tamburin

Tamburin is a percussion instrument in the frame drum family. It consists of a circular or oval frame with a thin skin or synthetic membrane stretched across one side, and a series of small metal jingles mounted around the rim. Modern tamburins vary in size and may feature one or two heads and one or more rows of jingles. The instrument is typically handheld and played with the fingers, palms, or by shaking, producing both a rhythmic strike and a shimmering, high-pitched wash of sound.

Playing technique involves striking the head for accent, tapping the rim for clarification of rhythm, and shaking to sustain the jingle sound. Players can mute or dampen the instrument with the other hand or by contact with the thigh or body. The jingles are often called zills in Turkish and other languages, and they contribute a bright, sonic shimmer that reinforces tempo and rhythm in a wide range of musical styles.

Origins and use have broad cross-cultural roots. Frame drums with attached jingles appear in ancient and medieval contexts across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, and the design evolved into the modern tamburin in Europe during the late Middle Ages and Renaissance. In classical music, the tambourine is used as coloristic percussion and for occasional accents; notable composers include Haydn and Beethoven. In folk, popular, and world music, it is a common instrument in dances, ensembles, and studio settings, with regional variations in technique and repertoire.