What instruments are part of the percussion section of an orchestra?
The drums and percussion family is by far the biggest and most changeable section of the orchestra. So it depends on the orchestra size and configuration.
However, let’s explore the most common percussion instruments of the modern orchestra:
The Drums
Like an acoustic drum kit in rock and pop music, the drums are the foundation of percussion in the orchestra as well.
And the drums come in different sizes to cover a wide frequency range, from the deepest lows to high crisp accents.
Bass Drum
The biggest and deepest drum in the orchestra, and available in different sizes and versions. The main difference compared to a bass drum in a rock drum kit, is that it stands with the drum skin facing upwards, and the player hit it with mallets from above.
Timpani
Also called “kettle drums”, as it is kind of bowl shaped. The most unique feature is that they are tuned drums, meaning each drum has a distinct pitch in the sustain. The sound is deep, grand and noble. And the main use for the timpani is rhythmic accents, as well as rolls for transitions.
Taikos
The Japanese taiko drums have found their way into the modern orchestra more and more, as it works incredibly well for orchestral soundtracks in film, TV, video games etc. It comes in different sizes to span more range, and is used as a set (like toms or timpani). They rest on stands and you hit the drums from the side with mallets. The overall tone and sound is deep, with a softer attack.
Concert Toms
The orchestra also have toms (tom-toms), like an acoustic drum kit. Like the timpani drums, the concert toms can also be tuned to a specific pitch. The toms in the orchestra are often used for fills and transitions. There is a more modern invention of the toms called rototoms, which are shell-less toms that are tuned by rotating the drum head.
Snare Drums
The snare drums are very important in the orchestra, and used in a lot of ways. Sometimes to provide a driving rhythm, to create a marching or military vibe. But they are also incredible for rolls, crisp accents, and can even add variation in tone color with side hits and rim hits.
Hand Drums
Various hand drums are used in modern orchestras, most often to add sound colors from around the world. Djembes, bongos etc.
The Metals
Metallic percussion instruments are great for adding shimmer, sizzle, and crisp highs and sustains.
The cymbals are of course the most important by far, but there are plenty more, so let’s explore them:
Cymbals
Cymbals are amazing for accents, that can be anything from muted shorts to long sustaining shimmer. There are two main types of cymbals in the orchestra. Piatti, which are 2 cymbals that you hold in each hand, and hit together. They are mainly used for short accents. And then the suspended cymbals that sits on stands, and you hit them with mallets. For soundtrack music cymbals are also used for special effects by bowing them or scraping them to create tension sounds.
Tubular Bells
These are long metal tubes that are tuned to specific pitches. You could say it is a melodic percussion instruments, as there are enough of them to play melodies on. However, they are mainly used for accents (like a bell) or for emphasising specific notes in the music. A single hit on one of the lower tuned tubular bells almost sounds like a church bell, so they are often used to add that grand, noble and authoritative vibe in compositions.
Gongs
There are 2 main types of gongs used in the orchestra: gong and tam-tam. The tam tam is more like a gigantic, deeper cymbal, with no real pitch. While the gong is more like a big disc shaped bell in terms of tone. Gongs are only really used for extra important big accents.
Thundersheets
These are big sheets of metal that when you strike them have a kind of thunder sound. In fact, they were developed for using as a sound effect in theatre to mimic the sound of thunder.
Anvils
A big metal lump, of the kind blacksmiths used as a tool for hammering metal on. When hit directly with a hammer it creates a loud and sharp sound, which is why it sometimes is used in the orchestral percussion section. However, instead of the real thing which is extremely heavy, modern orchestras use a modern invention that is basically a metal bar over a sound box. It still sounds as an anvil, but much more compact.
Triangle
It might look small and insignificant to the eye, but the sound of the triangle is not only bright and clear. It can provide a kind of shimmering and almost magical rhythmic pulse in the high range that no other instrument can. Or even a simple high bell like accent with beautiful sustain. All this, while not cluttering the mix as it is no low fundamental, because it is essentially a pure high harmonic.
Bar Chimes
When you need to add a magical shimmer, there is simply nothing that beats the bar chimes (also called wind chimes). They are basically a set of metallic tubes of increasing sizes hanging freely, that you then drag across to create a kind of chaotic glissando. You can go from low to high, or high to low, depending on the direction you drag your fingers or mallet over them.
The Shakers and Wood
Shakers come in many variations, and can therefore provide lots of tonal and texture variation in the rhythm and percussion of the orchestra.
And then there are also various wooden instruments used in the orchestral percussion that can add that soft wooden tone, which is short, focused and muted.
Let’s do a quick dive into the shakers and wood percussion of orchestral music:
Shakers & Wood
- Tambourine
- Maracas
- Cabasa
- Clackers
- Guiros
- Vibra Slap
- Wood Blocks
- Drum Sticks