What Piano Players Should Know About Percussion Instruments

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Percussion instruments include the snare drum (and all drums in general), cymbals, tympanis (sometimes called kettle drums as they are shaped as such), and exotic instruments such as the guiro, claves, and maracas. These instruments, and the way they are played, go a long way in determining the feel and style of the music. Where a rock band might have a set of drums (snare drum, bass drum, cymbals), Latin musicians used a number of different instruments to create music.

Though most don't think of it in this way, the piano is a percussion instrument. The tones are made by hammers striking strings, causing them to vibrate. Seeing the inner workings of a piano, and how forcefully the hammers hit the strings, shows why it is considered a percussion instrument.

Music written for a percussionist is quite different than for the pianist. Percussion notation is divided into two types: pitched and non-pitched, the difference being the instruments used. For example, drums (which can be tuned) and cymbals (which cannot).

The notation for pitched percussion is similar to piano music in that notes are placed on the various places on a staff. And similar symbols are used to show volume and attack.

The notation for non-pitched percussion instruments is less formal. A clef with two vertical lines is often used and it appears on a five-line staff similar to piano music. But some percussionist use their own way of noting which instrument is played and when.

Drum tablature (drum tab), used for a drum set (bass drum, snare, hi hat, cymbals, toms) uses the following symbols: CC: Crash Cymbal, HH: Hi-Hat, Rd: Ride-Cymbal, SN: Snare-drum, LT: Low-Tom, HT: High-Tom, FT: Floor-Tom, B: Bass-Drum, Hf: Hi-Hat-w/foot. This tablature can become quite complex as four or more instruments are often played at the same time.

Outside of orchestral and band music, most percussionists do not use any kind of tablature or notation. What they play is entirely up to them and at their discretion (and drawing entirely on their own techniques). However, most strive to create a style and sound that works well with the music, and the musicians they are playing with. And there are definite rules as to when certain percussion instruments are used. A rock drummer may play with a lot of force and intensity, where a jazz drummer plays with more touch and finesse. The best percussionists (drummers) can play a wide variety of music and styles.

For the pianist to play effectively with a percussionist, they have to be able to break down each measure into quarter note (beats), eighth notes, sixteenth notes, even thirty-second beats to be able to communicate with the percussionist. The pianist also needs to understand how and when different percussion instruments are used and for what style of music.

The biggest challenge, of course, is for the pianist to play accurately and precisely. Some pianists may have never worked with a percussionist and may not be capable of playing with the precision required. That being said, working with a percussionist can be a great training tool.