Beatbox with another musical instrument
Practice beatboxing simple rhythms while playing a small percussion instrument like a shaker or tambourine, coordinating beats and timing to create lively music together.
Step-by-step guide to beatbox with another musical instrument
Step 1
Pick up your small percussion instrument and hold it ready.
Step 2
Stand or sit in a clear space where you can move your arms without bumping anything.
Step 3
Warm up your voice with a gentle hum for 10 seconds to loosen your mouth.
Step 4
Choose two simple beatbox sounds to start with like a "B" sound for a kick and a "ts" sound for a hi-hat.
Step 5
Practice the "B" sound five times slowly focusing on a clear popping sound from your lips.
Step 6
Practice the "ts" sound five times slowly focusing on a quick hiss with your tongue.
Step 7
Start a steady beat by shaking or tapping your instrument at a comfortable pace and keep it going.
Step 8
Add the "B" sound on each beat while you keep playing the instrument.
Step 9
Put the "ts" sound between the "B" sounds to make a simple pattern like B ts B ts.
Step 10
Try a small change by adding an extra "ts" or a quick shake every four beats to make it more exciting.
Step 11
Play your combined beatbox and percussion part for one minute practicing timing and steady sound.
Step 12
Share your finished creation on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
I don't have a small percussion instrument — what can we use instead?
Use a sealed plastic bottle with rice or beans, a wooden spoon tapped on a pot, or simple hand claps as your 'small percussion instrument' so you can still 'pick up your small percussion instrument and hold it ready' and 'shake or tap your instrument'.
My 'B' sound is weak and I can't keep the timing while playing the instrument — how do I fix that?
Try the 'Warm up your voice with a gentle hum for 10 seconds', slow down the 'Practice the "B" sound five times slowly' and 'Practice the "ts" sound five times slowly' steps to strengthen the pop and hiss, and keep a steady tap or shake on the instrument to help your timing while adding the 'B' on each beat.
How can I adapt this activity for a 4-year-old versus a 10-year-old?
For a 4-year-old simplify to one sound and hand claps with an adult helping to 'hold it ready' and shorten 'Play your combined beatbox and percussion part for one minute' to 20–30 seconds, while a 10-year-old can add more beatbox sounds, try the 'extra "ts" or a quick shake every four beats', and extend the one-minute practice.
What are quick ways to make our performance more creative before sharing on DIY.org?
Decorate your percussion, record and layer your voice with a phone or simple loop app, experiment with the 'B ts B ts' pattern by adding the 'extra "ts" or a quick shake every four beats', and then share the finished creation on DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to beatbox with another musical instrument
How To Beatbox For Beginners: Learn The Basics (Part 2)
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How To Beatbox For Beginners: Learn The Basics (Part 2)
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How To Beatbox For Beginners: Learn The Basics (Part 1)
Facts about music and rhythm for kids
🗣️ Beatboxing uses the mouth, lips, tongue, and voice to imitate drums and sound effects — many beatboxers layer sounds to mimic whole bands!
👄 Famous beatboxers like Doug E. Fresh and Rahzel helped bring vocal percussion into mainstream music and competitions.
🎵 Practicing simple rhythms for 10–15 minutes a day can noticeably improve timing and coordination — great for playing voice + instrument together!
🌎 Shakers such as maracas come from Latin American traditions but are used in musical styles worldwide to keep a steady pulse.
🥁 Tambourines and similar frame drums have been played for thousands of years and appear in ancient Egyptian and Greek art.
How do you practice beatboxing with a shaker or tambourine?
What materials do I need to beatbox with a small percussion instrument?
What ages is beatboxing with a shaker suitable for?
What are the benefits of practicing beatboxing with a percussion instrument?
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