membranófonos

Membranophones are a category of musical instruments that produce sound primarily by means of a vibrating stretched membrane. This membrane, often made of animal skin or synthetic material, is typically mounted on a frame or body. When the membrane is struck, plucked, or rubbed, it vibrates and causes the air within or around the instrument to resonate, producing sound. This category is one of the four main classifications of musical instruments established by the Hornbostel-Sachs system, alongside idiophones, chordophones, and aerophones.

Common examples of membranophones include drums of all types, such as the snare drum, bass drum, timpani, and bongo drums. However, the classification extends beyond what are commonly understood as drums. Instruments like the tambourine, which has a membrane stretched over a frame with jingles, also fall under this category. Even instruments like the kazoo, where a player hums into a tube that vibrates a membrane, are considered membranophones. The method of sound production varies; it can be achieved by hitting the membrane with a stick or hand, bowing it, or even by the player's voice causing it to vibrate. The pitch and timbre of the sound produced depend on factors such as the size of the membrane, its tension, the material used, and the resonant properties of the instrument's body.