eBay Guides - Hand Percussion Instruments Buying Guide
Skip to main content


 Reviews & Guides


Hand Percussion Instruments Buying Guide


Spice up your rhythm section with hand percussion instruments. Whether you're joining a salsa band, jamming with your friends in the local park, or playing in the school band, you'll find everything you need to keep the beat on eBay Canada.

Discover Hand Percussion Instruments


Discover Hand Percussion Instruments

In the percussion family, there are three main instrument categories: tuned percussion, untuned percussion, and auxiliary percussion. There are many types of instruments within each of these groups, each with a sound of its own and a distinct value depending on the music you plan to play.

Make sure you're familiar with the tone and common usage of these instruments before you make a choice, but don’t let traditional usages stop you from finding your own unique take on the instrument.

Tuned percussion

Percussion instruments are akin to pianos (which are technically percussion), whose keys are played by hand with mallets. Popular brands include Ludwig, Pearl, and Vic Firth.

  • Xylophone: A xylophone has a series of wooden bars of varying size set up like a piano’s keys and mounted on a stand. When struck with a mallet, they create tones of differing pitch. A xylophone is related to the marimba, but its range is an octave higher and the notes less resonant.

  • Vibraphone: A jazz instrument, also called the vibes, that is much like the marimba and xylophone, but with metal keys, resonators, and a sustain pedal much like that of a piano. It started out being played with two mallets, but many modern vibes players use four.

  • Marimba: The marimba, a relative of the xylophone used primarily in Latin music, features a lower range and more sustain, due to metal tubes of varying lengths that extend below the keys, called resonators.

Untuned percussion

A large and varied category of instruments, ranging from the components of rock ‘n roll toms and cymbals to the conveniently portable and mellow bongo favoured by your garden-variety hippie. Here are a few types:

  • Tom-toms: Also known as toms, tom-toms are a part of the modern rock ‘n roll drum kit like the snare, but don’t have a snare stretched across the bottom. They can either hang from the kit or sit on a stand on the floor, and vary in depth and diameter. The most common combination found in drum kits is two hanging toms (9 inches deep x 12 inches diameter and 10 inches deep x 13 inches diameter), along with a 16-inch x16-inch floor tom.

  • Cymbals: Cymbals are round, thin sheets of metal that may be suspended from a stand. The two main types of cymbals are the suspended cymbal, which are usually found in drum kits and in classical orchestras, and the hi-hat, which consists of two cymbals with the concave ends facing each other, that can be brought together using a foot pedal, or played with a brush or drum stick. Tiny cymbals, called finger cymbals, can be used as an auxiliary percussion instrument. Popular cymbal brands include Zildjian and Yamaha.

  • Congas: A conga is a tall drum that features a single head made of cowhide, and is often used in jazz or salsa music. It is played using the fingers and palms.

  • Djembe or African drums: A djembe is traditionally a large drum with a single goatskin head that is shaped like an hourglass. Played with the finger and palms like a conga, the djembe produces a deeper tone if struck near the centre, and a higher-pitched or slap tone near the outer edges.

  • BongosBongos are a pair of smaller, higher-pitched single-head drums of slightly different sizes attached to each other. Like congas, bongos are played with the fingers.

Auxiliary percussion

Auxiliary percussion instruments are often used to accent existing percussion and are usually very portable and easy to switch up quickly. Popular brands of auxiliary percussion instruments are Latin Percussion, Hohner, and Rhythm Tech.

  • Tambourine: A tambourine is a small, shallow single-head drum that has cymbal-like metal disks built into its side. Tambourines can be played with the thumb or fingers, and are shaken to produce a jingle sound.

  • Bells: There are several types of bells used in the percussion world, but in general a bell is a hollow, open-ended metal cylinder that is either struck by a stick, or contains a small, suspended metal nodule that creates a ringing sound when the bell is shaken. Variations include the cowbell, handbell, and chimes.

  • Triangles: A triangle is a triangle-shaped metal tube that is struck with a stick in order to create a resonant ring. Its shape allows for a prolonged ringing by rapidly brushing the stick against all three interior sides of the triangle.

  • Blocks: Wood blocks and small hollowed-out pieces of wood that, when struck with a stick, create a clacking sound.

  • Shakers: Shakers are small, hollow gourds or plastic shapes that are filled with seeds, beans, or sand to create a distinct sound when shaken. Maracas are one common type of shaker.

  • Claves: Claves are two hardwood sticks, sometimes hollowed out, that when hit one against the other, produce a high-pitched click-clacking sound.

  • Castanets: Castanets are small, shell-shaped pieces of wood that are clapped together, one set in each hand, to create a beat often to accompany a flamenco dance.

  • Others: Other auxiliary percussion instruments worth mentioning include jingle sticks, cabasas, crasher-stax, and percussion spoons


Back to topBack to top

Evaluate Hand Percussion Instruments


Evaluate Hand Percussion Instruments

Here are some tips for getting a good percussion sound.

Tambourines

  • The key to a good tambourine is the quality of its head. Natural skin is generally suggested, although synthetic materials are also available.

  • A good tambourine should have a solid shell and two rows of jingles (not one), slightly staggered.

  • Don’t skimp on the jingles. High-quality, hand-hammered jingles are almost always better than less expensive tin jingles.

  • Most players will want a standard tambourine measuring 10 inches in diameter, but younger musicians might prefer something a little smaller.

Cymbals

  • Determine what size cymbal is right for you. Younger players should start with smaller cymbals, while the experienced adult can opt for the larger 20-inchers.

  • Most players will benefit from a light- to medium-weight cymbal. Experienced players with specific needs may require a heavy cymbal.

  • If you buy finger cymbals, be aware that generally they should come with straps rather than wooden handles, which can cause cracking in the cymbal.

  • Suspended cymbals should have a good amount of sustain so they can produce a good swelling sound. You should also be sure that the stand doesn’t rattle when the cymbal is hit, and that the cymbal is not in contact with any other metal.

Triangles

  • Contrary to popular belief, not all triangles are created equal. Two important considerations are size and construction. A 6-inch to 9-inch triangle made from steel or bronze will usually suit the needs of most players.

  • Make sure the triangle is suspended from a quality clip and fishing line to get the best sound.

Woodblocks

  • Maple is widely believed to be the best type of wood for wood blocks, and though synthetics are less expensive, they may not have the same tone quality.

  • Experts suggest sticking to a one-sided woodblock rather than its two-toned, two-sided counterpart, and using a rubber mallet rather than a drum stick.

Cowbells

  • If you’re not sure which type of bells are right for you, experts suggest a large, low-pitched bell, called a mambo bell. These are appropriate for most situations.


Back to topBack to top

Get Hand Percussion Instrument Accessories


Get Hand Percussion Instrument Accessories

Once you’ve purchased drums, cymbals, or auxiliary percussion instruments, you’ll need to make sure that you have all the accessories to set up and play your new percussion instruments.

If you purchased a drum kit, check to make sure you have sticks, mallets, or brushes if you’ll need them. Regal Tip and Zildjian are popular brands.

Your kit won’t be complete unless you fill it out with a nice throne, pedal, and drum and cymbal stands. Gibraltar and Ludwig make popular drum and cymbal stands, as well as pedals and thrones.

Other accessories include lugs, clamps, mounts, rims, claws, tension rods, drum heads, and tone dampeners.

Finally, a gig bag will keep your drums safe and clean on the way to shows and rehearsals.


Back to topBack to top

Find Percussion Instruments on eBay


Find Percussion Instruments on eBay

Once you know what type of percussion instrument you want, go to the Musical Instruments portal, click Percussion, and start searching for item listings on eBay.

  • Categories: The Categories list on the left side of each page will help you narrow down your listings by item type. You'll find links for Bells, Cymbals, Drums, and more. As you dig deeper into the site you'll also be able to narrow down your choice by brand.

  • Keyword search: Search eBay listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find a carved Djembe drum, type "Djembe drum carved" (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay's Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.

If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay will email you when a match becomes available.


Back to topBack to top

Buy Hand Percussion Instruments With Confidence


Buy Hand Percussion Instruments With Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

  • Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.

  • If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

  • Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs.

  • Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

  • What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

  • What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

  • Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay and PayPal are there for you.

  • Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to C$1,250.

  • eBay Security & Resolution Centre: Visit the Security & Resolution Centre to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.


Back to topBack to top


 Content Provided By

eBay