Instruments

I have a large number of percussion instruments and brought most of them with me to Sweden. On this page you can learn about some instruments and also listen to a few sound samples. Have not finished placing all instruments. If you would like to hear some of them in a performance you could visit the youtube links.

The cajón is a hand drum with a face of wood and is originally from Peru, where this instrument is often to accompany dances like the tondero the zamacueca and the Peruvian waltz. The cajón emerged from poverty. During the long voyage to (South) America there were usually no musical instruments on board, but there were empty wooden boxes. These were used as percussion instruments, which ultimately developed into the cajón.
CD compilation:  on youtube:   Dwaalspoor-Music
Playing live in a drum setup: youTube: Womans Best

The marimba is a large melodic percussion instrument. It is the big brother of the xylophone. The bars are made of Rosewood and has a range up to 5 octaves. The marimba is being used in many types of music. Originaly in South-American folk music, but now also in classical and populair music.The instrument is played with coton/wol wounded mallets. The number of mallets can vary between two and six. I play a Musser 250 Concert Grand of 4.3 octaves (A-C). Youtube link: Querido Amigo (Marimba/Harp)

Serouba drums are the tradional drums of Senegal. Together with the Sabar they form the original family of drums used there. The Serouba (from the south of Senegal) is a family of three drums: the Kutirding, the Kutirbas and the Djaliba (Kiladjang). They are played with the hands and stick like the Sabar (from the North of Senegal). The Kutirbas is the basic drum. The Kutirding (smallest) is for accompaniment. The Djaliba is a long solo drum.
Youtube link: Playing serouba with Paco in Senegal

Dholki a drum from India and Sri-Lanka is a smaller version of the double headed Dholak drums and has tabla-style syahi masala on the little drum head. This instrument is also known as Naal. The smaller head is sewed onto a metal ring, just like the East Asian Janggu or Shime-daiko drums. It gives tension to the scin before it is attached to the drum. The begger head (bass) is often attached in the same way as with the Dholak (on a bamboo ring)

An Irish frame drum: the bodhrán is played with a kind of drumstick with two tips,called 'tipper', 'cipin' or 'beater'. If the bodhrán is played with the right hand, the player can made tone changes with the left hand by holding the hand against the head and move down/upward, or pressing the head.

A darbuka (also darabuka) is a vase drum that is used primarily in the Balkans, the Middle East and elsewhere in the Arab world. The right hand (toward the center) hits the heavy beat, 'dum' and accent the 'tek' on the edge of the head. The left-hand rhythm is used to fill (usually with additional 'teks).
Youtube link: Sound sample





The origin of the congas can be found in the Congolese Makuta drum. This was carried by slaves to Cuba and eventually became important in Cuban music. After 1930, the conga drum was discovered by New York jazz orchestras, and the instrument became gradually established in Western music. Playing is done mainly with the hands and fingers. Youtube link: Sound sample

Bongo's are small hand played drums hold together by a wooden "bridge". They usualy have a 7 and 8,5 inch diameter and can be made of wood or fibraglas. Wood gives a more warm natural full sound, while fibreglas makes a brighter and more powerfull sound.
Youtube link: Sound sample

The ocean drum is a thin double headed drum filled with seeds or metal beads. By moving the drum gentle in a sort of circulair movement it produces a sound that imitates the waves rolling to the beach. The sound is hypnotising and the instrument is very populair at spiritual sessions or yoga. Youtube link: Sound sample

The Madga instrument has its origin in India. It is made of clay with a iron powder and is very thin and light in weight. You play the Madga with your hands and use the opening. You can also use the body for tapping rhythmically with your fingers. It is tuned in a specific tone
Youtube link: Sound sample

The Udu originally comes from Africa. Actually being a water jug with an additional hole, it was played by Igbo women for ceremonial uses. Usually the udu is made of clay. The instrument is played by hand. The player produces a bass sound by quickly hitting the big hole.There are many ways that the pitches can be changed, depending on how the hand above the small upper hole is positioned. Furthermore, the whole corpus can be played by fingers. Today it is widely used by percussionists in different music styles.

A snare drum or side drum is a percussion instrument that produces a sharp staccato sound when the head is struck with a drum stick, due to the use of a series of stiff wires held under tension against the lower skin. Snare drums are often used in orchestras, concert bands, marching bands, and more. It is one of the central pieces in a drum set, a collection of percussion instruments designed to be played by a seated drummer, which is used in many genres of music. Snare drums are usually played with drum sticks, but other beaters such as the brush or the rute can be used to achieve very different sounds.

The drumset is combi of different drums and cymbals. A basic set consists of Snare drum, Bassdrum, Toms, Hi-hat, Ride Cymbal and Crash cymbal
In earlier days it took more then two persons to play bass, snare and cymbals. Now one drummer plays them with hands and feet.
Youtube link: Sound sample


Of course I have a lot of little percussion instruments like tambourin, triangle, castagnets, claves, windchimes, bells, etc. Youtube links: Playing on stage in Hoorn or RayCharles concert 2013
Maybe I will place some info about those later but for now I hope you have a idea of the instruments I play.