BEGINNER’S

VOCAL PERCUSSION
Harmony University 2018
handout

“Keep it in the pocket”

What is Vocal Percussion?

Vocal Percussion is a musical performance, vocally emulating a drum set in music, that combines two
elements. The first is much more important than the second, even though the second may seem…cooler

The Groove
• A combination of rhythm and tempo
• A pattern of sounds repeated in time
The Sounds
• Vocal percussion sounds are misleadingly cool
• Less important than the groove

The Groove

A groove is any pattern sounds repeated in time.

• A pattern can be simple or more complex

• In modern popular music the repetition is usually periodic
• “In time” – refers both to being locked into tempo and also appropriate for the rhythms and
overall feel of the song.

• Practice with a click track or metronome

• Listen to, and percuss along with, grooves used in various songs and styles.
o Not just a cappella recordings, but also real instrumental drumming.
• A common groove in modern pop, rock, hip hop, and rap is a 4/4 meter with a sound on every
beat alternating low, higher, and high sounds.

Ex1. 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + and so on

highest highest highest highest

higher higher

lowest lowest

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BEGINNER’S VOCAL PERCUSSION
Harmony University 2018
handout

The Sounds
The human vocal apparatus, with all of its parts is capable of producing a huge range of sounds, many
more than are used in any single language.

In general, vocal percussion depends on consonants, which are often already percussive in nature.

Common sounds (guidelines):

kick drum /b/, /dm/, /dmp/ if vocalize, pitched relatively lower
tom /dv/, /gv/, /kv/ of vocalized, pitched relatively higher
snare /pf/, (/^pif/) where a ‘tight’ /f/ becomes syllabic
rim shot /k/, /ki/, /kin/, /^k/ nasalized, pitched relatively higher
hi-hat /ts/, /tis/ lighter or heavier as needed
crash cymbal /tsh/, /ksh/, /psh/ lighter or heavier as needed
wood block [alveolar or palatal or lateral…tap]
scratch ‘flanged melismata’; air-stream modulated by hand / fingers
lip buzz ‘bilabial continuant’ (raspberry, no tongue?)

So, then, what is beatboxing?
Beatboxing is a more soloistic style, often emulating the more electronic sounds of club music, dub step,
etc. These sounds are often inappropriate for a groove but can be used for fillers temporary texture
changes.

Check out: www.acappella.how > Beat Box/Vocal Percussion (left menu) for tutorial videos

Experiment and have fun!!

Drew Wheaton
Forefront, Tenor
Louisville, Kentucky Chapter, Thoroughbreds, Musical Director
Drew Wheaton Music, owner and artist
Louisville, KY
Cell: (502) 380-7572
Email: drew@drewwheaton.com