How Do Percussion Instruments Work?

Video Transcript

"How do percussion instruments work? Well, they're pretty much for keeping tempo of the song. No matter what it is. Whether it's a drum set or tambourine or a shaker. What they're for is, to keep the other musicians pretty much on beat with the music. Now one thing you have to realize is, there are many different percussion instruments. I mean, you can start out with the basic, which is obviously drums. But there also hundreds of different ones like Bongo drums. Which are just low drums. You just smack around with your hands. Which also can do the same thing, it can keep rhythm. But there's also things like tambourines and shakers. And many other different things. And one thing you have to realize is there are many different percussion instruments. But they're not really used for the same thing, necessarily. Like for shaker, which is just a little egg type thing. That makes kind of, a little sand sound. Is really just for keeping the rhythm. Where a tambourine is a more attacking sound. That's used for the same thing but has a different sound. And there's also many different ones. Like even a cow bell. Which sounds ridiculous, I know. But it actually has its purpose. And it's used, which you wouldn't use a tambourine for. Same with Bongo drums or any thing else. Pots and pans, wood sticks, it doesn't really matter. But they're all used for different things. But they all can really enhance a sound track. You just have to make sure to use the right ones, at the right times. That's pretty much how percussions work."