How to play the tambourine

Video: How to Play Tambourine - Tutorial

Content

Steps
Method 1 of 5: Learning to Hold the Tambourine Correctly
Method 2 of 5: Learn a Standard Punch
Method 3 of 5: Learn to Shake Roll
Method 4 of 5: Learn to Roll with Your Thumb
Method 5 of 5: Hit with a stick or hammer
Tips
Warnings
What do you need

The tambourine is a percussion instrument with roots in classical Greece. Traditionally it consisted of a wooden rim covered with a membrane ("head") and surrounded by pairs of small metal plates called "jingles." Modern tambourines come without a membrane, consist of plastic rims and sometimes have the shape of a crescent moon rather than a vicious circle. The use of the tambourine is wide and varied, ranging from orchestral and folk music to contemporary rock and pop music. The methods of playing the tambourine are very similar to each other.

Steps

Method 1 of 5: Learning to Hold the Tambourine Correctly

1 Master the correct grip on the tambourine. It must be held in a non-dominant hand. Support the rim of the instrument with four fingers and place your thumb against the membrane (if there is no membrane, place your thumb on the top of the rim). Rotate the membrane towards your dominant hand so that you have enough room to swing. Do not squeeze the membrane too hard with your secondary hand, this will muffle the sound.
2 Avoid common mistakes in tambourine gripping. Many tambourines have a hole in their rims. No need to put your finger in it while playing. This will muffle the instrument and make it difficult to pick up and put it back in place without making unnecessary sounds. Also, you do not need to grip the tambourine more firmly than necessary for its stability, otherwise you may get tired.

Method 2 of 5: Learn a Standard Punch

1 Hit the tambourine according to basic techniques. Traditionally, the membrane has to be hit with your fingertips. With closed fingers, quickly strike the membrane at a distance of about one third of the radius towards the center. If you hit in the middle, you will get a dull sound, since the membrane will not be able to fully resonate.
2 Vary your hitting technique to improve the sound of your instrument. Ideally, when hitting the tambourine, you should hear a short jingle of jingles and a slight resonance from the membrane. Vary the strength and location of the strike until you get the sound you want.
3 Use a different technique depending on the application. In an orchestra, it's best not to deviate from this technique. However, in less formal areas such as rock and pop music, a huge range of playing techniques are available. For example, you can beat the tambourine with your entire palm to get a fuller sound.

Method 3 of 5: Learn to Shake Roll

1 Explore the scope of the shake roll. When a continuous tambourine sound is required, rather than single beats, a shake roll can be played. To produce this sound, you just need to continuously shake the tambourine to make the jingles ring.
2 Try the shake roll technique. To play, continuously rotate the wrist of the hand holding the tambourine back and forth at a constant speed. The movement always comes from the wrist. If you use your elbow or the whole arm, the sound will not sound good, and you will be more likely to get tired.
3 Learn to change dynamics. Shake roll is great for continuous long play, especially with crescendo and diminuendo. To change dynamics, simply change the speed and strength of your wrist movement. The harder and faster you shake the tambourine, the louder the sound will be, gentle movement will produce a quiet sound.

Method 4 of 5: Learn to Roll with Your Thumb

1 Become familiar with the thumb roll technique. Thumb roll is an alternative to shake roll technique that involves rubbing the membrane with your thumb. It is more difficult to perform, but produces a more uniform sound than a shake roll.
2 Learn the thumb roll technique. To roll with your thumb, place the tips of four fingers on your palm, and extend your thumb. Press your thumb firmly against the membrane and slide it around in a circle. Rubbing your finger against the membrane will make the jingles sound continuously.
3 Use your thumb to determine the ideal roll application. The thumb roll is good for short sets as it is more difficult to play continuously and evenly than a shake roll. Also roll with your thumb can replace single hits in very fast fragments.

Method 5 of 5: Hit with a stick or hammer

1 If necessary, you can hit the tambourine with a stick or hammer. When playing a large number of percussion instruments at the same time, you will need to secure the tambourine in a stable position in order to free your hands to play other instruments. In this case, you can hit the tambourine with a stick or a hammer. You need to hit the membrane or the top of the frame.
2 Experiment with sound using a stick or hammer. If you are interested in exploring the sonic possibilities of a tambourine, it will be helpful to try different types of sticks. For example, soft yarn coiled marimba hammers produce a much more muffled sound than a drumstick or glockenspiel hammer.

Tips

If the tambourine will be used to its fullest, for example, in a set of the drum section of a rock band, it is better to choose an instrument with a plastic frame. They are more durable than wooden ones.
You can apply a thin coat of beeswax to the membrane to provide the grip you need for a good roll with your thumb.

Warnings

In the intervals between beats, the tambourine should be held as still as possible so that the jingles do not make unnecessary sounds. Raising and lowering the tool during the set must be very careful.