Percussion

The xylophone is one of the most universal musical instruments, with variations existing in cultures throughout the globe. Build your own xylophone by following the instructions shown in this helpful video. You can make a xylophone out of found or recycled materials like wood or glass.

What does one do with one hundred and one bottles of beer after taking them down and passing them around? Why, one gathers a couple of friends and plays Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee" on them, of course!

In this video xylophone lesson for aspiring mallet percussionists, we learn how to play a two-chord ostinato on the xylophone using three mallets. The chord progression is a simple one, commonly heard in popular music. It moves from the root or tonic (I) to the subdominant (IV) to the dominant (V).

In this video xylophone lesson, we learn how to play a two-chord ostinato on the xylophone using three mallets. The chord progression is a simple one which moves from the root or tonic (I) to the dominant (V) and back.

In this tutorial, we learn how to read music for drums. A hi hat and kick is equal to quarter notes and a hi hat is just eighth notes. When you see a snare and a kick this is equal to quarter notes. As you continue to read the music for the drums, you will see the music notes lie differently for different notes that you are supposed to play. A hi hat can also mean sixteenth notes and a kick can equal quarter notes depending on where they are placed on the music sheet. Once you get a hang of...

In this tutorial, we learn how to play an Afro beat on bongos. Start off by sitting down on a chair with the drums in between your thighs and knees. After this, start to use both of your hands to beat onto both of the drums. As you continue to play, create an Afro beat. The Afro beat is a critical pattern that is not founded in salsa. It's essential to the Afro Cuban tradition to play with the Afro beat. Once you have the beat down, repeat playing so you can better understand how this is played...

Getting the right sound from your drum set is important for any drummer. This video shows you how to choose the right head for the sound you want to get from your drum set and attach them to the drum. You're also shown how to tune your drum set to get the sound precisely how you want it.

Tune a drum? It's possible! Every drummer has a specific way they want their drum set to sound. And the way a drum sounds depends on how the drum head has been adjusted. This video demonstrates how to tune your drum and make it sound exactly the way you want it.

The drum beat pattern for jazz drumming is sometimes called 'spang a lang' or 'ride cymbal pattern.' This is a very common, groovy drum pattern. In this video, the pattern is broken down into individual beats using both the ride cymbal and hi hat drums.

Tumbao is a basic beat. It is 4 4 timing. The fingers on both hands are bandaged on ring and middle fingers. The left hand looks flat, but is played in a heel, tip, heel, tip rhythm. Fingers on right hand are curved to meet the drum head. The left hand keeps the constant rhythm. Right hand does solo portion and moves from one Conga drum to another. Video is slowed down to see the exact rhythmic patterns. It also makes it easier to practice.

If you want to learn how to play the drums, it follows that you start with the basics. And it doesn't get a lot more basic than being able to name the constituent elements of a drum kit. This free video drumming lesson will teach you how to do just that. For more information, and to learn how to identify various drum types yourself, take a look.

In this drum lesson for beginners, you'll learn how to play quarter notes on the drums. Regardless of your preferred style of music, if you want to be great, you'll need your head and hands on the same page. And there's no better way to get your head and hands on the same page than to practice. Happily, the Internet is awash in video tutorials like this one. For more information, watch this free video drummers' guide.

In this drum lesson for beginners, you'll learn how to hold a pair of drumsticks (or drum sticks) properly. Regardless of your preferred style of music, if you want to be great, you'll need your head and hands on the same page. And there's no better way to get your head and hands on the same page than to practice. Happily, the Internet is awash in video tutorials like this one. For more information, watch this free video drummers' guide.

In this drum lesson for beginners, you'll learn how to fret and play 16th notes. Regardless of your preferred style of music, if you want to be great, you'll need your head and hands on the same page. And there's no better way to get your head and hands on the same page than to practice. Happily, the Internet is awash in video tutorials like this one. For more information, and to get started playing sixteenth notes yourself, watch this free video drummers' guide.

In this how to video, you will learn how to play drum and bass beats like Questlove. You must work to become consistent at 8th notes. A good way to do this is alternating hands. Do this by alternating between the hi-hat an snare drum. Practice until you can play this really fast. These drum and bass beats are just funk beats sped up. Start out with a simple beat and add grace notes in between the 8th notes of the hi-hat. Slowly speed this up. You can try taking the snare hit at beat 4...

In this how to video, you will learn how to perform an advanced jig rhythm Bodhran. The way it is performed is going down down up. The down and up accent create an alternating back and forth feeling. If the accent is the same sound every beat, such as on the down, it has only a forward drive to it. First, do a down stroke but do not follow through. Drop the stick to hit a few inches below. From here, go up and hit the drum. The instant way to get this is to do the opposite. Basically,...

In this brief video tutorial, the host 'Uncle Todd' demonstrates how to 'attack a beat'. This video is intended for beginners. Watch as he shows you how to keep your tempo up as you time your drum strokes in a beat. You should practice my trying just your right foot and your right hand, and then alternating to to your left foot and your left hand. The host in this video uses an electric metronome to keep his tempo steady and accurate, something that he recommends you try at home. Don't forget...

In this how to video, you will learn how to use a metronome as a practice tool for your Bodhran. This will be helpful as it helps track your progress. You can very tempos with this device. Press the red button of your metronome to turn it on. It should be at 60 BPM. If you want to change the speed, press the buttons with the arrows. Press the top gray button and press the arrow until a musical sign appears. Next, go to the second grouping of notes and press the top gray button. This...

In this how to video, you will learn how to practice without a Bodhran and make your own tipper. This is useful if you do not have enough money to buy a Bodhran or you want to practice silently. To make a tipper, buy skewers from any place. Take about 14 and put the together. Tie them together with 2 rubber bands. You can get different sounds depending on the distant of the rubber band from the end of the sticks. Next, you must get a practice board. A clip board can be used for one. You...

In this how to video, you will learn how to tell the difference between a tunable and non-tunable bodhran. A tunable bodhran has a tuning mechanism to allow you to adjust the skin tension. A non-tunable bodhran is actually tunable, but it just needs more time to do so. A tunable drum has the tuning mechanism in the inside. They are lugs pressing on an inner hoop. When the key is turned clockwise, this will make it tighter. Make sure to go crisscross rather than around the circle when...

There are two recommended ways to hold the Bodhran Drum tipper for beginners. The first way is called the "curved wrist" technique. You put the stick in between the area of your index and thumb finger. Then you put the end of the stick in between your index and middle finger. You must make sure not to keep your fingers tight, they must be elongated and resting gently on the stick. When you drum, you keep your wrist curved and swing your hand up and down. The next method is the "straight...

A bodhrán is a shallow one-sided Irish drum typically played with a short two-headed drumstick, and if you want to learn how to play this Irish frame drum, you've come to the right place. This two-part video tutorial from Michelle Stewart will show you how to play the "mother of all jig" rhythms on the bodhrán drum.

Drum artist Raquy Danziger teaches the basics of playing a Turkish double dumbek. Raquy demonstrates how the index and ring fingers of the drumming hand should move in counter-harmony to each other, as the first step. Next she shows how to accent every third beat while drumming. Then, the other hand is used to add a third sound to the two being produced by the first hand in the up-down movement. The next step involves producing two different sounds with the second hand, by alternately hitting...

Musician David Ortiz shows how to play a Modern Tumbao beat on the conga in this instructional video. Learn at what tempo and beat this variation should be played at. In this lesson Ortiz shows what pattern the beat uses first showing how to play it at the regular tempo and then slowing down so that you can figure out how to do it yourself. To learn how to play a Modern Tumbao variation on the conga, follow the steps in Ortiz's tutorial.

In this video are the Afro-Cuban Percussion Class at Grossmont College, with instructor Manny Cepeda to show us how to play a Meringue rhythm on the Conga Drums. He starts off with a slow beat by beat demonstration and then moves on to a faster beat. The camera changes the view so that you can see both a front and back view of him drumming. Once he has shown the basics he shows the different variations you can use and the various counts that you can start on.

Walt Ribeiro shows you how beats per minute work along with time signatures. This video takes you through the steps with a detailed explanation of how they work together and is executed using a drum along with a handy saying to help you keep your time signatures going steady to the beats per minute. Walt explains this using an electronic tempo clock while changing up the time signature. If you have ever had a music question with how these two things relate to each other then video is for you.

Itching to start slapping some bongo skins? In this three-part bongo tutorial, learn how to play various bongo rhythms. Hosted by Manny Cepeda (a composer, songwriter, & performer), you will learn the Son Rhythm (4/4) Martillo, the Borello Rhythm, and Guaguanco Rhythm.

This is an instructional how-to video on how to play solo phrases while keeping the Malfuf. Improve you Darbuka or Doumbek Turkish solo technique with these lessons from Percussion Net.

This is a basic drumstick twirl trick. It goes through proper hand placement and finger movement. It's really easy and pretty cool.

Learn how to play the Manhattan Timbrel percussion instrument. This is a step by step that also includes parts with music and non-music instruction. The timbrel is used in military performances.

Understand the concept of tuning a rope djembe.

Step by step guide for tuning a traditional rope djembe. Instructed by X8 Drum's Raphael Torn.

Interested in learning how to play the tabla? In this installment from his video series of free tabla lessons, Debu Nayak introduces the kaida and demonstrates how to play it. While these tutorials are geared towards absolute beginners, even seasoned percussionists are likely to pick something up. To get started playing kaidas on your own tabla, take a look.

Interested in learning how to play the tabla? In this installment from his video series of free tabla lessons, Debu Nayak introduces the peshkar. While these tutorials are geared towards absolute beginners, even seasoned percussionists are likely to pick something up. To get started writing your own peshkars on the tabla, take a look.

Interested in learning how to play the tabla? In this installment from his video series of free tabla lessons, Debu Nayak instroduces the tabla and demonstrates how to play an uthan, an opening flourish. While these tutorials are geared towards absolute beginners, even seasoned percussionists are likely to pick something up. To get started playing uthans on your own tabla, take a look.

This instructional drum video shows you how to make a Guinean bolong bata drum. The Bolong Bata comes originally from Guinea. The base is made of two half calabashes. One half is covered with goat hide, tied with rope to the bottom of the other calabash. The hole in the upper half is made for acoustic purposes. And if you like the music, you may put some money in it. The Bolong has three or four strings, made of rope, tied to a wooden stick on one side and a wooden keg on the other. The strings...

Playing the drums can be pretty easy, all you need is a drum set, a decent sense of rhythm and a lot of practice. In this how to video you can learn how to get a better sound out of your bass drum. This will help your bass drum from sounding too echoed. Watch this how to video and you will be able to get a better tone from your bass drum.

Playing the drums can be pretty easy, all you need is a drum set, a decent sense of rhythm and a lot of practice. In this how to video you can learn how to play a basic rock groove using the hi hat and the snare drum. This basic rock groove is a pretty common drum rudiment. It is necessary for the beginner drummer to learn this basic rock groove with the high hat. Watch this how to video and you will be able to play a basic rock groove with a high hat on the drums.

Watch this music tutorial video that shows you how to play "Fool in the Rain" by John Bonham of Led Zeppelin on the drums. Led Astray drummer Fronzo breaks down the half time shuffle to help other drummers trying to play this amazing groove! It may not be exactly what Bonham played but this is a pretty close rendition! Play "Fool in the Rain" by watching this instructional drum playing lesson and improve your drum skills!

Holding your drumsticks correctly will reduce tension and give you greater speed and control in playing while reducing fatigue. In this video tutorial, DRUM! Magazine music editor Wally Schnalle demonstrates how to properly hold drumsticks and provides tips for best performance. Get a handle on drumstick grips with this how-to.