Percussion instrument?

[kwakatak]

As some folks know, I like to beat on my guitar for percussive effect. Lately I've been thinking of picking up something separate (and preferably cheaper) iin order to lay down a percussion track on my acoustic recordings.

 

I'm thinking of stuff like egg-shakers, tamborines and maybe a set of bongos but I know nothing about what to look for in order to get anything of decent quality. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

[zen501]

http://www.rhythmweb.com/cajon/index.html

[KATMAN]

A djembe are pretty cool. I saw a large one at a music store,for $500,it was huge.But you can get smaller ones for $100,pretty cool. Like bongos,but with one head.

[Terry Allan Hall]

Originally posted by kwakatak As some folks know, I like to beat on my guitar for percussive effect. Lately I've been thinking of picking up something separate (and preferably cheaper) iin order to lay down a percussion track on my acoustic recordings. I'm thinking of stuff like egg-shakers, tamborines and maybe a set of bongos but I know nothing about what to look for in order to get anything of decent quality. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Buy bongos w/ adjustable heads...they cost a little more, but last forever (because replacing the heads is MUCH simpler). Check out the MF catalog...

BTW, a trip to your nearest hardware store (and a little imagination) can bring you a lot of cool sounds for very little $$$....capped PVC pipes filled with various objects make different sounds, for but one example...send me a PM if you'd like other ideas for things my daughter/percussionist and I have made.

[Greymuzzle]

you just gotta get a bodhran in their somewhere! the neighbours do just sooooo love 'em...

[guitarist21]

I'm a big djembe fan. Not only are they incredibly versatile instruments, they're great for jam sessions and open mics.

I also have a small doumbek I picked up for $30 that's a lot of fun, but doesn't record terribly well.

Ellen

[Cldplytkmn]

the only time i care much for hand percussion is if the music is designed specifically for it... a la a band like guster...

i've got bad djembe memories from the open mic here... there's this hippie couple who goes every week, they play a couple songs every week, which is fine, thats the point... but then they sit at the front table and play their damn djembe with every person who plays after them... and they look at each other like they're adding so much to the poor pitiful solo guitarist who doesn't have any 'cool' friends to play percussion for him... /rant off

shakers, clappers, tamborines, wood blocks to smack together... you can get alot of cool sounds... try playing your hands on your knees too... thats the cheapest way...

*edit*- i own a handmade djembe from ghana... its cool, but i never have any use for it.

[knockwood]

[brahmz118]

I echo Cldplytkmn's sentiments -- for me the quality issue is about how well the sounds fit together, more so than the inherent quality of the percussion instrument.

I like the sound of the conga drum with acoustic guitar -- it has more bass than bongos so to my ears it provides musical reinforcement in the lower registers. But I can also get some very distinctive mid-range tones on it. Bongos might cut through better in the mid to high range, which might be useful in certain contexts.

Djembes are pretty versatile, though I find it harder to 'sculpt' the tones in the lower registers.

For many of these hand drums, the variety of tones comes from cupping and muting effects, so I try to meet those sounds halfway on my guitar -- lots of LH and RH palm muting, raking the pick against muted strings, some soundboard percussion, deliberate string squeak, etc.

I've used mostly Latin Percussion stuff for years. LP is part of Kaman, and I don't think it's an inappropriate analogy to say they're like the Ovations / Takamines of the percussion world. Not top of the line, but well-made with good variety. And they can stand up to just about anything a rambunctious group of kids can dish out, which is a plus for me.

I once saw a classical guitar that had a guiro-plate instead of a pickguard -- that is, it had these ridges which you could run your fingernails over for an extra percussive effect. Sounded amazing when the inventor played it, not so much when I tried.

[JasmineTea]

Originally posted by kwakatak Lately I've been thinking of picking up something separate (and preferably cheaper) in order to lay down a percussion track on my acoustic recordings. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Imagination.

 

I did some cool tracks using a guitar case for a bass drum. Different cases have a different sound.

 

Old books. Some resonate nicely.

 

Sandpaper stapled to scrap wood blocks. Rub them together.

 

Old Melmac or plastic cups. Tape two of them together with some dried beans inside, shake 'em.

 

Basically anything goes. I once put a handful of forks knives and spoons in a mason jar and shook it. It was just what the track needed.