Everything Viyolens publishes on Drums & Percussion — reviews, buying guides and how-tos written for players and producers in the UK.
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The Ultimate Guide to Instruments Tambourine
From ancient frame drum to folk-rock icon: a complete look at what a tambourine is, how it's built, and where it still turns up today.
The Ultimate Guide to Claves
Two wooden sticks that organise a whole family of music: how to hold and strike claves, the difference between son and rumba clave, and what 3–2 and 2–3 really mean.
Common Instruments Tambourine Mistakes to Avoid
From clamping the frame too tightly to putting the mic too close in the studio, here are the tambourine habits worth fixing early.
How to Set Up and Use Instruments Tambourine
Grip, angle, mounting and sound check — a practical, step-by-step walkthrough for getting a tambourine set up and sounding right.
Tubular Bells: A Complete Buyer's Guide
A big, heavy, specialist instrument deserves a proper buying checklist. Here's what actually matters before you commit to a set — no sales patter.
The Best Tubular Bells for the Money
There's no single best set — there's a right tier for your setting. Here's how to match compact, mid-tier, concert-grade, used or digital to the job.
The Best Pearl Tom Toms for the Money
Export, Masters Maple, Crystal Beat or Masterworks — here's which tier of Pearl tom toms actually suits your playing and your budget.
Instruments Tambourine for Beginners: A Complete Guide
No prior music experience needed — a warm, encouraging guide to your first sessions with a tambourine.
What Is in a Drum Kit? Every Drum and Cymbal Explained
Kick, snare, toms, hi-hats, crash and ride. What each part of a drum kit is for, how kits are counted, and which pieces you can happily do without.
Pearl Tom Toms: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Sizes, shell tiers, mounts and heads — the honest, no-hype version of what to check before you buy Pearl tom toms.
Tubular Bells for Beginners: A Complete Guide
A gentle, step-by-step route in for anyone standing in front of a set of tubular bells for the very first time, with no experience assumed.
Common Tubular Bells Mistakes to Avoid
Most tubular bells mistakes come down to physics, not clumsiness. Here's why each one happens and the simple fix, grouped by technique, care and setup.
The Ultimate Guide to Bongos
Two little drums, endless depth. A complete guide to how bongos are built, tuned and played — from the macho and hembra to the martillo and how to choose your first pair.
The Ultimate Guide to Drum Sticks
What the 7A, 5A and 5B codes really mean, why taper and tip matter more than the label, and the two-minute check that stops you buying a dud pair.
Pearl Tom Toms Explained: Features, Types and Tips
Rack and floor sizes, shell materials, bearing edges and Pearl's suspension mounts — here's what actually shapes the sound of a Pearl tom tom, explained plainly.
Pearl Tom Toms for Beginners: A Complete Guide
No jargon panic, no rushing — a calm, encouraging introduction to Pearl tom toms for anyone just starting out.
A Guide to Tubular Bells
Tubular bells make one of the biggest sounds in the percussion section from one of the simplest ideas. Here's what they are, how they're built and where you'll actually hear them.
Instruments Tambourine: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Headed or headless, steel or bronze, mounted or handheld — a clear-headed look at what actually matters when you're choosing a tambourine.
How to Set Up and Use Pearl Tom Toms
Mount it right, angle it right, tune it right — a proper step-by-step process for getting Pearl tom toms sounding the way they should.
Common Pearl Tom Toms Mistakes to Avoid
Most tom problems trace back to setup, not the drum. Here are the mistakes that come up again and again with Pearl tom toms, and how to fix them.
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