membranofono

Membranofono, or membranophone, is a class of percussion instruments in which sound is produced primarily by the vibration of a stretched membrane. The membrane, usually made of animal skin or synthetic material, is stretched over a frame or body and vibrates when struck, rubbed, or otherwise excited. The pitch of a membranophone can be fixed or tunable, depending on membrane tension, thickness, size, and construction.

In classification systems of percussion, membranophones are grouped as the second main category of percussion instruments. They include drums with one or more membranes and can be struck by hands, sticks, or mallets. Some membranophones have a single membrane (such as frame drums), while others use two membranes or membranes on opposite sides of the shell, enabling different tonal and pitch possibilities. The resonance of the body also influences the instrument’s overall sound.

Common examples include timpani, snare drums, bass drums, bongos, congas, djembe, tabla, bodhrán, and tambourine. Membranophones are found in many musical traditions around the world and across genres, from orchestral and marching contexts to traditional, popular, and contemporary music. Their versatility arises from variations in membrane material, tension, drum shell design, and playing technique, which together shape duration, attack, and timbre.