PERCUSSION
TAMBOURINES : YOU ’ VE GOT CHOICES | Mark Shelton
“ A tambourine ’ s a tambourine ” said no wellinformed percussionist EVER .
Just as there are different types of cymbals designed for specific musical applications , so it is with tambourines . Having the right design of the instrument with the appropriate sound will make a difference in both technical execution and fitting your tone properly into the musical texture of a song .
To guide you in building a basic collection of tambourines , here ’ s a short primer with info on the variety of choices .
BASIC TAMBOURINE TERMINOLOGY
Jingle Slots : The openings in the shell where the jingles are mounted . In the case of double rows of jingles , the slots ( and jingles ) are either stacked ( Photo 1 ) or staggered ( Photo 2 ).
Head : The membrane that is stretched across the shell can be made of animal skin or a synthetic such as plastic .
Grip Area : The portion of the shell that does not contain jingle slots and jingles . This is the space where the holding hand grips the tambourine .
Mounting Hole : Frequently manufacturers place a circular opening in the grip area so that the tambourine can be mounted to a stand . the instrument ’ s timbre are the shell , jingles , and head . Of the three , the jingles exert the biggest effect on the tone quality . The jingles come in a variety of metals including nickel , steel , brass , silver , and copper . While tambourines often contain jingles made with only one type of metal , some instruments mix a combination of materials . Side-by-side listening comparisons will quickly reveal the differences in tone colors of the various jingles . You can easily hear that some zils possess a distinct ringing quality while others are drier . Certain metals will produce a brighter sound and other materials will have a dark tone quality .
THREE COMMON DESIGNS
Shell : The basic framework of the tambourine . Shells are commonly made of wood or plastic .
Jingles : Also known as zils , the jingles are mounted on jingle pins located in the jingle slots . Although metal discs are commonly used , jingles can be constructed with other materials and in different shapes .
Tuning hardware : The head of a key-tunable tambourine is attached with tuning hardware consisting of tension rods and receivers . This apparatus allows for tightening or loosening the head .
TONE FACTORS The three parts of a tambourine that influence
Headed Tambourine Possessing both head and jingles , the headed tambourine is capable of a wider variety of sounds than its two headless cousins . In addition to shaking and striking sounds , the head can be rubbed by a thumb or finger to vibrate the jingles and produce a roll effect . The head is attached to the shell with glue and
Photo 1 Photo 2