Tambourines

What is a tambourine?

The tambourine - spelled by some as tambourine - is probably one of the easiest and most fun musical instruments to play anywhere in the world. If you have any rhythm at all, and sometimes even if you don't, you can also play with/on a tambourine. The instrument's name actually comes from "tambourin", which is a French derivation of the word "tambour", meaning "drum". Therefore, the tambourine belongs to the percussion instrument family.

A tambourine typically consists of a frame that is generally made of plastic or wood, with several small metal pieces made for jingling - also called zils. Generally speaking, the term tambourine usually refers to an instrument that has a drumhead. But some varieties have no head at all, having only the frame and zils.

How to play a tambourine?

Tambourines can be played either by being held in the hand and struck or pressed against the instrument, or they can be mounted on a stand like cymbals in a drum set. When mounted, the instrument can be played by hitting it with drumsticks. When held in the hand, a tambourine can be tapped against the body, struck, or shaken to produce and emit sound. It is typically played by either a drummer or the vocalist in modern music.

Tambourine for children

A tambourine for children is simply a smaller size, but a children's tambourine has the same features as a model for adults.

Buy the right tambourine

It is not difficult to buy the right tambourine for you as a beginner. Visit a nearby music store and try a few different models, and buy the one you think sounds best and has the right tambourine sound for you.

Different kinds of tambourines

A tambourine can come in different shapes, colors, and varieties, but the most common form of it is the circular tambourine. This particular instrument is actually quite popular and can be found in a wide range of different genres of music, such as rock, pop, gospel, samba, Persian, classical, as well as many types of folk music, including Italian, Greek, and Turkish. The tambourine is used in a variety of different music styles around the world and in many cultures. In fact, the tambourine has been used and played since ancient times.

Tambourine with skin

A tambourine that in its classic form has metal discs and bells can also be found with skin.

The history of the tambourine

The tambourine is a small frame drum (if the shell is too narrow to recreate the sound) with one or two skins sewn or glued to a low circular or polygonal frame. The tambourine is usually played with the bare hands and is often associated with jingles, pellet bells, or snares. European tambourines typically have a skin and jingling discs set into the sides of the frame. The term tambourine specifically refers to the European frame drum; however, the term is often extended to include all related frame drums, such as those from Arab countries, and sometimes those that are likely unrelated, such as shaman drums in Central Asia, North America, and the Arctic.

In ancient times, large frame drums were used in temple rituals. Small tambourines were played in Egypt and Israel as well as in Greece and Rome and were used in the culture of the mother goddesses Astarte, Isis, and Cybele. Today, the tambourine is a prominent musical instrument in Middle Eastern folk music.

Crusaders brought the tambourine to Europe in the 13th century. The tambourine was called Timbrel or Tabret, and it continued to be played mainly by women and as accompaniment to singing and dancing. The modern tambourine returned to Europe as part of a Turkish musical band known for its time in the 18th century.

Read more about tambourines on Wikipedia - click here