Percussive
/pərˈkʌsɪv/adjective
Related to or causing a striking or hitting sound.
The percussive sounds of the drums echoed through the room.
Often appears as...
- percussive effect
- percussive sound
adjective
Involving or producing rapid, hard beats or strokes.
His percussive playing style was perfect for the rock song.
Often appears as...
- percussive dance
- percussive style
adjective
Belonging to the family of musical instruments (such as drums) that make sound when struck or shaken.
He was an expert in playing percussive instruments like drums and xylophone.
Often appears as...
- percussive ensemble
- percussive instrument
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
Pertaining to percussion, or material that explodes upon impact.
The military used percussive bombs for targeted strikes.
Often appears as...
- percussive bomb
- percussive explosion
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
Related to or causing a striking or hitting sound.
The percussive sounds of the drums echoed through the room.
Often appears as...
- percussive effect
- percussive sound
adjective
Involving or producing rapid, hard beats or strokes.
His percussive playing style was perfect for the rock song.
Often appears as...
- percussive dance
- percussive style
adjective
Belonging to the family of musical instruments (such as drums) that make sound when struck or shaken.
He was an expert in playing percussive instruments like drums and xylophone.
Often appears as...
- percussive ensemble
- percussive instrument
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
Pertaining to percussion, or material that explodes upon impact.
The military used percussive bombs for targeted strikes.
Often appears as...
- percussive bomb
- percussive explosion
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/2Vivid Imagery
Use 'percussive' to describe sounds that bring a sense of lively action or palpable energy.
The percussive clapping heightened the dancers' performance.
Pro Tip 2/2Audio Effects
'Percussive' often implies sounds that may be used for special effects or certain vibes in audio production.
Percussive echoes were added for dramatic emphasis in the scene.
Compare with
beatificexplosiveforcefulpoundrhythmicstaccatostrikethump
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Video examples
Why we must stop dancing...
One strategy I take in my music is making uplifting, energetic, percussive global beats and placing lyrics on top of them that genuinely describe my life's experiences without contributing to the oppression of anybody else.
Video examples
The Strange and...
the tentacle to me that's like going up and often I think piano is a little percussive for snails and that's the reason I'm learning the cello I feel like cello is the instrument for snails
Video examples
Tap-dancing: A talk and...
tap-dancing one of America's unique contributions to the world of percussive
Video examples
A tap dancer's craft -...
one of America's major contributions to the world of percussive dance,
Video examples
Why we must stop dancing...
One strategy I take in my music is making uplifting, energetic, percussive global beats and placing lyrics on top of them that genuinely describe my life's experiences without contributing to the oppression of anybody else.
Video examples
The Strange and...
the tentacle to me that's like going up and often I think piano is a little percussive for snails and that's the reason I'm learning the cello I feel like cello is the instrument for snails
Video examples
Tap-dancing: A talk and...
tap-dancing one of America's unique contributions to the world of percussive
Video examples
A tap dancer's craft -...
one of America's major contributions to the world of percussive dance,
Example 1 of 4
Quote examples
John Petrucci
American Musician
One very important side of my playing lies in rhythm; I have a very percussive style. It's one I've developed with Dream Theater over the years, and requires the guitar to be very locked into the rhythm of the drums... way more than what would normally entail.
Quote examples
Ann Reinking
American Actress
Fosse would say that it's important to trust silence. He very much liked the use of the tacit, or silent, count, where nothing is happening. He also liked percussion. His is a world of angular movement and mystery, quiet, semi-taciturn and percussive.
Quote examples
Marketa Irglova
Czechoslovakian Musician
The songs, if I write alone in a room, end up being a little more quiet, a little more subdued. If I play with other musicians or percussive instruments, it might end up being a little more upbeat.
Quote examples
Vladimir Horowitz
American Musician
The most important thing is to make a percussive instrument a singing instrument. Teachers should stress this aspect in their instruction, but it seems that very few of them actually do.
Quote examples
Mary Steenburgen
American Actress
I've found that most people who studied when they were little, even if they never took another tap class, it's percussive, so it stays in your body, the muscle memory of it.
Quote examples
Luka Sulic
Croatian Musician
A cello can sound like so many instruments, but it's only one, you know, like a guitar; it has percussive qualities. It can sing like the violin, you know, like a voice.
Quote examples
Billie Joe Armstrong
American Singer
I approach playing acoustic guitar more of as a percussive instrument. It's fragile. I don't have a lot of finesse when it comes to my guitar playing.
Quote examples
Tommy Bolin
American Musician
I think the way I play the guitar is very percussive. I play a lot of rhythm chops as though I were playing congas or something.
Quote examples
Sixto Rodriguez
American Musician
I have a sloppy style of playing guitar. A percussive style. Unique in fact.
Quote examples
Michael Giacchino
American Composer
I love percussive instrumentation.
Quote examples
John Petrucci
American Musician
One very important side of my playing lies in rhythm; I have a very percussive style. It's one I've developed with Dream Theater over the years, and requires the guitar to be very locked into the rhythm of the drums... way more than what would normally entail.
Quote examples
Ann Reinking
American Actress
Fosse would say that it's important to trust silence. He very much liked the use of the tacit, or silent, count, where nothing is happening. He also liked percussion. His is a world of angular movement and mystery, quiet, semi-taciturn and percussive.
Quote examples
Marketa Irglova
Czechoslovakian Musician
The songs, if I write alone in a room, end up being a little more quiet, a little more subdued. If I play with other musicians or percussive instruments, it might end up being a little more upbeat.
Quote examples
Vladimir Horowitz
American Musician
The most important thing is to make a percussive instrument a singing instrument. Teachers should stress this aspect in their instruction, but it seems that very few of them actually do.
Quote examples
Mary Steenburgen
American Actress
I've found that most people who studied when they were little, even if they never took another tap class, it's percussive, so it stays in your body, the muscle memory of it.
Quote examples
Luka Sulic
Croatian Musician
A cello can sound like so many instruments, but it's only one, you know, like a guitar; it has percussive qualities. It can sing like the violin, you know, like a voice.
Quote examples
Billie Joe Armstrong
American Singer
I approach playing acoustic guitar more of as a percussive instrument. It's fragile. I don't have a lot of finesse when it comes to my guitar playing.
Quote examples
Tommy Bolin
American Musician
I think the way I play the guitar is very percussive. I play a lot of rhythm chops as though I were playing congas or something.
Quote examples
Sixto Rodriguez
American Musician
I have a sloppy style of playing guitar. A percussive style. Unique in fact.
Quote examples
Michael Giacchino
American Composer
I love percussive instrumentation.
Example 1 of 10
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