What crazy looking instruments can i build with a minimum of skill + resources and a maximum of WTF. [more inside]
posted by Potomac Avenue on Jul 17, 2009 - 35 answers

I once heard a really lovely version of Pachelbel's Canon that was performed by a percussion ensemble--the whole thing was drums, tympani, etc. I think it was a University ensemble, maybe University of North Texas? I heard it around 2000, so it's not exactly new, but I have been unable to find it again. Anyone know what I'm talking about?
posted by liketitanic on May 13, 2009 - 2 answers

Who are the percussionists (drum kit and... congas?) on Nina Simone's Funkier Than a Mosquito's Tweeter?
posted by phrontist on Jan 20, 2009 - 3 answers

How does percussion work in rock & pop music? I can listen to the drum part in a song and appreciate that it sounds great, but I haven't got the slightest idea how they decide which bangy things to bang on and when. [more inside]
posted by moonmilk on Dec 6, 2008 - 31 answers

The drums in the Mad Men theme drive me, um, mad! Where can I get more? [more inside]
posted by COBRA! on Sep 12, 2008 - 9 answers

Questions about the dance musical "Contact" (not the film). [more inside]
posted by Melismata on Jul 15, 2008 - 3 answers

MusicRecommendFilter: Can someone recommend artists who use percussion or drums in novel ways? See inside... [more inside]
posted by tybeet on May 30, 2008 - 44 answers

What is that quintessential dub percussion sound and how do they make it? [more inside]
posted by isopraxis on Mar 7, 2008 - 11 answers

AskMe Musicians - I'm buying a drum set for the first time. What advice would you offer me? [more inside]
posted by Afroblanco on Feb 15, 2008 - 14 answers

What popular or well known recordings use toy drum sets for percussion? [more inside]
posted by chillmost on Jan 17, 2008 - 16 answers

What did they use to make that fuzzy, rattly percussion sound in the Sanford & Son theme? [more inside]
posted by Koko on Jan 10, 2008 - 11 answers

I have to share an office with a "percussionist." He drums on his desk, taps his foot, etc. It drives me crazy, and I feel like my head is about to explode. Is it rude for me to ask him to stop? If so, what else can I do? [more inside]
posted by grumblebee on Nov 29, 2007 - 56 answers

I'm interested in buying some cool, portable, percussion instruments over the next few months. I'd be willing to spend up to $200 per piece, and I'd like them to be beginner friendly. What should I start with? Are there any instruments I should avoid because they break too easy, etc? [more inside]
posted by yeahyeahyeahwhoo on Jun 22, 2007 - 17 answers

You know what is f***ing awesome? Street drummers. ESPECIALLY this one. Do you know what I want? Their albums. [more inside]
posted by fake on Apr 30, 2007 - 18 answers

How do you synthesize sharply percussive melodic sounds, as in this trentemoller track? I'm using AMS specifically, but a I'm really just looking for a general description of how this is done on a modular synth.
posted by phrontist on Apr 2, 2007 - 5 answers

What do you call these Japanese percussive ball-on-a-string things? [more inside]
posted by bloggboy on Feb 24, 2007 - 7 answers

I just bought a set of conga drums. Now what? [more inside]
posted by bradth27 on Sep 25, 2006 - 4 answers

Obscure music documentary filter - Help me find out the name of an awesome West Indian percussion musical group featured in a Canadian documentary. [more inside]
posted by PissOnYourParade on Aug 17, 2006 - 1 answer

Anyone know how to use an Octapad?I have recently aquired a (used) Roland Octapad II, an old MIDI drum trigger set that looks like this, via eBay. I want to test it to see if it works, but I (presently) have no synth/drum machine or anything else with a MIDI IN to test it with. (more inside) [more inside]
posted by phrontist on Dec 7, 2005 - 4 answers

Help me find some great percussion-heavy music. [more inside]
posted by nightengine on Jul 25, 2005 - 42 answers

I have an african djembe drum which I am quite fond of. It has always bothered me, however, that the face burnt into it has no meaning to me. (aside from the fact that it looks really cool.) I was wondering if anyone could identify it or the meaning of it, or at least tell me that is impossible. (Bad MS-Paint version of the image inside) [more inside]
posted by furiousxgeorge on May 4, 2005 - 4 answers

Identify this percussion instrument: I just bought a thing that is a 5' tall stick with a pogo spring on the bottom. It has hi-hat cymbals on the top and a tamborine, cowbell, jingle bells and a woodblock attached to it. You thump this thing on the ground while wacking on everything with a drumstick and it makes a racket that will wake the neighbors. What is it?
posted by wsg on Feb 3, 2005 - 14 answers