Non-Pitched Instruments Continued- Skins and Metals

Skins

Hand Drum-  Held at the rim and struck on the head with the other hand or a mallet.  This is useful for keeping pulse while playing rhythm patterns.

Bongo Drums-  A pair of drums, usually connected by a piece of wood, and played with the fingertips, the palms, and the thumbs to produce different timbres and volumes.

Conga Drum- A long upright drum, shaped like a barrel.  A wide range of timbres can be produced by striking the center, edge, or even the sides with either the palm, fingertips, or even sticks.

Djembe Drum- An instrument found in Ghana, this drum has a wide head and a narrow base.  It is played with the fingers and palms, often in groups.

Goblet Drum- Middle Eastern instrument with a wide head and narrow base, about eighteen inches high, played with the fingertips or palm.

Timpani- Similar to a symphonic timpani, and is usually tuned to tonic, dominant, or subdominant.  They come in various sizes.  

Metals

Cymbals- Two concave metal disks, played by striking or rubbing together.  Children enjoy the crashing sound they can make.

Finger Cymbals- Smaller cymbals that can be attached to the middle finger and thumb, they can produce either muted or resonant sounds.

Triangle- Held by a string and struck with a metal or wooden stick, it makes a "dinner bell" sound.

Tambourine- Drum head with metal disks attached to the rim.  Can be struck or shook.

Jingle Bells- Small bells on a plastic ring that can be played by shaking.  Children enjoy the joyful, Christmas like sound they produce.

Gong- Flat brass instrument that is struck with a mallet to create a big resonating sound that children enjoy.

Cowbell- Produces open, lower sounds when struck with a mallet near its opening, and higher sounds with struck by the handle.

Double Iron Agogo Bells- Two different sized iron bells which sound at two different pitches when struck with a mallet.  They are good for working with polyrhythms.