Tambourine

percussion · music · handheld

Metal jingles that jingle. A tambourine has pairs of small metal discs called zills attached around the frame. When you shake, tap, or hit the instrument, these zills clink and ring together to create that signature bright jingling sound.

Two ways to build it. Most tambourines have a circular wooden or plastic frame with a stretched drumhead like a tiny drum, but some tambourines skip the drumhead altogether and just have the jingles on the frame.

Play it your way. You can hold a tambourine in your hand and shake it, tap it with your fingers, or hit it against your leg or hip. Some tambourines even get mounted on stands so they can be part of a full drum kit.

Part of the band. Tambourines are part of the percussion family of instruments, which means they make sound through hitting, shaking, or striking rather than blowing or plucking.

Happy and bright sound. The cheerful jingling of a tambourine makes it perfect for adding sparkle and excitement to music, from rock bands to orchestras to folk bands.