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One of the rewarding aspects of being a percussionist is that you can develop a core set of techniques and then apply that knowledge to a wide array of different instruments. For example, virtually the same techniques and sensibilities are used to play the bass drum, the snare drum, the timpani, and all kinds of mallet percussion instruments. The guide below will cover some of the key aspects of playing each of these major instruments. Learning how to play percussion instruments like these will allow you to excel in any symphonic or orchestral setting.
Steps
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Grip the sticks properly. For playing the concert snare drum, the accepted grip is the matched grip. Pinch each stick between your thumb and pointer finger about a third up from the butt. Wrap the other 3 fingers loosely around the butt for control.
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Keep your stroke style closed rather than open. When learning elementary strokes or playing marching percussion, the tendency is that rolls, flams, and drags are played in an "open" style, meaning that each stroke is distinct. When playing concert snare drum, however, strive to close your multi-stroke rudiments as much as possible. This style of playing is more lyrical and blends better with orchestral or symphonic music.Advertisement
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Play confidently yet softly. Because the snare drum's sound is such a tight, percussive "crack," it projects well even when played softly and can easily overwhelm fellow musicians if played loudly. For this reason, listen to fellow musicians and play at a slightly lower dynamic level than you think you need to. You can produce a softer sound from the snare drum by playing near the edge of the head.
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Prepare a range of different mallets. Unlike the snare drum, the concert bass drum requires a range of mallet densities for different passages and styles of music. At the least, keep 1 soft bass drum mallet and 1 medium-hard mallet.
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Get into the proper playing position. Ideally, the bass drum should be slanted so that the head is at about a 45 degree angle to the ground. Hold the mallet with your dominant hand and place your other palm gently onto the head of the drum. Strike the head just off-center with the mallet and vary the pressure with your other hand to muffle the drum as needed.
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Pull the sound from the drum. When playing a concert bass drum it is important that the sound properly resonates and fulfills its roll in a piece of music properly. In order to convey the low-pitched sound of the drum to the audience try striking the drum in a "scooping" motion as if you are pulling the sound from the drum.
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Follow through on each stroke. Because the bass drum's head is loosely tensioned and does not provide much rebound, the tendency is to strike it and leave the mallet against or near the head. Instead, make a conscious effort to follow through on each stroke just as you would on a snare drum or tom, returning the mallet to its playing position as quickly as possible.
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Grip the mallets properly. The timpani is alone among percussion instruments in that the standard grip is the French grip. This grip is similar to the matched grip, except that the palms are at right angles to the floor. Studying and using this grip will facilitate quick and graceful changes between each drum with minimal arm movement. (Do not use snare drum mallets on the timpani.)
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Develop an ear for tuning. Perhaps even more important than playing the correct rhythms on timpani is tuning the drums correctly. Timpani heads are tightened and slackened using foot pedals, and you will need to be able to retune drums silently during a piece of music. This can be done by quietly humming into the drum head - when the drum is tuned to the pitch you are humming, you will hear it resonate back. Some timpani have tuning dials on the side, eliminating the need for using your ear.
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Use only open-style, single-stroke rudiments. A major error in novice timpani technique is playing closed-style buzz rolls (like you would on a concert snare drum) or playing double-stroke rolls or "diddles." All rolls and ruffs played on the timpani should be single-stroke, where you alternate your left and right hands evenly.
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NEVER strike a the drum in its center. You want a timpani to resonate. If you strike the center you will simply hear a thud in contrast to the full sound the timpani is known to produce. It may seem unimportant but the timpani is an integral part to many classical pieces and needs to be heard.
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Develop a rear-fulcrum grip. The proper grip for mallet percussion instruments like the marimba, the xylophone, and the glockenspiel is a variation on the matched grip. Instead of pinching the mallet between your thumb and forefinger to create the fulcrum, squeeze the butt of the mallet gently with your ring finger and pinky. Your other 3 fingers are then wrapped loosely around the mallet to provide extra control.
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Use the appropriate mallet for each instrument. Each mallet percussion instrument requires a different type of mallet to sounds its best and remain undamaged. The marimba is played with soft yarn mallets, the vibraphone with hard yarn mallets, the xylophone with rubber or plastic mallets, and the glockenspiel with plastic or brass mallets.
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Blend with the section you are accompanying. Unlike other percussion instruments, whose parts are not duplicated in the rest of the ensemble, mallet percussion parts often duplicate passages that are being played by wind or string instruments. For this reason, it is important to listen carefully to the ensemble and try to blend well with the other instruments playing your part.
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Tips
- If your percussion part calls for playing numerous different instruments like the triangle and the tambourine, make sure that these instruments are nearby and that you can pick them up noiselessly during the piece.Thanks
- Percussion is all about tempo. Make sure to practice with a metronome to keep time consistently.Thanks
- Make sure to have a proper grip on the mallet, you don't want to squeeze it too tight but you also don't want it to go flying across the room while you're practicing a piece.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Snare drum sticks
- Bass drum mallets
- Timpani mallets
- Marimba mallets
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