PERCUSSION
GROOVE GUIDELINES FOR THE HAND PERCUSSIONIST: PART TWO | Mark Shelton
Lead Vocal / Keys, Acoustic Guitar, and Percussion— that’ s the band.
And percussion means you alone are playing hand percussion.
No drum set and no click. That’ s the gig.
Maybe it’ s music for a Bible study group or playing with a singer / songwriter at a house concert. Perhaps it’ s a funeral.( Yes, I’ ve played hand percussion at some memorial services.)
Are you up for the assignment? Are you confident about laying down suitable groove material for the whole set of songs? The previous article presented groove advice for a hand percussionist interacting with a rhythm section that includes a drum set player. Part Two focuses on suggestions for playing percussion in a group without a drum set.
Analysis Are you supplying a groove for a pop-rock song in 12 / 8? What instrument( s) and rhythms would be appropriate for a blues shuffle? Identifying the musical genre and style of a song provides significant information for choosing both orchestration and rhythmic elements. Immerse yourself in a variety of music and analyze the stylistic details.
A Source for Ideas If you are playing a song that has been released on a recording, find it and listen. Study the groove( s) to acquire ideas and inspiration. You will still have to enlist your creativity to transfer those rhythmic and orchestration ideas onto your hand percussion instrumentation.
Orchestration As percussionists, we have a variety of instruments and tone colors available. As you make orchestration decisions, consider the frequencies covered by the other instrumentalists. For example, if the group includes electric bass or string bass, a lowfrequency percussion instrument might not be needed.
For groove-based playing in the absence of a drum set, I include an instrument with a wide frequency range. The djembe and cajon are my top candidates; either can produce a thumping bass sound along with a crackling slap tone. Of the two, my go-to favorite is a cajon equipped with snares. This drum set in a box works well for implying the kick / snare part of a timekeeping groove. The snares fill sonic space with some high-frequency buzz. My timbral palette might also include an assortment of percussion, such as tambourine, shaker, and caxixi.
A groove does not require multiple instruments. Playing a pattern with a shaker can sufficiently underpin and propel a melody.
Rhythms The main element of a groove is rhythm. Your choices should be appropriate to the style and provide the necessary rhythmic motion.
In some types of music, certain rhythms are essential to defining the genre, e. g., bossa nova clave.
You are not competing in a most-notes-in-ameasure contest.
In the absence of a drum set, the main timekeeping duties will be your responsibility. The other musicians in the ensemble should be able to easily discern the tempo from your groove rhythms.
A groove can consist of a single rhythm pattern. Try a simple ostinato on a breakdown section of a song.
Your Groove Library“ Just play backbeat rock on the verse and go into a four-on-the-floor at the chorus. On the bridge, we’ ll transition into half-time.” Can you fulfill those directions with hand percussion— with little warning? Learn and maintain a reservoir of basic grooves.
To Fill or Not to Fill The end of every phrase does not require a fill. Do not sacrifice the groove and time while attempting a fill.
Simply adding a slight rhythmic change to a groove might provide a bit of punctuation to a phrase( rather than a busy fill).
When in doubt, stick to the groove!
Take a Break The percussion does not need to always carry the groove. Dropping percussion out and allowing another instrument( such as a guitar) to supply the rhythm pattern is a worthwhile arranging technique. The reentry of percussion into the groove after a period of absence will provide a change in texture for the listener. The decision not to play is a valid musical choice if that judgment is made with mature musical instincts.
Always listen and interact with a holistic approach. As you play a groove, consider how your contribution blends with the entire musical texture. Your part in the groove should feel good for the song, your bandmates, and the listener.
© 2025 Mark Shelton Productions
Mark Shelton Mark Shelton is a freelance musician, educational consultant, and content creator based in Dallas / Fort Worth. Mark’ s percussion work has been heard with North Carolina Symphony, Tin Roof Tango, Daystar Television, Gateway Worship, Stonebriar Church, Wichita Falls Orchestra, Victory Channel, Strata Big Band, TALEA, and Dallas Wind Symphony
. www. marksheltonmusic. com www. percussionforworship. blogspot. com
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