The Secret to Drumming on Anything (Even Your Kitchen Counter)

My older brother loved turning our kitchen into a concert hall, banging on pots, pans, plates, glasses, and counters with kitchen knives. It proved a simple truth: Anything that resonates can become a percussion instrument.

Even car fenders, tractors, or farm equipment can deliver satisfying thumps. If it makes a noise when you tap it with your hand, a stick, or another object, it counts as percussion.

For inspiration, check out the hit stage musical STOMP, which creates electrifying rhythms from everyday items like brooms, garbage cans, and matchboxes.

Though it ended its 29-year run in New York City in 2023, tours are still going strong—see upcoming shows at stomponline.com/.

The best part? You can make music with whatever’s on hand. Let’s start in the kitchen.

Kitchen Music Basics
Grab a pot or pan and try tapping it with your hand. Pick one with a pleasing tone—the bottom usually sounds richest.

Discover Different Tones

Experiment by striking various spots on the pan with your hand, a kitchen knife, or a stick. Notice how the tones change? That’s the magic of percussion—subtle shifts create endless variety.

Building Rhythm

Vary your sounds by changing the spacing between hits. Most music uses four beats per measure. Start with even taps, counting to four:

1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4

Each tap is a quarter note. For faster rhythms, double up with eighth notes. Count them as “1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and” (or use “+” for “and”):

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Create patterns by skipping some “ands”:

1 2 3 + 4 | 1 2 3 + 4

Adding Flair with Accents

A musician friend once noticed something unique in my drumming but couldn’t pinpoint it. Years later, I realized it was my natural use of accents—varying how hard I strike each note. Louder hits emphasize the melody or riff.

Try it with steady eighth notes:

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Now, play a familiar tune like “Jingle Bells” by accenting certain beats (make them bolder in your mind):

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Your Unique Style and Touch

Just like guitar legends Jimi Hendrix or Carlos Santana, who could make any instrument sing in their signature way, your rhythm, accents, and touch define your sound. (We’ll explore this more when you try it on a piano keyboard later.)

Peanut Butter Jar: Your Portable Percussion Tool

If banging on pots draws complaints, grab an empty plastic jar with a lid. It’s perfect for practicing rhythms, experimenting with pressure, and testing strike spots.

Add rice or candy sprinkles inside for a shaker effect. Shake, tap, and groove—endless fun!

Have a blast exploring the music hidden in simple items.

Greg Dixon, Your Fun Music Enabler
Playing Music for Fun

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