The tambourine is a percussion instrument made with a frame, usually of wood or plastic, and pairs of small metal rings called "zills." Traditionally, the word "tambourine" refers to an instrument with a drum surface, though some versions may not have one. Tambourines are often used with other percussion instruments. They can be attached to a stand as part of a drum kit and played with drum sticks, or they can be held in the hand and played by tapping, hitting, or shaking.

Tambourines come in many shapes, with the most common being round. They are used in many types of music, including 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.

History

The origin of the tambourine is not known, but it is mentioned in old writings as far back as 1700 BC. It was used by musicians in ancient Egypt, the Ancient Near East, and later in Greece and other regions. The tambourine traveled to Europe through merchants or musicians. In ancient Egypt, the instrument was called "tof" by the Hebrews, who often used it during religious ceremonies. The word "tambourine" comes from the French word "tambourin," which described a long, narrow drum used in Provence. This word is a smaller version of "tambour," meaning "drum," and was later influenced by the Arabic word "tunbur," also meaning "drum." The Arabic word itself is based on the Middle Persian word "tambūr," which referred to a lute or drum.

• A drawing on ancient Greek pottery shows a girl playing the tambourine. This artwork is in the Bourgas Archaeology Museum.
• A sculpture from around 320 BC depicts a woman holding a mirror and a tambourine, facing a winged genie with a ribbon and a leafy branch. The tambourine has colorful woven stripes, similar to those found on the tamburello, a type of tambourine used in Southern Italy today.
• A Roman mosaic from Tunisia (3rd century AD) shows a Maenad, a follower of the god Dionysus, playing a tympanum, an ancient type of tambourine.
• A painting from 1896 titled Recreation by Charles Sprague Pearce shows a girl playing a tambourine. This artwork is displayed in the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building in Washington, D.C.

Playing

The tambourine can be held in one hand or placed on a stand. It can be played in many ways, such as by gently brushing or shaking the metal pieces, tapping it with the hand or a stick, or using it to hit the leg or hip.

To create a tambourine roll, one simple method is to move the hand holding the tambourine quickly back and forth, turning the wrist as you move.

A more advanced technique is called the thumb or finger roll. The middle finger or thumb of the hand not holding the tambourine is moved over the surface or edge of the tambourine. This action causes the metal pieces to make a fast, rolling sound. The same finger is moved around the center part of the tambourine, about one centimeter from the edge, with pressure applied. When done correctly, the finger bounces rapidly across the surface, creating the roll. The end of the roll is usually stopped by using the heel of the hand or another finger. To help the finger move smoothly, the performer may lightly moisten the tip of the thumb with saliva or apply beeswax or rosin. These materials increase friction, making the technique easier to perform. A continuous roll can be made by moving the thumb in a "figure of 8" shape around the surface of the tambourine.

Popular music

The tambourine is used in many European folk traditions. The Romani people played it as a percussion instrument, often passing it to the audience to collect money after performances. In the late 1700s, the tambourine became very popular in England. Some composers wrote music that included parts for the tambourine, showing up to 30 different ways to play it. Tambourines from this time often had a circular hole in the frame for the thumb, allowing players to spin the instrument on their thumb. In the late 1800s, The Salvation Army officially recognized the tambourine as an important rhythm instrument. They used the word "timbrel," taken from the Bible, instead of "tambourine." By 1945, Salvation Army performances included detailed tambourine routines performed by groups in a style similar to military formations, focusing more on visual appeal than music.

African American slaves were not allowed to use drums, which could be used for long-distance communication. To create rhythm, they used smaller instruments like bones, the tambourine, and body percussion. The tambourine was used during spiritual singing, celebrations, and dancing. It became a key instrument in American minstrel shows in the early 1800s. These shows were often performed by white actors in blackface, such as Ned Christy, or by African American performers. On stage, the tambourine and bones players stood on the far left and right of the master of ceremonies and were called Brother Tambo and Brother Bones. The tambourine was also used in vaudeville acts, including performances by Master Juba in the 1840s, who created sounds like a steam train. By the 1920s, the tambourine was the main percussion instrument in gospel music. Gospel groups and choirs used it, and singers like Bessie Jones and Luther Magby played it prominently.

The tambourine spread into other African American music styles, such as blues and jazz. For example, Blind Roosevelt Graves performed with his brother Uaroy on tambourine and voice. Singer-songwriter Josh White began his career playing the tambourine on the street. In the 1950s, gospel influences entered rhythm and blues, with artists like Ray Charles using the tambourine. The instrument also became part of Motown music. Motown artists, who grew up with gospel music, used the tambourine in pop performances. The Supremes used two tambourines for choreography, played by Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson. Jack Ashford’s tambourine playing was a key part of Motown songs like "Going to a Go-Go" and "How Sweet It Is."

Inspired by African American music, the tambourine appeared in modern pop songs. The Lemon Pipers included it in "Green Tambourine," and The Byrds performed a hit version of "Mr. Tambourine Man," originally written by Bob Dylan. Singers who do not usually play instruments often use the tambourine at concerts, such as Mick Jagger, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, and Stevie Nicks. In pop music, a headless tambourine, or "jingle ring," is often used. Performers must consider the song’s arrangement when playing the tambourine. In some cases, band members hide the instrument from a lead singer who plays it irresponsibly. Skilled players, like Jagger, use the tambourine with precise timing. In the Rolling Stones’ 1964 song "Time Is on My Side," Jagger played the tambourine on the front of the beat, while Charlie Watts played the snare on the back, creating a synchronized rhythm.

In jazz, the tambourine was used in unique ways. Percussionist Joe Texidor played it for Rahsaan Roland Kirk in 1969. Nina Simone asked for a tambourine to perform "Li'l Liza Jane" at the Newport Jazz Festival. Jazz drummer Herlin Riley often plays the tambourine on stage, and it appears in Wynton Marsalis’s jazz oratorio "Blood on the Fields," which tells the story of slavery in the United States.

In jazz, pop, and rock music, drummers sometimes attach a headless tambourine to their drum kits. Some place it above the toms, like a cymbal, such as Nathan Followill of Kings of Leon and Larry Mullen Jr. of U2. Bill Ward of Black Sabbath connected a tambourine to a foot pedal for his left foot to operate like a hi-hat. John Bonham of Led Zeppelin placed a tambourine above the hi-hat for extra sound. The Subdudes, a roots rock band from New Orleans, used a tambourine player, Steve Amedée, instead of a drummer.

In classical music

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was one of the first Western 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, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky included it in some dance pieces from his Nutcracker Suite. Gustav Holst's seven-part orchestral piece The Planets also uses the tambourine in several parts, especially in the "Jupiter" movement. Georges Bizet's opera Carmen includes the famous "Habanera" song, which has a series of tambourine hits in each chorus.

Similar instruments

Buben (Бубен in Russian, Бубон in Ukrainian, boben in Slovenian, buben in Czech, bęben in Polish) is a percussion instrument similar to a tambourine. It has a wooden or metal hoop with a tight membrane stretched over one side (some have no membrane). Some bubens have metal rings, plates, cymbals, or small bells attached. You hold it in your hand and can play it by stroking the jingles, shaking it, or hitting it with your hand. It is used to keep rhythm during dances, solo singing, or group singing. Buben is played by folk and professional musicians, as well as in orchestras.

The name "buben" comes from Greek words meaning "low and hollow sound" and "a type of bee." It is also related to words in other languages, such as "bambharas" (bee) in Indo-Aryan languages and "bee" in English. Buben has been used in many countries for a long time, especially in the East. There are many types of bubens, such as def, daf, or qaval in Azerbaijan; daf or khaval in Armenia; daira in Georgia; doira in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan; daire or def in Iran; bendeir in Arab countries; and pandero in Spain. In Kievan Rus, drums and military timpani were called buben.

A daf (دف) is a large tambourine or frame drum used in Iran, Azerbaijan, the Arab world, Turkey (called tef), Uzbekistan (called childirma), the Indian subcontinent (called dafli), and Turkmenistan. It helps set the beat and tempo of music, like a conductor in traditional music. The Persian poet Rudaki mentioned the daf and tambourine (taboorak) in his poems. Albanians often use the daf during weddings, especially when the bride walks down the aisle.

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

The Basque pandero is a folk instrument often played with the trikitixa (a type of accordion) in a duo. Sometimes, players sing while playing. It also accompanies the alboka or txistu (musical instruments). In 1923, young people danced to the rhythm of the pandero, using only a woman’s voice for music.

The riq (also spelled riqq or rik) is a tambourine used in Arabic music. It is important in both folk and classical music across the Arabic-speaking world. These instruments are also called shakers.

A dayereh (or doyra, dojra, dajre, doira, daire) 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.

The kanjira or ganjira is a South Indian frame drum used in Carnatic music concerts. It supports the mridangam (a drum). In northern India, it is called dafli and is used in orchestras and solos. Nepal has tambourines called daanf, damphu (Nepali: डम्फू), hring, and khaijadi (Nepali: खैंजडी).

The tar (Arabic: طار) is a single-headed frame drum from Turkey, commonly played in North Africa and the Middle East.

The timbrel or tabret (called tof by ancient Hebrews, deff by Islam, adufe by Moors in Spain) was a main percussion instrument for the Israelites, similar to a modern tambourine.

A rabana (plural raban) is a one-sided tambourine played with the hands in Sri Lanka.

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