Pitch on percussion instruments
Tighter, smaller and shorter make higher notes.
Percussion instruments
Percussion instruments are hit, shaken or scraped. Drums, tabla, cymbals, bells and shakers are percussion instruments. The dhol and the tabla are popular in Bangladesh.
The dhol is played with sticks on both ends. The two ends are different sizes, so one gives a deep sound and the other a sharper, higher sound.
Drums: size and tension
A small drum makes a higher sound than a big drum. Tightening the skin increases the tension. The skin vibrates faster and the pitch goes up. Tabla players tune their drums by tightening the straps.
A tabla pair has a small drum (dayan) for high notes and a big drum (bayan) for deep notes. Pressing the skin while playing changes the sound.
Bars of different lengths
A xylophone has bars of different lengths. Short bars vibrate faster and make higher notes. Long bars vibrate slowly and make lower notes.
Metal xylophones are called glockenspiels. In all of them, short bars give high notes and long bars give low notes.
Water bottles
Tap bottles with different amounts of water. When you tap the glass, more water makes the vibrations slower and the note lower.
When you tap the glass, the glass and water vibrate together. More water makes the vibrating part heavier, so it vibrates more slowly.
What I learnt
- I know how size, length and tension change the pitch of percussion instruments.