I play all these instruments.
Celesta: A keyboard instrument that looks like a small upright piano, but hammers strike a set of tuned metal plates to create a bell-like tone. Chimes (Tubular bells): A set of metal tubes of varying lengths suspended from a frame, struck with a hammer. Crotales (Antique cymbals): Small, thick bronze or brass discs that are tuned to specific pitches. Glockenspiel: A set of tuned metal bars arranged in a keyboard layout, played with mallets. Handbells: A set of tuned bells played by a team of ringers. Marimba: A large instrument similar to a xylophone but with a wider range and wooden bars played with soft mallets for a warmer tone. Steelpan (Steel drums): An idiophone originating in Trinidad and Tobago, made from an oil drum with tuned, hammered areas. Timpani (Kettle drums): Large copper or fiberglass bowls with a drumhead stretched over them. The head is tuned to a specific pitch using a foot pedal. Vibraphone: An instrument similar to a glockenspiel, but with metal bars and motorized fans in the resonators to create a vibrato effect. Xylophone: Wooden bars of different lengths are struck with mallets to produce a hard, crisp sound. Unpitched (untuned) percussion These instruments produce sounds of an indefinite pitch and are primarily used for rhythmic effects. Drums: Bass drum: A large, two-headed drum that provides a powerful, low-pitched sound. Bongos: A pair of small, open-bottomed drums of different sizes, played with the hands. Congas: Tall, narrow, single-headed drums, also played with the hands. Djembe: A rope-tuned, goblet-shaped drum from West Africa. Drum kit (Drum set): A collection of drums and cymbals played by one person, often used in rock, jazz, and pop music. Snare drum: A versatile drum with wires (snares) stretched across the bottom head that rattle when the top head is struck. Tabla: A pair of Indian drums played with the hands. Taiko: A large Japanese drum played with sticks. Other untuned percussion: Agogô bells: A pair of joined metal bells from Brazil. Cabasa: A cylinder of ridged metal with loops of metal beads that are rubbed against it. Castanets: A pair of spoon-shaped pieces of wood clicked together. Cowbell: A bell without a clapper, struck with a stick. Cymbals: Metal plates that are crashed together, struck with a stick, or played with a bow. Gong (Tam-tam): A large, suspended metal disc that produces a deep sound. Guiro: A hollow gourd with parallel notches carved into it, scraped with a stick. Maracas: Rattles, usually a dried gourd or hollow shell filled with seeds or beads. Tambourine: A shallow frame drum with metal jingles attached to the sides. Triangle: A steel rod bent into a triangle shape, struck with a metal beater. Woodblock: A small, hollowed-out block of wood struck with a mallet. Unique and extended percussion This category includes many unconventional sound sources and effects used in contemporary and classical music. Anvil: A large piece of metal struck with a hammer. Brake drum: An automotive brake drum suspended and struck with a stick. Flexatone: A thin, flexible metal sheet with wooden ball beaters attached that can be bent to change the pitch. Musical saw: A hand saw that produces an ethereal tone when played with a bow. Ratchet: A rotating gear and handle device that makes a loud clicking sound. Sandpaper blocks: Blocks of wood with sandpaper on one side that are rubbed together. Slapstick (Whip): Two pieces of wood hinged together that are clapped to make a sharp crack. Thunder sheet: A large, hanging metal sheet that is shaken to mimic the sound of thunder. Tuning forks: While not always categorized as such, they are acoustic resonators that produce a pure, specific pitch when struck and are part of the broader percussion family. Vibraslap: A metal frame with a bead that rattles against a wooden block when struck. Wind chimes: Bells or tubes suspended to create a tinkling sound in the breeze.
