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Tambourine by Jillian Pritchard |
General Playing Technique:
Articulation:
• The tambourine should be held by the weaker hand where there is a break in the jingles.
• Experiment with the playing angle. A 45-degree angle produces the driest sound with no unwanted after-noise.
• Dynamic level can determine what part of the head to play on and with what part of the hand.
Loud passages = fist toward center of head
Soft passages = fingers toward edge
• Soft rhythmical passages can be played by resting the tambourine on a surface (leg, table, etc.) and using both hands.
• Some passages may be too fast to play with one hand. In these circumstances a “fist/knee” technique may be used.
Rolls:
Shake Rolls:
• The shake roll is the standard roll used when playing tambourine. The tambourine should be held at roughly a right angle at shoulder height.
• A smooth, closed tambourine roll is a combination of two motions:
1. a rotation of the wrist and arm and 2. a hinge motion of the wrist
Thumb or Finger Rolls:
• A thumb roll is executed by running the thumb over the head, creating a vibration.
• Thumb rolls are ideal for very short or very soft rolls, although it is possible to play loudly.
• The end of a thumb roll can be articulated by: flipping the hand over head or snapping the wrist. When using a finger roll, the index finger can stop the roll. It is also possible to use the knee for final articulation.