Percussion instrument: meaning, definitions and examples

A general term for any musical instrument that produces sound through being struck, shaken, or scraped.

• She decided to learn a new percussion instrument this summer.
• The band needed more variety, so they added a few percussion instruments.

A percussion instrument that is typically a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across one or both ends, which is played by striking with hands, sticks, or mallets.

• He played the drum with great enthusiasm.
• The kids enjoyed banging on the drum in music class.

A musical instrument made of a thin, normally round plate of metal, often used in orchestras and bands.

• The drummer hit the cymbal to signal the start of the song.
• During the crescendo, the cymbal crashed loudly.

A percussion instrument consisting of a small drum with metal jingles attached around the frame, often played by shaking or striking with the hand.

• She added a tambourine to her band for a richer sound.
• The jingle of the tambourine added to the festive atmosphere.

A percussion instrument made up of wooden bars of different lengths that are struck with mallets to produce musical notes.

• The child enjoyed playing simple melodies on the xylophone.
• The xylophone's bright sound stood out during the performance.

A musical instrument made from dried gourds or plastic, with beads inside, that are shaken to produce sound, commonly used in Latin American music.

• The musician played the maracas to add rhythm to the song.
• During the festival, everyone danced while shaking maracas.

A type of drum that has snares (tight wires or springs) stretched across the bottom head, creating a sharp rattling sound when struck.

• The snare drum gave a sharp crack during the concert.
• He practiced rudiments on his snare drum daily.