Hand Percussion

Thinking about the word "percussion" probably calls to mind some images of drums and cymbals - but the truth is those are only scratching the surface of what percussion can be. It's the oldest family of musical instruments around, which means it's no surprise that it's also one of the most diverse. No category of percussion instruments makes that more obvious than hand percussion: with even a quick look at what this section has to offer, you can easily see as much for yourself. These fun-to-play instruments offer a wide variety of sounds and styles that transcend musical genres and experience levels, so it's easy for anyone to get into the rhythm.

Some of the best-known hand percussion instruments belong to the shaker family, and they have a well-established place in Latin and world music, along with no shortage of cameos in rock and pop. They can be as simple as the Dunlop 2-Pack Egg Shaker or the Toca Hand Painted Maracas, or as intricate as the Meinl Turbo Cabasas, which use a uniquely-designed chamber to ramp up the sound output. Want to add some special effects to your performance? If so, check out some of the best-selling rainmakers, including the Meinl Extra Large Professional Bamboo Rain Stick.

Expanding into other types of handheld percussion opens up the variety even more. You could spice up a recording with the one-of-a-kind sound made by the LP LP243 Super Guiro, or put snappy cymbal clashes at your fingertips (literally) with the Zildjian Finger Cymbal Pair. Take a Latin classic for a spin with the Meinl Finger Castanets Pair, or make the rhythm stand out sharply with the Meinl Classic Wood Claves - all of these represent just a few suggestions, and there's plenty more where those came from!

The bottom line is that hand percussion is one of the most diverse instrument families you'll ever set your eyes (and ears) on, so if you've been looking for a way to inject some flavor into your music, this is the place to start. It's also a great spot for music teachers in need of fun and easy-to-play instruments to help kids learn the basics. No matter how you plan to put hand percussion to use, it's a safe bet that this huge selection will offer the perfect choices to do it.