Membranofone

Membranophone, occasionally spelled membranofone, is a percussion instrument in which the sound is produced primarily by the vibration of a stretched membrane. In the standard Hornbostel-Sachs system, membranophones constitute the main class of percussion instruments, designated as class 2, with numerous subgroups defined by how the membrane is mounted and struck.

Membranes are typically made from animal skins (such as goat or calf) or synthetic materials. They are stretched over a frame, bowl, or body and kept at tension to determine pitch and timbre. The evolving design of membranes and shells has produced a wide range of instruments, from simple hand drums to complex orchestral timpani.

Playing methods vary but most membranophones are struck with the hands, fingers, sticks, or mallets. Some drums are tuned by adjusting tension, allowing them to produce definite pitches (as in timpani), while many others remain non-pitched or only variably pitched. The instrument’s tonal character depends on membrane material and thickness, diameter, tension, and the resonating body.

Membranophones are found worldwide across many musical traditions. They include frame drums (such as tambourines without jingles), as well as drums with deeper shells like snare drums, bass drums, congas, bongos, and djembes. They play foundational roles in classical orchestras, folk ensembles, and contemporary popular music, contributing rhythm, texture, and, in some cases, pitch.

See also: percussion classification, drum, frame drum, timpani, snare drum.