There are two types of acoustic percussion. It can be percussion played on real musical instruments that physically make a sound, or it can be the act of lightly thumping on an acoustic guitar to create percussive patterns. Virtual or digital percussion, on the other hand, consists of a collection of electronically synthesized drum sounds that are either programmed into a percussion sequence or played live on an electronic percussion pad. Drums, cymbals, and other auxiliary percussion instruments that produce an organic sound from the instrument’s body are examples of acoustic percussion instruments.
Acoustic percussion instruments come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and include any drum or percussion accessory used in a musical piece’s percussive section. They can be wood blocks, marimbas, or chime trees, or they can be bass drums, snare drums, and timpani drums. At a live show, determining whether the percussion sounds come from a musical instrument or an electronic device is an easy way to tell the difference between acoustic and virtual percussion. Acoustic percussion is when the sound comes from a drum or other percussion instrument. Digital percussion is sound that comes from a computer or other electronic sound device.
Acoustic percussion is most commonly used by rock, jazz, and classical music groups in live performances. Acoustic percussion is what a drummer does when he plays a set of drums and cymbals at a band concert. Digital or electronic percussion is when a percussionist uses a drum machine to create percussive sounds.
Many pop artists rely on virtual percussion options such as drum machine programmed beats for both recording and live music, with only a live drummer providing accents on a few, if any, of their songs. While electronic drums do not make mistakes, they are powerless in the absence of electricity and amplification. They can be difficult for a beginner to program well, and they’re prone to human error when it comes to programming beat patterns. Acoustic percussion has other advantages over programmed percussion, such as a more organic, less robotic sound to the beats.
A percussive beat made by tapping the hollow body of an acoustic guitar is the other type of acoustic percussion. This results in a thump with a diffuse and warm timbre. Many guitarists who play acoustic guitars tap the guitar to establish the beat or add a drum sound to an otherwise a capella song. The sound can be produced by tapping the guitar’s body while in playing position or by laying the guitar flat against the lap. Drumming must be done with care so as not to damage the guitar.