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agogô
Brazil, Nigeria, Benin, Togo a percussion instrument with two or more conical metal bells of different sizes connected by a U-shaped handle, which is struck with a wooden stick, used in samba, capoeira, and Candomblé religious practices.
aluphone
Worldwide (Western Classical/Experimental) a set of tuned, aluminum bells played with mallets mounted on a frame, used in drum corps, experimental music, orchestral music, film scores, and percussion ensembles.
amadinda
Uganda a large, resonant xylophone made of twelve wooden keys suspended over a pit or banana trunks, played by three musicians using complex interlocking rhythmic patterns, used in royal court music, dances, and ceremonies.
anvil
Worldwide (Western Classical Music) a heavy unpitched metal block struck with a hammer, used in opera, musical theater, orchestral, industrial, and experimental music, often representing the sounds of a blacksmith or "manual labor"
atarigane
Japan a small hand-held brass gong struck with a mallet, used to mark rhythmic accents and cues in theatrical music, traditional Japanese music (min'yō), and festival music (Edo Bayashi).
balafon
Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, Chad, Gabon a gourd-resonated xylophone with wooden keys suspended over calabash gourds, used as a central instrument for griots (hereditary storytellers) in traditional West African folk music and ceremonies.
bell tree
Worldwide (Western Classical, Jazz) a vertical percussion instrument with a series of small, tuned metal bells, used in orchestral, film scores, theatrical music, and jazz.
bianqing
China a set of L-shaped, tuned stone chimes suspended in a wooden frame and struck with a mallet, used in ancient ritual music, court ceremonies, and religious services.
bianzhong
China a set of tuned bronze bells suspended in a wooden frame and struck with a mallet, used in ritualistic court music, state ceremonies, and large-scale cultural performances.
bonang
Indonesia, Malaysia a set of tuned, metal gongs small bronze kettles or pots resting on strings within a wooden frame and struck with padded mallets, used in gamelan ensembles for dance, theater, and royal ceremonies.
cajon
Peru, Cuba, Worldwide (popular music) a box-shaped percussion instrument played by sitting on top and striking its front surface with the hands, used in flamenco, Afro-Peruvian (originally developed by enslaved Africans in colonial Peru), and contemporary acoustic music, and world fusion.
calung
Indonesia, Malaysia a xylophone-like percussion instrument made of bamboo tubes struck with a wooden mallet, used in village festivities, harvest celebrations, and Sundanese folk theater.
canang
Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei a percussion instrument with small, knobbed gongs (usually in pairs) suspended in a wooden frame, used in Wayang Kulit (shadow puppetry), Dikir Barat performances, and festive ceremonies.
carillon
Belgium, Netherlands, France, Germany, United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada a massive keyboard instrument housed in a church tower or belfry, with at least 23 bronze bells that are fixed in place, with internal clappers connected to a wooden keyboard (baton console) by a system of wires and levers, used to play intricate melodies, complex harmonies, and public outdoor concerts.
castanets
Spain, Andorra, Gibraltar, Wordwide (Western Classical) a pair of concave shells made of hardwood joined by a string that produces a sharp, rhythmic clicking when struck together, used in flamenco, classical Spanish ballet (Escuela Bolera), and orchestral "Spanish-style" compositions.
celesta
Worldwide (Western Classical, Jazz) a keyboard percussion instrument with metal plates suspended over a wooden resonator struck by hammers when a key is pressed, used in classical orchestral, chamber, and ballet music.
ceng ceng
Indonesia (Bali) small, hand-held cymbals mounted on a frame, used in balinese gamelan ensembles, cremation processions (ngaben), and temple festivals.
ching
Thailand, Cambodia, Laos a pair of small, thick, bowl-shaped finger cymbals made of bronze or brass connected by a thin cord, they serve as the "timekeeper" for classical ensembles in Thai and Cambodian court music, theater performances, and traditional ceremonies..
claves
Cuba, Worldwide (Popular Music) a pair of wooden sticks struck together to produce a sharp, penetrating sound, used in Latin and Afro-Cuban music, and popular music genres.
cloud-chamber bowls
United States, Germany, Netherlands a microtonal percussion instrument with large, suspended glass resonators made from salvaged carboys that produce a bell tone when struck with mallets, used in avant-garde and experimental musical compositions.
cowbell
United States, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Brazil, West Africa a handheld or mounted metal idiophone that provides sharp rhythmic accents, used in Latin, funk, rock, and marching band music.
crash cymbals
Worldwide (Western Classical) paired metal percussion instruments struck together to produce a loud, shimmering accent, used in orchestral, marching, and contemporary music.
crotales
Worldwide (Western Classical) small, tuned metal discs that produce a bright, bell-like tone, used in orchestral, film, and contemporary ensemble music.
dan da
Vietnam an ancient lithophone with a set of stone slabs aligned like a xylophone and struck with mallets, used in ceremonial performances, traditional folk music, and modern orchestral arrangements.
dulcitone
Scotland, United Kingdom, Italy a rare keyboard instrument that produces a soft, bell-like chime by striking a series of graduated steel tuning forks with felt hammers, used in intimate parlor music and specialized orchestral performances, chamber music, practice, and home music-making.
ekwe
Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea a wooden slit drum carved from a hollowed-out log with one or two rectangular openings, used in long-distance communication, announcing community events, and traditional dance and ceremonies.
Ferrinho
Cape Verde a percussion instrument with a notched metal bar that is scraped with a smaller metal rod or "knife", used in high-energy dance music known as Funaná.
flexatone
United Kingdom, United States, Worldwide (Western Classical) a small percussion instrument with a flexible metal blade and beaters, used for eerie, comical, or supernatural sound effects in orchestral, jazz, and film music.
gankogui
Ghana, Togo, Benin a hand-forged iron double bell played with a wooden stick that serves as the essential rhythmic timekeeper, providing the foundational "timeline" for complex polyrhythmic percussion ensembles and traditional dance.
garamut
Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu a large slit drum carved from a hollowed-out log, used for signaling village announcements, accompanying ritual dances, and traditional ceremonies.
glockenspiel
Worldwide (Western Classical) a set of tuned metal bars arranged like a piano keyboard struck with mallets, used in orchestral, marching band, and ensemble music.
güira
Dominican Republic, Anguilla, Cayman Islands, French Guiana a metal percussion instrument with a textured steel cylinder that is scraped with a multi-tine metal brush, used in Dominican music and dance-oriented genres like merengue and bachata.
Güícharo
Puerto Rico a hollowed-out percussion instrument made from a dried gourd with a series of finely carved parallel grooves along its surface, scraped with a thin metal fork or wire "pua" to make a scraping sound, used in traditional folk and dance music like Danza, Seis, Aguinaldo, and Plena
gyil
Ghana, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Mali a large frame xylophone with wooden slats suspended over calabash gourds, used in funerals, social dances, and complex rhythmic storytelling.
hand pan
Switzerland, United States, Germany, France, Worldwide a convex steel percussion instrument played with the hands, used in ambient, world, and meditative music.
handbells
United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Japan, Canada tuned metal bells rung by hand, each bell sounding a different specific pitch, used in ensemble performances for classical, holiday, and church music.
Il campanone
Vatican City ("The Great Bell") a massive, tuned bronze bell, used as the bell signal for the Vatican, rung only for major ceremonies, deaths of significant leaders, or the election of a new Pope.
ipu
Hawaii, French Polynesia/ Tahiti a percussion instrument made from a large dried gourd that is played by striking with the hand or against a padded mat, used in traditional chants and hula dancing.
jal tarang
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh a melodic percussion instrument consisting of tuned ceramic or metal bowls filled with different amounts of water to create varying pitches, used in Hindustani classical and devotional music. Translates to "waves in water"
karignan
Mali, Guinea, Senegal, Ivory Coast a handheld metal scraper with a notched rod and a sliding ring that produces a sharp, rhythmic rasping sound, used in hunters' music and the songs of the Griot (storyteller).
kelei
Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia a slit-log drum made from a hollowed-out log, cane, or bamboo with lengthwise slits, used for long distance communication, polyrhythmic music and dance, work songs, and royal announcements
kemanak
Indonesia a bronze percussion instrument shaped like a hollow, curved husk or banana that is struck with a mallet and muffled with the hand to produce a rhythmic "clocking" sound, used in ancient court gamelan ensembles.
khong wong
Thailand a melodic percussion instrument with a series of graduated bronze gongs mounted horizontally in a circular rattan frame where the player sits in the center, used in classical court music, Piphat ensembles, and traditional theater ensembles.
kolintang
Indonesia, Philippines a pitched percussion instrument with a row of graduated wooden slats laid horizontally on a wooden rack (like a xylophone or marimba) played with rubber-tipped wooden beaters, used in festive celebrations, traditional dances, and community ensemble performances.
krin
Guinea, Mali, Gambia, Senegal, Ghana a hollowed-out log drum with one or more slits that produces multiple distinct pitches when struck with sticks, used in long-distance communication, West African "ballet" performances, village festivities, secret society rituals, and percussion ensembles.
lali
Fiji,Tonga, Samoa a traditional wooden slit drum carved from a single log, used for community communication, ceremonial music, communal dances, and traditional storytelling performances.
marimba
Guatemala, Mexico, El Salvador, Angola, United States, Japan a pitched percussion instrument with a chromatic arrangement of wooden bars suspended over tuned resonators, used in Guatemalan festivals and holidays, Mexican "Parque de la Marimba" performances, classical concertos, contemporary percussion ensembles, contemporary solo performances, pop/rock music, jazz ensembles, and traditional folk music.
Marimba de arco
Nicaragua, Guatemala, Costa Rica a portable wooden xylophone with gourd resonators, buzzing resonators, and a curved wooden "bow" (the arco) attached to its frame, which allows the performer to sit on the bow and support the instrument’s weight while playing, used in Baile de la Marimba
pate
Cook Islands, Samoa, Tahiti, Niue a slit drum carved from a hollowed wooden log, used in dance performances, uura (traditional drumming ensembles), and long-distance communication.
pū‘ili
Hawaii a percussion instrument made from a length of split bamboo, used in storytelling, hula, and traditional dance movements.
pyeongyeong
South Korea, North Korea a percussion instrument with 16 L-shaped stone chimes suspended in a wooden frame played with a mallet, used in formal court music (Aak) and ancestral rituals.
qraqeb
Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya large, heavy metal castanets held in each hand with two circular plates connected by a thin bar, used in trance-inducing rituals of Gnawa music, Lila healing ceremonies, Diwane musical traditions, and Stambeli music.
ranat ek
Thailand, Cambodia, Laos a melodic percussion instrument with twenty-one or twenty-two wooden bars suspended over a boat-shaped resonator, used in classical court music and traditional piphat ensembles.
ratchet
Germany, France, United Kingdom, United States, Austria, Italy, Worldwide (Western Classical) a percussion instrument with a toothed wheel that strikes one or more flexible wooden tongues as it is rotated, used in orchestral compositions, comedic sound effects, film scores, "town signalling", religious processions, historically connected to British night watchment and football culture, and Alpine folk celebrations.
rindik
Indonesia (Bali) a percussion instrument made of bamboo tubes suspended on a wooden frame (bamboo xylophone) played with mallets, used in weddings, special gatherings, cultural festivals, ceremonial music, and atmospheric music
sagat
Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria a pair of small, circular brass finger cymbals worn on each hand each hand, used in belly dance performances, Levantine cabaret, and Egyptian folk music, traditional percussion ensembles, and modern fusion music.
spoons
United States, Ireland, Canada, United Kingdom, Falkland Islands a simple percussion instrument consisting of two ordinary spoons clapped together, used in folk music and jug bands.
steel pan
Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bermuda, Turks and Caicos Island a percussion instrument tuned from the bottom of an oil barrel, used in calypso, soca, and steel band ensembles.
t'rung
Vietnam a percussion instrument made from a series of varying length bamboo tubes, suspended horizontally and struck with mallets, used in folk music and ceremonial performances in the Central Highlands.
tam tam
China, Worldwide (western classical) a large, untuned, heavy-rimmed gong made of bronze, used in folk music, orchestral classical music, opera, and film scores.
temple blocks
China, Worldwide (Western Classical) a set of tuned, hollow wooden blocks played with mallets, used in orchestral classical music, percussion ensembles, film scores.
teponaztli
Mexico, Guatamala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras a type of slit drum carved from a hollowed-out wooden log with H-shaped tongues that produce two different pitches, used in ritual dances, poetry recitations, and military communication.
Ti-Bwa
French Guiana, Martinique a percussion instrument with a horizontal piece of bamboo or wood mounted on a stand, used in Bèlè music
timbila
Mozambique a large type of xylophone-style instrument with 15 to 22 wooden slats (keys) suspended over calibrated gourd resonators, played by two to four musicians, used in traditional Chopi dances and ceremonies.
tingsha
Tibet, Nepal, India, Bhutan a pair of small, thick bronze cymbals connected by a leather strap, used to mark the beginning or end of periods of meditation and Buddhist ritual chanting.
to'ere
French Polynesia/ Tahiti a log drum made from a single piece of dense hardwood with a narrow lengthwise slit, used to accompany Tahitian dancers.
tongue drum
Switzerland, Worldwide (Popular Music) a modern percussion instrument made of a hollow, spherical steel shell with radiating slits cut into the surface and tuned to specific notes, played with the fingers or mallets, used in sound healing, meditation music, and ambient folk music.
triangle
Worldwide (Western Classical) a bar of metal, usually steel, bent into a triangular shape left open at one corner, suspended and struck with a metal beater, used in orchestral classical music, opera, and wind ensembles.
tubular bells
Worldwide (Western Classical) a set of tuned, long, cylindrical metal tubes hung vertically in a frame and struck near the top edge with a rawhide hammer, used in orchestral classical music, opera, and film scores.
txalaparta
Spain (Basque Country), France (Northern Basque Country) a set of horizontal wooden boards or planks supported on trestles or baskets (often resting on husks of corn or dried leaves), played by two performers who strike the boards rhythmically with thick wooden sticks, used in Basque folk music and festive gatherings.
udu
Nigeria a large clay pot with two holes (a main opening and a side hole), which produces a deep, resonant, water-like bass sound when the larger opening is quickly struck with the palm, used in ceremonial music and world fusion music.
vest frottoir
United States (also called "washboard") a ribbed, metal percussion instrument worn over the shoulders like a vest, played by scraping across the metal surface with spoons, bottle openers, or other implements, used in Cajun and Zydeco music, old time music, and jug bands.
vibraphone
United States, Worldwide (Western Classical, Jazz, Popular Music) a large, keyboard-like percussion instrument with metal bars (similar to a xylophone) with a pedal to sustain the tone and electrically powered rotating discs (or fans) inside the resonator tubes to create an oscillating vibrato effect, used in jazz, lounge music, and contemporary classical music.
vibraslap
United States a wire handle connecting a wooden ball to a metal box containing loose metal tines, played by striking the ball against the palm, used in concert bands, contemporary art music, Latin jazz and rock music.
vibratone
United States, worldwide a tubular aluminum percussion instrument struck with a mallet and has a sound hole that can be covered and uncovered to produce varied tones, used in sound design, experimental music, and music education.
xylophone
Worldwide (Western Classical) a set of wooden bars arranged like a piano keyboard and struck with hard mallets, used in orchestral classical music, contemporary music, and music education.