Essential Percussion Products

Here are suggestions for some of our favorite and essential PERCUSSION PRODUCTS that you would need for your school. It is divided by grade level according to what is commonly needed for most repertoire. Items listed are my favorite “tried and true” brands and models, a "What Would Bob Buy?" list, if you will. I would recommend always buying the best you can, but of course spend as your budget allows.

Steve Weiss Music also supplies customers with a really great list called “Back of the Band Room Buying Guide”. Take a look at it, highly recommended! 

Click either of the Download File links for a PDF or Microsoft Word version of this page. Note: The Word document has live links to products, the PDF version does not.
favorite_percussion_products.pdf
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Download File
suggested_instruments.docx
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File Type: docx
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Elementary School 

Percussion Instruments:  
Accessory Instruments:  
Sticks/Mallets:  
Middle School
This list is in addition to the list above.  An asterisk sign (*) = Instead of item previously listed above.

Percussion Instruments:      
Accessory Instruments:  
Sticks/Mallets:  
High School
This list is in addition to the lists above. An asterisk sign (*) = Instead of item previously listed above.

Percussion Instruments:
​Accessory Instruments:  
Sticks/Mallets:
Essential Orchestra Percussion
Percussion Instruments:
​UNDER CONSTRUCTION - MORE TO COME!
Marching Percussion
Battery Percussion:
Battery Percussion Sticks/Mallets: ​
Field Mallet Percussion:
​Field Mallet Percussion Sticks/Mallets:
UNDER CONSTRUCTION - MORE TO COME!
  • Bells
  • Xylophone
  • Marimba
  • Vibraphone
  • Timpani
Miscellaneous Percussion Essentials
Sticks & Mallets - Bob's Picks of the Sticks!
​
Drum Set Sticks:    
Drum set brushes:
​Drum set bundle sticks:
Concert Snare Drum Sticks:
Multi-application sticks/mallets
Timbale Sticks
Concert bass drum mallets:
​Bell mallets:
Xylophone mallets:      
Vibraphone mallets:      
Marimba Mallets:
Timpani Mallets:
​Other Mallets:
Drum Heads
​UNDER CONSTRUCTION - MORE TO COME!
Drum Set Heads

Concert Bass Drum Heads

Timpani Heads
​
​Marching Heads
Cymbals
​People always ask me, "What cymbals should I get?", and since cymbals are the most personal of any percussion product, there is no short or easy answer to that. There are so many choices in brands, types, sizes, and timbres, the combinations are  endless. And remember this... There are no two cymbals that sound the same, even if they are labeled as the exact same product. With almost all cymbals being made my hand, every cymbal is truly one-of-a-kind. 

I almost always buy cymbals in person, playing each cymbal before I buy it. If I do buy a cymbal online, there is usually a recording of the exact cymbal available to hear. I have lucked out with a few cymbals that I have purchased online without hearing them in person. but even some of those have moved on. In my opinion, the best place to buy cymbals on line is the Memphis Drum Shop because they have YouTube videos of almost every one of their cymbals. The cymbal you see and hear is the exact cymbal you will get in the mail! Please also check out Reverb.com for tons of great used cymbals (and for many other types of instruments.) 

If you cannot try your cymbals in person (or don't trust your own ear), here are some selections of each type of cymbal that I would recommend. This list of "What Would Bob Buy?" cymbals are some of my favorites, and they are tried and true! What I chose are not necessarily  "the best", and they are certainly not the only options, but they are really good options!

NOTE: In each category, these are all very different sounding cymbals. My goal was to give you a nice variety of colors, from several reputable brands. Find the best cymbals that work for your application, be it rock, jazz, funk, hip-hop. etc...

Quote from Adam Tuminaro  "One piece of cymbal advice, take your time and only purchase the cymbals that you are absolutely in love with."

High Hat:
Ride: 
​Crash:​
Splash:
China/Effects:
Cymbal Packs:​
"Silent" Practice Cymbals:
​Orchestral Suspended Cymbals:  
Orchestral Crash Cymbals:
Marching Crash Cymbals: