the.com/percussion
the only instrument family you play by hitting things and somehow it's allowed.
means The striking of one thing against another to make sound or force, especially the family of musical instruments played by hitting, shaking, or scraping them.
from From Latin 'percussio,' a striking or beating, built from 'per-' (thoroughly) plus 'quatere' (to shake or strike) — the same 'quatere' that gives us 'concussion' (a striking-together) and 'discuss' (originally to shake apart, then to talk a thing to pieces). So percussion, concussion, and discussion are all blood relatives of hitting.
oldest instrumentDrums predate writing by tens of thousands of years.
medical termDoctors tap your chest to hear organs underneath.
firearm originPercussion caps detonate by impact, not spark.
largest sectionOne player may juggle dozens of instruments per piece.
body countsClapping and stomping are legitimate percussion techniques.