PERCUSSION
GEAR SUGGESTIONS FOR THE WORSHIP PERCUSSIONIST | Mark Shelton
Robin and I became friends in college while drumming together at halftime shows and percussion ensemble concerts . Through social media , I learned that Robin has continued to play music through the decades - often playing drum set or guitar in churches in her area of New Mexico . Upon relocating to Texas , she joined the worship team at a local church and after a short period of playing guitar , Robin took on the role of percussionist . I received a message from my pal with details about her current gear and asking for suggestions for any other items she might need .
Robin ' s request caused me to ponder the percussion gear commonly used in modern worship music . Here are my suggestions for assembling a basic instrumentation :
BARE-BONES ESSENTIALS :
Tambourines The sound of the tambourine is at home in rock , pop , country , folk , CCM , worship , gospel , classical , and more . Tambourines come in two basic flavors : headed and headless . Go ahead and get one of each , but choose tambourines with distinctly different sounds .
Shakers A flat-sided shaker provides a crisp , precise articulation while rounded instruments ( cylindrical , spherical , and egg-shaped forms ) tend toward a more subdued attack . Rounded shakers are more general-purpose , but have at least one flat-sided instrument in your arsenal .
Suspended Cymbal For suspended cymbal work , choose a plate that is relatively thin so the instrument can easily vibrate and speak at a very soft volume level . Some manufacturers produce cymbals that are specifically designed for suspended cymbal performance . ( Look for the word ' suspended ' stamped on the plate .) A thin crash cymbal designed for use with a drum set will also function as a suspended cymbal . For general performance , I recommend plates between 16- 19 inches in diameter .
You might observe orchestral percussionists hanging a cymbal with a leather strap from a gooseneck stand . I prefer the stability and convenience of a conventional center-post stand .
Triangle When it comes to triangle tone , you get what you pay for . Make sure to invest in a professional quality instrument that will deliver the desired ding rather than a pitiful clank .
• Choose an instrument rich in harmonics and capable of a long sustain .
• Avoid a triangle with a strong definite pitch .
• For your first triangle ( yes , you ' ll eventually want a few ), I suggest a 6-inch instrument .
Along with the triangle , you will need a holder to suspend the instrument . The holder should be equipped with two separate loops . ( Loop # 2 is the safety loop .)
Invest in at least three different sizes of triangle strikers . Simply switching strikers will make a significant difference in the tone .
Implements If a percussion instrument needs to be struck with something other than your hand , the implement is crucial to obtaining the proper tone . Access to an assortment of strikers expands the timbral possibilities of your instruments . Invest in drumsticks , wire brushes , bundled rods , and triangle strikers , along with soft mallets for suspended cymbal work .
Bar Chimes Besides the standard ( and frequently overused ) glissandi , the graduated cylinders of the bar chimes can also simulate wind chimes . Also known as a Mark Tree , the bar chimes come in handy when you are called on to create ethereal effects .
Trap Table This soundless sidekick provides a central location for sticks , mallets , and hand-held instruments such as tambourines and shakers ( along with your coffee mug ). The lightly padded surface assists you in transitioning instruments without extraneous sound .
A music stand is not a trap table . There is too little space and too much potential for a cacophonous spill .
WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE ESSENTIAL ITEMS , THEN :
• Depending on the requirements of music you are playing , consider expanding your set-up with a snare drum , large tom-tom , and hand drums such as congas , bongos , and djembe .
• The addition of an electronic percussion instrument can place hundreds of digital samples at your fingertips . You can easily access samples of acoustic percussion as well as old-school drum machine sounds .
A myriad of percussion instruments currently exists , and even more are being developed . Once you acquire a basic instrumentation , continue exploring the percussion universe to discover and collect more sounds that will enrich your timbral palette .
© 2022 Mark Shelton Productions / Percussion For Worship
Mark Shelton Mark Shelton is a freelance musician , content creator , and music education consultant based in Dallas / Fort Worth . Performance credits include North Carolina Symphony , Tin Roof Tango , Daystar Singers & Band , Gateway Worship , Wichita Falls Orchestra , Strata Big Band , TALEA , and Dallas Wind Symphony . www . marksheltonmusic . com percussionforworship . blogspot . com