# Free percussion samples > Free percussion one-shots and hits: congas, bongos, cowbells, tambourines, woodblocks and more, for Latin, afro, house and hip hop, with licence verdicts. 22 samples from 3 sources (Strudel sample banks 14, Wikimedia Commons 7, Orange Free Sounds 1), updated 2026-10-23. Picked from a live search and refreshed daily. - Same search in the browser: https://sound.shep.bot/search?q=percussion&category=drums.perc - Same search over the API: `curl "https://sound.shep.bot/v1/search?q=percussion&category=drums.perc"` - Details, files and the credit line: `GET https://sound.shep.bot/v1/samples/{id}` with an id from the table below. - Licence verdicts: "Commercial use OK" (with or without credit) is cleared for a release; anything else must be checked or is non-commercial. See https://sound.shep.bot/docs/licences.md ## Percussion adds the groove The kick and snare set the pulse; percussion gives a beat its swing and character. A conga pattern turns a house loop Latin, a cowbell signals an 808 classic, and a tambourine on the backbeat lifts a chorus. Free libraries are rich in percussion because it is easy to record well: many of these sounds are close-miked hand drums and small instruments recorded by enthusiasts and orchestral sample projects. ## Building a percussion layer Start with one part that answers the hi-hat, such as a shaker or a conga on the offbeats, then add a sparse accent like a cowbell or clave every bar or two. Vary velocity and pitch slightly between hits to avoid the machine-gun effect of the same sample repeating. Pitched percussion such as congas and woodblocks also reacts to your key, so tune it by ear. For a full kit, pair this collection with shakers and toms, or use the kit builder to assemble one in a few clicks. ## Samples | Sample | id | What | Source | Licence | Commercial use | Direct download | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [LatinTriangle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LatinTriangle.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:LatinTriangle.ogg` | Percussion, 16 s | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes | | [AJK Percusyn · cb · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AJKPercusyn/ajkpercusyn-cb/Cowbell.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AJKPercusyn_cb/0` | Percussion, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Guiro](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Guiro.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Guiro.ogg` | Percussion, 8.0 s | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes | | [AJK Percusyn · cb · 1](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AJKPercusyn/ajkpercusyn-cb/Snarepop.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AJKPercusyn_cb/1` | Percussion, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Tambourine](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tambourine.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Tambourine.ogg` | Percussion, 16 s | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes | | [Akai Linn · cb · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiLinn/akailinn-cb/Cowbell.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiLinn_cb/0` | Percussion, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Conga And Drum Loop At 116 bpm](https://orangefreesounds.com/conga-and-drum-loop-at-116-bpm/) | `orangefreesounds:11846` | Percussion, Loop, 116 BPM, 8.0 s | Orange Free Sounds | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes | | [Africanagogosound](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Africanagogosound.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Africanagogosound.ogg` | Percussion, 12 s | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes | | [Akai Linn · sh · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiLinn/akailinn-sh/Shuffle.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiLinn_sh/0` | Percussion, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Clave pattern](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clave_pattern.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Clave_pattern.ogg` | Percussion, 10 s | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes | | [Akai Linn · tb · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiLinn/akailinn-tb/Tambourin.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiLinn_tb/0` | Percussion, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Cowbell](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cowbell.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Cowbell.ogg` | Percussion, 10 s | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes | | [Akai MPC60 · perc · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiMPC60/akaimpc60-perc/Bongo.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiMPC60_perc/0` | Percussion, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Agogo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Agogo.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Agogo.ogg` | Percussion, 8.1 s | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes | | [Akai MPC60 · perc · 1](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiMPC60/akaimpc60-perc/Click.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiMPC60_perc/1` | Percussion, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Akai MPC60 · perc · 2](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiMPC60/akaimpc60-perc/Conga%20H.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiMPC60_perc/2` | Percussion, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Akai MPC60 · perc · 3](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiMPC60/akaimpc60-perc/Conga%20L.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiMPC60_perc/3` | Percussion, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Akai MPC60 · perc · 4](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiMPC60/akaimpc60-perc/Timbale.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiMPC60_perc/4` | Percussion, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Akai MPC60 · rim · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiMPC60/akaimpc60-rim/Rim%20Gated.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiMPC60_rim/0` | Percussion, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Akai XR10 · cb · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiXR10/akaixr10-cb/Cowbell.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiXR10_cb/0` | Percussion, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Akai XR10 · perc · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiXR10/akaixr10-perc/Agogo.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiXR10_perc/0` | Percussion, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Akai XR10 · perc · 1](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiXR10/akaixr10-perc/Claves.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiXR10_perc/1` | Percussion, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | ## Questions **What counts as percussion in a drum kit?** Anything beyond kick, snare, hats, cymbals and toms: hand drums such as congas and bongos, shakers, tambourines, cowbells, woodblocks, claves, triangles and found sounds. In sample libraries these usually live in a 'perc' folder. **How do I stop percussion from cluttering a beat?** Give each part its own rhythm and space. Pan percussion away from the centre, keep it quieter than the kick and snare, and roll off its low end so only the attack and tone remain. ## Related collections - [Free shaker samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-shaker-samples.md): Free shaker one-shots and loops: egg shakers, maracas, cabasas and rattles that add movement to house, pop and Latin beats, each with a commercial-use verdict. - [Free tom drum samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-tom-samples.md): Free tom drum one-shots, from high rack toms to deep floor toms and electronic toms, for fills and tribal grooves, each with a licence verdict and preview. - [Free rimshot and side-stick samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-rimshot-samples.md): Free rimshot and side-stick samples: dry cross-stick clicks and sharp rim hits for reggaeton, ballads, house and lo-fi, each with a commercial-use verdict. - [Free clap samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-clap-samples.md): Free hand clap and snap samples, from stacked crowd claps to tight drum machine claps, ready to layer with snares, each with a licence verdict and preview. - [Free breakbeats and drum breaks](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-breakbeats.md): Free drum breaks and breakbeat loops for jungle, drum and bass, hip hop and breaks, with tempo where known and a licence verdict, including cleared breaks. - [Free crash cymbal samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-crash-cymbal-samples.md): Free crash cymbal one-shots, from short trashy splashes to long cinematic crashes, to mark the start of a section, each with a preview and licence verdict. --- Source: https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-percussion-samples