Pitched percussion instruments easily mistaken for unpitched

Pitched percussion instruments are musical instruments that make sounds of different pitches or tones. The pitch is how high or low a sound is. Some examples of pitched percussion instruments are xylophones, marimbas, and timpani.

Now, sometimes these instruments can be mistaken for unpitched percussion instruments. Unpitched percussion instruments are the ones that make sounds of the same pitch or tone. They are used to create rhythm and texture in music. Some examples of unpitched percussion instruments are drums, cymbals, and tambourines.

What makes it confusing is that some pitched percussion instruments can also make sounds of the same pitch or tone repeatedly. However, those sounds still have a pitch and are not considered unpitched.

To tell the difference between the two, a quick way is to see if the instrument has specific notes. Instruments that have specific notes, like a piano, are pitched, while instruments that don't, like a snare drum, are unpitched.

So, even though some pitched percussion instruments may sound similar to unpitched ones, they are still different because they have specific pitches that can make melodies and harmonies in music.