Definite Pitch
Instruments :

Indefinite Pitch Instruments :

Other Sections :

History

The first type of percussion instrument was simply anything hit together to produce sound. Drums evolved from this and are known to have existed from around 6000 BC. They were used by all major civilizations throughout the world.

Percussion instruments have strong ceremonial, sacred, or symbolic associations almost everywhere. Certain drums symbolize and protect tribal royalty in much of Africa. They were also used to transmit messages over long distances.

They also played a major role in medieval and Renaissance Europe. The snare drum and its relatives were used in the infantry to send coded instructions to the soldiers.

The development the individual instruments is discussed in its section.

Description

A percussion instrument is defined as instruments made of sonorous material. A vibration produces sounds of definite or indefinite pitch when shaken or struck. The pitch is determined in many different ways. It is done through the tautness of the stretched material for indefinite pitch instruments. The pitch is determined by the size of the objects in definite pitch instruments. Notes are produced by striking the instrument in certain places.