Musical Instruments: Percussion Instruments

Unpitched Percussion

Afro-Cuban music ensemble

Unlike their pitched counterparts, unpitched instruments do not provide any identifiable pitch. Most of the percussion instruments that you have seen were probably of the unpitched variety.

All kinds of drums, cymbals, tambourines, maracas, claves, wood blocks, and cow bells are examples of unpitched percussion instruments.

These instruments make a sound by being struck with sticks or mallets, or they can be shaken, rubbed, scraped, or any other action that causes the instrument to vibrate.

Unpitched percussion instruments provide interest to music and can highlight certain rhythms.