How to Properly Hold and Use Percussion Instruments

Learn to hold percussion instruments the right way by practicing with various instruments in a practice space, recognizing right and wrong techniques, and using imaginary play if you lack instruments.

Master a wrist-driven technique for holding any instrument—from egg shakers to violin—so your wrist does the work, keeps arms relaxed, and lets you play longer without fatigue.

Practice drumstick technique by using the wrist to play on various surfaces, keeping a loose grip and alternating left, right strokes for lasting rhythm, even with a pen or pencil.

Learn to play egg shakers by creating DIY shakers, hold them securely, loosen the wrist, and practice five-count rhythms with both hands, keeping arms close to the body for control.

Learn proper maraca technique with a relaxed, secure grip held close to the body for control. Practice rhythms and counts to develop fluid motion and confident playing.

Master tambourine technique by holding it center or side, using one or two hands for varied sounds, and keeping the instrument close to the body for fast, moving rhythms.

Learn cowbell technique by holding the instrument with the fingers, keeping minimal wrist movement, and using small back-and-forth shakes or a stick to maintain rhythm like a metronome.

Learn cabasa technique by holding the mallet and swiveling the wrist, using weight-like motions and twists as if opening a jar, with body-held and microphone-style options.

Learn to hold and play the bongo, an African percussion instrument, with hands or drumsticks, exploring varied tones, sizes, and rhythms, including a 'we will rock you' pattern.

Explore different ways to play the bongo using fingertips and thumbs to vary pitch, explore edge hits and rim tones, and create fast triplets and rain-like textures.

Discover how to play the hang drum or handpan by striking the center to produce rich tones in g minor, with meditative sounds, and explore mallets for varied feels.

Learn to play the steel tongue drum with mallets or hands, follow the do re mi sequence, and explore a meditative, expressive percussion practice with no wrong way to play.

Learn to improvise a percussion jam by layering drumbeats created by beatboxing with a microphone and loop station, using drumsticks, shakers, cowbells, tambourines, maracas, and bongos.

Learn to hold percussion instruments correctly and play them with rhythm, using tambourine, maraca, egg shakers, cowbell, and drumsticks. Continue practicing basic beginner level music across this course and others.