The rhythmic instruments generate sound from a stroke, either using hands against the instrument, hitting the instruments together or using sticks or wooden sticks on the instrument.
Most percussion instruments, with the exception of the xylophone, marimba, and vibraphone, are rhythmic instruments. They are used to give a rhythmic base on a tempo or to accent an existing rhythm and differ from the previous ones because they do not give notes of a certain height.
They are the most basic instruments but not for that reason useless, since they are present in most contemporary musical genres, from pop and rock music to symphony orchestras and traditional folk music from many regions.
Among the rhythmic instruments that stand out the most, we find the following:
Conga
Also known as tumbadoras, they are wooden drums on which a membrane or leather is stretched, on which it is struck with the hands.
It is of African origin and currently has a wide presence in various Latin rhythms such as merengue and salsa.
Bongo drum
With a history similar to that of the conga, but smaller in size, they are also wooden drums of African origin used in genres such as salsa and bolero.
Keys
In the plural, because they come in a pair, they are two wooden bars of about 25cm that generate a sharp sound when they hit each other.
They stand out in Cuban music but their use is now common around the world.
Tambourine
It is a mixed instrument with a leather stretched around the circumference of the instrument, similar to drums, but with a series of metal pieces on the circumference that sound with the movement of the instrument, so that it can make two different sounds: that of the blow and the agitated.
Present in many musical genres, from rock and funk to Brazilian popular music where it is known as pandeiro.
Rattles
They are a group of metallic pieces grouped in a handle that can be metallic or wooden.
They generate a sound similar to that of the tambourine but they are the drum that the latter has.
Cowbell
Also known as cowbell or bell (due to its similarity to the bells that they put on cattle) it is an instrument with a metallic sound and medium to high frequency.
It is used regularly in Latin American music, specifically salsa, but it is also present in some rock, R&B and pop pieces such as the famous “Don't feel the reaper” by the band Blue Oyster Cult.
Agogo
Similar to the cowbell, the agogo are a pair of metal bells of different sizes that generate two different sounds, one higher than the other.
They have African origin and are very present in Brazilian music through the samba genre and its derivatives.
Chinese box
Also known as Wood block, it is a rectangular wooden block that is hit with a drumstick, similar to the cowbell or agogo, with the difference that the sound is drier because it is made with wood instead of metal.
Castanets
It is a pair of pieces of wood with a shape similar to that of oyster shells, joined by a string and that generate a particular sound.
They are used in various musical genres indigenous to Croatia and Italy, but they mainly stand out as the rhythmic accompaniment of the flamenco guitar.
Drawer
Of Peruvian origin and part of the cultural heritage of that nation, the cajon is a rectangular instrument about 50cm high made of wood.
The musician sits on the cajon and strikes it with his hands, similarly to the drum, but striking directly on the wood instead of a taut leather.
Popularized as a rhythmic accompanist in flamenco, the cajón is very present today in various Afro-Latin genres, jazz and even rock because it allows a fairly complete rhythmic accompaniment, similar to that of a complete drum set, but occupying a fraction of its size, weight and complexity. of transportation.
References
- Wikipedia - Percussion Instruments. Taken from en.wikipedia.org
- The Peruvian drawer - Characteristics. Taken from musicaperuana.com
- Salsa Blanca - Cuban Instruments. Taken from salsablanca.com
- McGraw-Hill - Cuban Music. Taken from spotlightonmusic.macmillanmh.com
Celebrate Brazil - Brazilian Musical Instruments. Taken from celebratebrazil.com.