stuff that gets used pretty frequently. Vibraphone, marimba, timpani, glockenspiel, triangle, bass drum, snare, cymbals, and what I would've voted for, crotales. Sounds basically like a glock but with even more sustain, and things get crazy when you bow them.

― St3ve Go1db3rg, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:30 (seventeen years ago) link

TRIANGLE

haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

― David R., Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:33 (seventeen years ago) link

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

― David R., Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:33 (seventeen years ago) link

The triangle needs its Buckethead / The Great Kat.

― David R., Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:34 (seventeen years ago) link

It's true. The best is when there's a big triangle part and the triangle player will hold it up over her head so the audience will be awed by the visual spectacle.

― St3ve Go1db3rg, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:37 (seventeen years ago) link

ugh some girl yelled out something about more cowbell at the Deerhunter show

I threw up in my mouth a little bit

― bernard snowy, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:44 (seventeen years ago) link

Dude, Brazilian triangle is totally sick (and hard to play).

― Jordan, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:48 (seventeen years ago) link

OK, a GIS for "Brazilian triangle" does not work.

― David R., Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:51 (seventeen years ago) link

Unless you MEAN "Brazilian triangle."

― David R., Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:52 (seventeen years ago) link

In the strictest sense, all electrophones require a loudspeaker (an idiophone or some other means to push air and create sound waves). This, if for no other argument, is sufficient to assign electrophones to the percussion family

pushing != hitting. idiots.

― ledge, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:53 (seventeen years ago) link

"Brazilian triangle?" I didn't know there was such a thing, but now that I think of it, the triangle in Brazilian music always sounds better than triangle generally does otherwise, so that makes sense.

― Rockist Scientist, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:53 (seventeen years ago) link

is "I threw up in my mouth a little bit" being used here as an example of the only phrase more played out than "more cowbell"?

― Alex in Baltimore, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:53 (seventeen years ago) link

Bill Simmons RIP ;_;

― David R., Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:59 (seventeen years ago) link

cuica = rubbing doesn't help/count
This is hairsplitting. You probably don't want to count the guiro either.

― James Redd and the Blecchs, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 16:01 (seventeen years ago) link

No no, it's the same instrument dudes, I'm just talking about what is played on (re: triangle).

― Jordan, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 16:09 (seventeen years ago) link

What's kind of interesting about how stupid the whole "more cowbell" thing is, is the fact that I think it is a good instrument. "Honkey Tonk Women", "Mississippi Queen" and yes, Reaper, all benefit from it. I like the sound.

― Bill Magill, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 16:10 (seventeen years ago) link

You had no problem with the cuica's presence on this thread, Jordan.

― James Redd and the Blecchs, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 16:13 (seventeen years ago) link

a theremin is not a percussion instrument. you don't even fucking touch it to play it!

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 16:14 (seventeen years ago) link

I mean its the very ANTITHESIS of a percussion instrument come on!

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 16:14 (seventeen years ago) link

Of course the cowbell is a good instrument! It's great! That's why the more cowbell shit is even more annoying. Although rock cowbell can be pretty silly, yeah.

xpost, guilty

― Jordan, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 16:15 (seventeen years ago) link

cowbells are the shit, as are woodblocks.

― negotiable, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 16:16 (seventeen years ago) link

TABLA

― Oilyrags, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 16:16 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeah, I don't know about those woodblocks.

― Jordan, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 16:17 (seventeen years ago) link

i voted 'BULLSHIT POLL ALERT'

― creme1, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 16:18 (seventeen years ago) link

i kind of missed that "drums" was a choice. drums win obviously. under that heading i'd pick
1)those pitchshifting toms at the beginning of pusherman,
2)those big ass things that kodo play,
3)timpani.

― negotiable, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 16:20 (seventeen years ago) link

woodblocks = underrated! & forever in the shadow of its flashier cowbell cousin

― negotiable, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 16:22 (seventeen years ago) link

What is the cowbell called in Latin music, el cencerro? I think I heard me some good cowbell last night listening to La Gran Fuga.

― James Redd and the Blecchs, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 16:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Temple blocks, yo. And who could forget the thunder sheet?

― St3ve Go1db3rg, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 16:36 (seventeen years ago) link

i voted 'BULLSHIT POLL ALERT'

http://www.milwaukee-horror-hosts.com/images_2/shock.jpg

― David R., Wednesday, 2 May 2007 17:05 (seventeen years ago) link

Terrible. Where is the shaker? THE SHAKER.

― call all destroyer, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 19:26 (seventeen years ago) link

the Shekere?

― James Redd and the Blecchs, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 19:28 (seventeen years ago) link

No, that thing is cool too, but just the regular ol' egg shaker.

― call all destroyer, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 19:31 (seventeen years ago) link

what about when you put like lentils in an empty coke bottle???

― creme1, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 19:33 (seventeen years ago) link

I think it should be a can but yeah that rocks.

― call all destroyer, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 19:36 (seventeen years ago) link

is "I threw up in my mouth a little bit" being used here as an example of the only phrase more played out than "more cowbell"?

-- Alex in Baltimore, Wednesday, May 2, 2007 10:53 AM (11 hours ago)

no I don't know what you're talking about; I have no conception of irony

― bernard snowy, Thursday, 3 May 2007 03:04 (seventeen years ago) link

bouncy ball

― Tape Store, Thursday, 3 May 2007 03:12 (seventeen years ago) link

That thing that dude in the Arkestra hits with that weird stick.

― Saxby D. Elder, Thursday, 3 May 2007 04:22 (seventeen years ago) link

That thing that dude in the Arkestra hits with that weird stick.

I was thinking about the Arkestra, actually, when I was thinking of how to answer this. That has always been one of my favorite Akestra drums. (Is that the one that was made from a tree trunk that was hit by lightning?)

― Rockist Scientist, Thursday, 3 May 2007 14:05 (seventeen years ago) link

WONDERDRUM?

― David R., Thursday, 3 May 2007 14:10 (seventeen years ago) link

The ghatam (clay pot) and thavil from South Indian music are both relatively new favorites of mine, too.

― Rockist Scientist, Thursday, 3 May 2007 14:11 (seventeen years ago) link

That thing that dude in the Arkestra hits with that weird stick

The Egyptian Thunder Drum!

― Tom D., Thursday, 3 May 2007 14:13 (seventeen years ago) link

That used to just blow my mind when I used to go see the Arkestra (with a pretty full line-up) in the 80s.

― Rockist Scientist, Thursday, 3 May 2007 14:15 (seventeen years ago) link

(Living in Philadelphia has some advantages.)

― Rockist Scientist, Thursday, 3 May 2007 14:20 (seventeen years ago) link

I prefer the go-go bell to the cowbell (it's the one with two horns).

Also, what about claves? And the vibraslap is great. I recently bought one, along with a pair of maracas.

― Jamie T Smith, Thursday, 3 May 2007 14:28 (seventeen years ago) link

"1)those pitchshifting toms at the beginning of pusherman,

-- negotiable, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 16:20 (Yesterday)"

Roto-Toms are totally badass.

― kingkongvsgodzilla, Thursday, 3 May 2007 14:34 (seventeen years ago) link

other: Ariel Pink's mouth

LOL

― valoss, Thursday, 3 May 2007 14:48 (seventeen years ago) link

Most of the time I can do without hearing claves throughout an entire song. I don't mind if they introduce it and maybe come in and out, but I don't usually want to hear them the whole time, especially if they are just being used to bang out the clave (which is pretty much what they are used for). It doesn't need to be made explicit. I like hearing it when it's not actually there. Sorry for the Afro-Latin digression. ("The Afro-Latin Digression, coming to you every Saturday afternoon with the best in salsa, mambo, cha cha cha, bolero, rumba, plena, bomba. . .")

― Rockist Scientist, Thursday, 3 May 2007 15:24 (seventeen years ago) link

Claves: Played during the only good bit of "The Reflex" by Duran Duran.

― Mark G, Thursday, 3 May 2007 15:25 (seventeen years ago) link

Okay now I need to hear that again. (I always liked that song, somewhat uncharacteristically considering my college radio snobism at the time.)

― Rockist Scientist, Thursday, 3 May 2007 15:27 (seventeen years ago) link

Anyone have any good roto-tom tracks? I need to rock out to that shit.

― call all destroyer, Thursday, 3 May 2007 16:01 (seventeen years ago) link

RS - I'm loving the Afro-Latin digression!

What exactly is the clave, as in the rhythm, as opposed to the clave, the instrument?

[i] especially if they are just being used to bang out the clave [i/]

― Jamie T Smith, Thursday, 3 May 2007 16:04 (seventeen years ago) link

especially if they are just being used to bang out the clave

grrr

― Jamie T Smith, Thursday, 3 May 2007 16:04 (seventeen years ago) link

Where's the hand clap??

― Stevie D, Thursday, 3 May 2007 16:13 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeah, the clave is the rhythm, the claves are the instrument (except I think the claves can also be referred to in the singular).

(There's actually more than one type of clave rhythm. For the extended account that's still mostly tolerable for a layperson--like me--see Ned Sublette's Cuba & Its Music.)

― Rockist Scientist, Thursday, 3 May 2007 16:46 (seventeen years ago) link

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