Percussion Instruments
Everything published on Viyolens under Percussion Instruments — reviews, buying advice and how-tos written for players and producers in the UK.
Everything You Need to Know About Steel Band Drums
From a battered oil drum to a chromatic orchestral instrument — here's how steel band drums are built, tuned and played, and where the whole tradition began.
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.
Steel Band Drums: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Buying a steelpan comes down to trusting your ears over the spec sheet — here's exactly what to check before you spend a penny.
The Best Steel Band Drums for the Money
There's no single "best" steelpan — only the right tier for what you're actually doing. Here's how the market breaks down.
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.
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.
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.
The Best Marimbas for the Money
There's no single "best" marimba, only the right tier for your budget and your playing. Here's how the market actually breaks down.
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.
Steel Band Drums for Beginners: A Complete Guide
It looks like a strange, dented drum from the outside. Give it a fortnight and steel band drums start to feel like the friendliest instrument in the room.
