Which playing methods besides striking are used for percussion instruments?

While percussion instruments are most commonly associated with being struck, they are defined by a wide variety of playing techniques that allow for diverse tonal effects. Beyond striking, percussion instruments are frequently played using the following methods:

• Shaking: This is the primary method for sounding rattles, which may be handheld or attached to the body to produce sound during movement.123
• Scraping: Instruments such as scrapers feature serrated surfaces that are rasped with a stick. This category includes the guiro and the cog rattle (or ratchet).143
• Rubbing or Friction: Many instruments are played by rubbing surfaces together or using external tools. For example, cymbals may be rubbed in a circular motion, and instruments can be set into vibration by drawing a violin or cello bow across them.52
• Plucking: Certain percussion instruments can be sounded by plucking, a technique that expands the range of textures available to the performer.2

In modern and experimental music, composers often employ unconventional techniques, such as flicking jingles, brushing surfaces, or even submerging instruments in water to alter their resonance.5