Tambourine

The tambourine is a musical instrument in the percussion family made from a frame, often of wood or plastic, with small pairs of metal jingles called "zills". It is usually played by tapping, hitting, or shaking the instrument. Sometimes it has a drumhead, but some types do not.

Tambourines come in many shapes, with the most common being circular. They are used in many kinds of music, such as Albanian folk music, Arabic folk music, Balkan folk music, Israeli folk music, Turkish folk music, Greek folk music, Italian folk music, French folk music, classical music, Spanish folk music, Persian music, samba, gospel music, pop music, country music, and rock music.

They are often used with regular percussion sets and can be played with drum sticks when placed on a stand as part of a drum kit, or held in the hand for a lively, fun sound.

History

The tambourine is a musical instrument with an unknown origin, but it has been mentioned in writings since 1700 BC. It was first used by musicians in Ancient Egypt, the Ancient Near East, and later in Greece and other regions. The tambourine traveled to Europe through merchants and musicians. In ancient Egypt, it was called the tof and was mainly used in religious events. The word "tambourine" comes from the French word tambourin, which described a long, narrow drum used in Provence. This French term was influenced by the Arabic word tunbur and the Middle Persian word tambūr meaning "lute, drum".

Playing

The tambourine can be held in your hand or placed on a stand. You can play it in many ways, such as shaking the jingles, tapping it with your hand or a stick, or even hitting it against your leg or hip.

There are a few ways to make a tambourine roll. One simple way is to quickly move your hand back and forth. An advanced method is called the thumb or finger roll, where you move your middle finger or thumb over the tambourine to create a fast sound from the jingles.

Main article: Drum roll

Popular music

Europe

The tambourine has been part of many European folk traditions. The Romani people used it during performances, often passing it around for donations. In the late 1700s, it became popular in England, with composers writing special parts for it. By the late 1800s, The Salvation Army adopted the tambourine, calling it the "timbrel" after a Bible reference. Their performances featured lively tambourine routines.

African American influence

African American communities used the tambourine because drums were not allowed for long-distance communication. It became important in music like spirituals, celebrations, and dancing. In the 1800s, it was a key instrument in American minstrel shows, and later in vaudeville. By the 1920s, it was central to gospel music, used by groups and singers. The tambourine also joined blues and jazz, and appeared in rhythm and blues and Motown music.

The tambourine has been used in modern pop music by artists of all backgrounds. It appeared in songs like "Green Tambourine" by the Lemon Pipers and "Mr. Tambourine Man" by the Byrds. Famous singers such as Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones and Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac often play it. In jazz, performers like Herlin Riley and Wynton Marsalis have featured the tambourine in their work. Drummers in various bands sometimes add a tambourine to their drum kit for extra sound.

In classical music

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was one of the first famous composers to use the tambourine in his music. Since the late 1700s, the tambourine has been used more often in western orchestral music. For example, it appears in some dance pieces from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite. The tambourine is also featured in Gustav Holst's The Planets and in Georges Bizet's opera Carmen, especially in the famous "Habanera" aria.

Similar instruments

Buben

Main article: Bubon

Buben is a musical instrument similar to a tambourine. It has a wooden or metal hoop with a tight membrane stretched over one side. Some bubens also have metal rings, plates, cymbals, or little bells. It is held in the hand and can be played in many ways, such as shaking or striking it. Buben is used for rhythm during dances and singing. It is used by folk bands, professional bands, and orchestras.

Daf

Main article: Daf

A daf is a large tambourine or frame drum used in Iran, Azerbaijan, the Arab world, Turkey, Uzbekistan, the Indian subcontinent, and Turkmenistan. It helps set the beat and tempo of the music.

Pandeiro

Main article: Pandeiro

Originating in Galicia or Portugal, the pandeiro was brought to Brazil by Portuguese settlers. It is a hand percussion instrument with a drum and jingles in the frame. It is common in traditional Brazilian music.

Panderoa

The Basque pandero is a folk instrument played with the trikitixa in duos. Sometimes, players sing along while playing. It is used at festivities to make the atmosphere lively.

Riq

Main article: Riq

The riq is a type of tambourine used in traditional Arabic music. It is important in both folk and classical music across Arabic-speaking countries. It is known as a shaker.

Dayereh

Main article: Dayereh

A dayereh is a medium-sized frame drum with jingles. It is used in Iran, the Balkans, and central Asian countries like Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It is a percussion instrument between a drum and a tambourine.

Kanjira

Main article: Kanjira

The kanjira is a South Indian frame drum used in Carnatic music concerts. It supports the mridangam. In northern India, it is called dafli.

Tar

Main article: Tar (drum)

Tar is a single-headed frame drum from Turkish origin, but is commonly played in North Africa and the Middle East.

Timbrel

Main article: Timbrel

Timbrel is similar to the modern tambourine and was the main percussion instrument of the Israelites.

Rabana

Main article: Raban (drum)

A rabana is a one-sided traditional tambourine played with the hands, used in Sri Lanka.

Rebana

Main article: Rebana

Rebana is a Malay tambourine used in Islamic devotional music in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore.