Tambourine is the diminutive of pandera , a musical instrument also known as tambourine . The tambourines have overlapping rings covered with skin , which have bells or rattles . By tapping on the skin with a hand or fingers, the sound is produced.
Tambourines, therefore, are small tambourines . They are part of the set of frame drums , whose head has a larger diameter compared to its depth.
It is important to clarify, however, that the use of tambourine or tambourine is interchangeable in some places . There are even regions where the tambourine is called the tambourine and vice versa, or definitions that mention that the tambourine lacks jingles, so the distinction between the two can be confusing.
The origins of the tambourine are remote. This instrument was usually used in religious rituals although, with the passage of time , it began to be used in other contexts.
Classical composers such as the English Gustav Holst , the Russian Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky and the Austrian Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart have included the tambourine in their works . This percussion instrument is also used in modern songs.
Typically tambourine jingles are made of tempered steel , iron or brass . The sound obtained when playing the tambourine in a horizontal position is different from that achieved in a vertical position: according to experts, the ideal is for the instrument to be positioned with an inclination of between 40 and 45 degrees to balance the vibrations of the bells
Since the tambourine is used to accompany music of various genres , it is an instrument that many people learn to play, although they generally do so in a complementary way to another more complex one. Despite its simplicity, we should not make the mistake of thinking that it does not entail a learning curve or that it lacks versatility; On the contrary, there are several points to take into account to play the tambourine like a professional.
The first step is holding the tambourine, which we must do with the hand we have the least control over (right-handed people, with the left hand, and left-handed people, with the right). To achieve precise execution, synchronize correctly with the rhythm of the music, and produce consistent sounds, it is recommended to use the skilled hand to strike.
To hold the tambourine correctly we must place the thumb on one side and the remaining four on the other, in the part of the frame that is intended for grip. In some models, this is a segment that lacks rattles. The latter, on the other hand, should not be touched when holding the instrument, since if we do so we can drown out the sound.
Holding is, therefore, more complicated than it seems, since we should not impose too much force or rigidity, but rather find a middle point so that the tambourine vibrates more. Regarding hitting, it is recommended to start practicing with your hand, trying to reproduce increasingly complex rhythms, and then learn to use a stick to achieve greater intensity of sound .
Far from giving small identical taps throughout each song, good tambourine technique allows us to intersperse and combine different types of playing , using the stick, one or more fingers, with various degrees of intensity to achieve many sounds that fit the song. rest of the music.
It should be noted that, according to the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ), the adjective phrase “tambourine” is used to describe what is not serious. For example: “I'm fed up with this tambourine company,” “With this tambourine government the economic problems will never be solved.”