membranophones

Membranophones are percussion instruments in which the primary sound-producing element is a vibrating stretched membrane. In music classification systems such as Hornbostel–Sachs, they constitute the drum family. The characteristic feature is a flexible membrane, usually made of animal skin or synthetic material, stretched over a hollow shell, frame, or bowl.

When the membrane is struck, it vibrates and excites the air inside the body, which acts as a resonator and shapes the instrument’s tone. The pitch and timbre of membranophones depend on the membrane’s tension, thickness, diameter, and density, as well as the size and construction of the resonating body.

Membranophones include a wide range of drums. Common examples are timpani (kettledrums), snare drums, bass drums, tom-toms, congas, bongos, and djembes. Frame drums and tambourines rely on a stretched skin as part of their sound production. Membranophones can be tuned to produce pitched tones (such as timpani and some configurations of tabla) or unpitched, depending on the instrument and playing technique.

Playing methods vary: most are struck with the hands or with sticks, mallets, or brushes, but some are designed to be rubbed or scraped to produce sound. In many musical cultures, membranophones are central to ensembles ranging from classical orchestras to folk and traditional genres.

See also: percussion, drum, Hornbostel–Sachs system.