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PERCUSSION
TIPS FOR HAND-HELD PERCUSSION | Mark Shelton
Among the smaller members of the percussion family, hand-held percussion instruments can make strong contributions to the musical texture. A single silvery note from a triangle might give a shimmering highlight to the end of an ascending run from the woodwinds. The syncopated rhythms of guitar, bass, and drums can be glued together with steady downbeats on the cowbell.
High-quality performance on hand-held percussion requires proper tone and technique along with creative skills when composing parts for an arrangement. I’ m sharing a few quick tips for six common hand-held instruments.
Shaker Most shakers can be grouped into two major categories: flat-sided and rounded.
• A flat-sided shaker provides a more firm, precise articulation than its rounded cousin. If crisp accents are needed, reach for the clear attack of a flat-sided shaker.
• The rounded group includes cylindrical,
Claves
spherical, and ovoid( egg-shaped) forms. These instruments tend toward a more subdued attack. A rounded shaker is my usual choice for general playing( especially ballads and down-tempo songs).
Frequently linked with African and Latin American styles, the high-pitched woody tones of claves can also fit into a variety of other musical settings. Just a few well-placed clicks can spice up a groove. Check out these examples of two possible clave rhythms that could work with a basic drum set pattern.
Cabasa The beads of the cabasa should be loose enough to slide easily over the ridged surface of the cylinder.
If you are in the market to add a cabasa to your percussion collection:
• Try before you buy. The beads on some instruments are rather tight. A trip to the old-fashioned brick-and-mortar music store to compare instruments is a worthwhile move to make sure you are getting a cabasa with loose beads.
If you already own a cabasa with tight beads:
• Place the end of a thin rod( such as a triangle beater) under a loop of beads and apply pressure to expand the string slightly. Repeat for all the loops.
• Insert the sharpened end of a pencil under the beads and scrape the pencil along the ridged surface, laying down a coating of graphite to act as a lubricant.
Claves
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Example 1 =====================
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Claves
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Example 2 =====================
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Drum Set
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Cowbell Although the cencerro is commonly associated with Latin American music, the distinctive sound of the cowbell is also heard in pop, rock, and funk.
Experiment with the cowbell to discover the timbral possibilities of the instrument. Discover an assortment of sounds by tapping on various places on the instrument and by striking with different areas of the beater. You can hear a significant difference between striking the flat surface of the bell with the end of a stick and using the side of a beater across the mouth of the instrument. Explore timbres produced by implements such as bundled rods, brushes, and yarn-wrapped mallets.
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Tambourine In pop, rock, and contemporary worship music, the tambourine frequently plays an active stream of eighth or sixteenth notes, but a few well-placed single strikes can have great effect. Try these one-bar rhythms on the tambourine while the drum set player lays down a simple pop / rock beat. You will hear how each of these patterns complements the overall groove.
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