What are some common percussion instruments?

Common percussion instruments include bass drums, cymbals, triangles, tambourines and glockenspiels. Musical instruments in this category produce sound through striking, scraping or shaking them, and they add rhythmic support and drama to music.

Percussion instruments can be categorized as idiophones or mebranophones. Idiophones use vibrations within their bodies to create sound, such as bells, clappers and rattles. Membranophones use vibrations of a stretched membrane, such as drums. Drums are perhaps the most popular percussion instrument, and they can be further categorized into bass drums, floor toms, mounted toms and snare drums. Although these drums are common in the United States, congo drums and other drums are popular in other parts of the world.