Idiophones

• Idiophone


  Class of musical instruments in which a resonant solid material such as wood, metal or stone vibrates to produce the initial sound
• Seven basic types of idiophones

  • Concussion
  • Friction
  • Percussion
  • Plucked
  • Scraped
  • Shaken
  • Stamping
• Concussion Instruments


  • Comprised of two objects that are struck together to create sound
  • Most have no discernible pitch e.g. claves, slapstick, castanets and cymbals
• Friction Idiophones


  • Comprised of two objects that are rubbed together to create friction that produce sound
  • Often used as solo instruments e.g. musical glasses, glass harmonica and musical saw
• Percussion Idiophones


  • Comprised of an object that is caused to vibrate by striking it with a non-vibrating object (mallet, hammer or stick) to produce sound
  • May or may not have discernible pitch
  • Often contain multiple tuned vibrating objects to allow the instrument to play melody and chords e.g. keyboard percussion, gongs, celeste, orchestra bells, chimes, temple blocks, woodblock and steelpan
• Plucked Idiophones


  • Comprised of a flexible tongue or bar that is plucked to vibrate
  • Most are used as solo instruments e.g. music box, dulcimer, piano, and bell
• Scraped Idiophones


  • Produce sound by scraping the surface with a stick or a non-vibrating object
  • Have no discernible pitch
  • Typically used for rhythmic interest or as the main rhythm instrument e.g. guiro, clave and washboard
• Shaken Idiophones


  • Comprised of objects that produce sound by shaking or rattling the instrument and small particles contained within the instrument jingle
  • Have no discernible pitch
  • Typically used for rhythmic interest e.g. maracas and sleigh bells
• Stamping Idiophones


  • Comprised of instruments that produce sound by stamping or striking a hard surface with an object to cause the surface to vibrate
  • The vibrating surface has no discernible pitch
  • Typically used for rhythmic interest e.g. stamping pit, marching machine