Percussion instruments come in two varieties- pitched and non-pitched. Pitched instruments are ones that can change the notes they play like marimba, xylophone or glockenspiel. Non-pitched instruments cannot change the pitch they have. Examples would be a triangle or tambourine or maracas. To be in the percussion family, the instrument has to be played by plucking, striking, scraping, or shaking. There are many different types of percussion throughout the world. Percussion instruments are also the oldest type of instruments in history.