Percussion Instruments of the percussion family are undoubtedly found in the greatest number of musical cultures. Percussion instruments are referred to as membranophones if they produce sound through the vibrations of a stretched skin or other membrane. They are called idiophones if they produce sound through their natural resonance when struck, rubbed, plucked, or shaken. Drums are membranophones; hollowed logs, bells, gongs, xylophones, and pianos are examples of idiophones.

 

                             
 
Modern Drum Set
The modern drum set is used in jazz and rock music. The components can vary, but this example shows the standard pieces. It consists of a bass drum, which sits on its side, a floor tom-tom, two tenor tom-toms, a snare drum, two crash cymbals, and a pair of hi-hat cymbals. The drummer uses a foot pedal to operate the bass drum and hi-hat cymbals, and sticks, brushes, or mallets to play the other instruments.

 
 
Tambourine
The tambourine is a small frame drum that originated in the Middle East. The instrument is constructed of a single membrane stretched over a circular rim, which usually has metal jingle disks attached. It can be played in one of three ways: tapping the membrane with the fingers, shaking the instrument, or striking it against the body.
 

 
 
Cabaca
The cabaça, a Latin American percussion instrument in the idiophone family, is made of wood with steel beads strung on the outside. It is played by either twisting the cabaça in the air, striking it on the palm, or rotating the beads back and forth in the palm. The instrument is an adaptation of the Afro-Brazilian cabaça, which is a gourd covered with small seeds or beads.
 

 
Cymbals
Cymbals are percussion instruments and members of the family of musical instruments known as idiophones. They are made of bronze and are played by being struck together or by striking a single cymbal with a stick or wire brush. Ancient cymbals from Assyria date from 800 bc. These cymbals are made by Zildjian in Armenia.

 
Kettledrum
A Kettledrum is a percussion instrument with a bowl-shaped cell and single drum head that can be tuned by adjusting the tension. The kettledrum is an ancient instrument that originated in the Middle East before the 10th century.

 
                              Music Education Page
Percussion instruments 1
Percussion instruments (1 of 2): instruments which are hit to produce sounds.
Tubular bells: metal tubes of different lengths suspended to a frame. The tubes are hit with a mallet to produce sounds or melodies.
Chinese gong: concave metal disc that is suspended and produce a bass sound when hit with a mallet

 
Percussion instruments (2 of 2)
Percussion instruments (2 of 2): instruments which are hit to produce sounds.
Tambourine: small drum with cymbals on its frame. It is shaken with one hand and hit with the other hand.
Triangle: triangle shaped metal cylinder hit with a metal stick, producing a treble sound.
Xylophone: instrument with wooden slats of different lengths and resonators. The wooden slats are hit with a mallet to produce the sounds.
Cymbal: metal discs that are hit with a mallet or stick, or one on the other to produce a sound.
Timpani: semi-spheric drum sitting on a pedestal.

 
Dorling Kindersley
Maracas
Maracas are percussion instruments used in folk and popular music. Traditionally they are hollow gourds containing seeds, but maracas can also be made of wood or clay and filled with beads. They are members of the family of musical instruments known as concussion idiophones, also known simply as rattles. Played in pairs, maracas are often associated with Puerto Rican and Cuban music such as the rumba and the bomba. They are also descendants of pre-Colombian Arawak instruments and probably originated in Puerto Rico.

 
   
Darabuka
The darabuka is a goblet drum from the Middle East. The goblet drum is named for its shape and is often elaborately decorated. This example from Egypt features geometric inlaid designs in tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl. The bodies of these drums are made of wood or pottery, and the heads are skin. The drummer plays the darabuka by striking the center and edges of the head with both hands.

                                                                   

 
Talking Drum
Talking drums, also called tension drums, imitate the tones of spoken language and are used by some cultures to transmit messages.