Look For These Percussion Instruments At Your Local Music Store

When many people think about percussion instruments, they picture a standard drum kit similar to what musicians in pop and rock bands play. Your local musical instrument store carries a wide range of drum kits, but it likely has a number of other percussion instruments, too. If you perhaps don't have enough space in your home for a standard drum kit, but you're still interested in learning to play a percussion instrument, consider a visit to the store. Once there, you may find these different types of instruments available to buy.

Bongo Drums

Bongo drums are a popular type of percussion instrument that many music stores carry. This instrument consists of two drums that are attached to one another, and one drum is slightly larger than the other. Unlike a standard drum kit, you don't use drum sticks for bongo drums — instead, you use your hands. Bongo drums are central to Caribbean music, so if you're interested in this musical genre, this can be a good type of instrument to buy. People play bongo drums in various ways. Some people hold the drums between their legs while they're seated, while others rest the drums on the floor or on a table in front of them.

Cajon

Another type of percussion instrument that you'll find at your local music store is a cajon. This instrument is square and typically looks like a wooden box. People usually play their cajons by sitting on them and using their hands to hit the sides of the instrument. While you can play your cajon on its own, this is an instrument that pairs well with other instruments. For example, if you have a friend who plays the acoustic guitar, you might think about playing together. At coffee shops and other venues where live acoustic music is common, musicians will often play the cajon because it isn't as loud as some other drums.

Gong

You may also come across various gongs at your local musical instrument store. This is a percussion instrument that is slightly different than the above two examples, as you don't typically hit a gong repeatedly. Instead, it's more common to hit the gong and then let it ring out for several seconds. People use gongs for various reasons. For example, if you practice yoga, you might like the idea of hitting the gong once at the start of the session and again at the end. To hit a gong, you'll need a mallet — something else that you can buy at the store.