How to Design Percussion Instruments
- 1). Determine the basic mechanics of how the instrument will produce sound. A percussion instrument can make sound in many ways, such as striking, shaking, rubbing or even dropping. Study some common categories of percussion instruments to get some ideas, including shakers, drums, pitched percussion and bells.
- 2). Decide on materials to use for the instrument. Look for materials that are sturdy but resonant. In most cases, this means stiff, dry materials like wood, hardened or tightly-strung leather (say, for drum heads), metal with enough thickness and flex to produce a good sound (give it a test tap) and materials that will hold their shape well.
- 3). Figure out how to pitch different portions of the instrument, if it has pitch. In order for a component to have a different pitch than another component, it must be smaller, more tightly strung (in the case of drum heads) or both. Larger components will have a deeper pitch.
- 4). Design components to strike the instrument, if required. In general, strikers should be no harder than the instrument with which they will make contact. Good material for a striker can range in hardness from metal tips to tightly wound balls of yarn, but should generally be dense. Experimentation is usually the best method of finding a good striking material; devote ample time to this process, since the striker is vital to the sound of the instrument.
- 5). Plan handles or another method to grasp the instrument. If the instrument is hand-held, such as a shaker, or held in mid-air and struck (like a triangle), come up with a good way for the player to hold it that's comfortable, but does not interfere with the instrument's vibration. You can attach a cord to instruments that are struck in mid-air. For thicker handles, such as those for shakers, ensure that the handle makes minimal contact with the area where the sound is produced.
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