Since the mid-20th century, Samba music has been gaining popularity all over the world, and if you are a fan of this highly energetic genre then you have people of Brazil to thank for it. African slaves who were brought over to Brazil to work on sugar plantations created Samba by modifying traditional African ...
The mbira is a traditional musical instrument that originated in Zimbabwe, which is made of metal tines placed on a wooden board. The kalimba was created as a modern version of this instrument, which is much more suited to western music. What Is the Difference Between a Kalimba and a Mbira? A kalimba is ...
In this article, we’re going to give you a step-by-step tutorial on the basics of playing the bodhran. Inside you will find written explanations as well as some tutorial videos to help you master this instrument. The bodhran is an ancient Celtic drum originating from Ireland. Even though it is not the most ...
Many people get confused by the differences between congas and bongo drums and mix them up quite easily. The fact that many players also play them at the same time doesn’t help! They do, however, have many differences, the main ones being their shape and size as well as the sound they produce. In this article, ...
Carnatic or Karnatak (as in the state Karnataka, India) music evolved from the Hindu traditions in Southern Indian between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal. It remained similar to the musical traditions of the north for the early half of its existence. Carnatic music generally involves an ensemble of musicians ...
Jam Blocks are great percussion instruments that come in different pitches. They are made out of plastic, and produce a thick, full sound when hit. In this article, we’re going to present to you different types of jam blocks, how to mount them and how to play them, as well as some of the best jam blocks that are ...
Udu drums are traditionally made out of clay and look like a water pot (from which they were created in the first place). The main feature of this drum is two holes – one on the top of the pot and one on the side. By taping or palming these holes you can create different sounds. Udu drums originated from Nigeria, in ...
Gongs are a popular type of thick cymbal originally from East and South-East Asia. They are now used around the world in different settings, from ceremonies and orchestral music, to home decorations! They are usually made out of bronze, with different types of alloy used. In this article, you will find both big ...
The Waterphone, invented by Richard Waters, is an intriguing and unique sounding instrument that will probably give you the chills! Even though people usually think that nobody invents new instruments, some people are always working on improving and meddling with existing ones trying to get that perfect sound they ...
Today we explain the differences between the xylophone, marimba, vibraphone, and glockenspiel in plain English! All of these instruments are rather similar, as they are all from the family of idiophones – meaning that they produce sound just by vibrating their body and nothing else. Because they are ...
Egg shakers are a fun and great-sounding percussion instrument that just about anybody can learn how to play! They are great for musicians and recording, as well as fun for children to learn how percussion works. Egg shakers are essentially a type of rattle – little egg-shaped (thus the name) rattles made from ...
The intuitive use of the Maracas makes this percussion instrument one of the easiest to stimulate a musical attitude in both kids and adults. Maracas are so easy to play, so versatile and fun, we often forget that they can have an important role in many different genres and styles of music. What is the origin of ...
