Edit Article

Five Methods:Hold the Tambourine CorrectlyLearn to Play a Standard StrikeLearn to Play a Shake RollLearn to Play a Thumb RollStrike with a Stick or MalletQuestions and Answers

The tambourine is a percussion instrument whose origin can be traced back as far as classical Greece. Traditionally, the instrument consisted of a circular wooden frame covered with a membrane (or "head") and surrounded by pairs of small metal plates called "zils." Modern versions of the tambourine, however, often appear without a membrane, with plastic frames, and in half-moon instead of circular shapes. The tambourine can be played in a number of different musical settings, from orchestral and world folk music to modern rock and pop. The methods used to play a tambourine are fairly similar between applications.


Method 1
Hold the Tambourine Correctly

  1. 1
    Learn the proper grip for holding a tambourine. A tambourine should be held in your non-dominant hand. Wrap your four fingers underneath the frame of the instrument and rest your thumb lightly against the head (if your tambourine has no head, rest your thumb across the top edge of the frame). Angle the head of the tambourine towards your dominant hand so that you have ample room to strike the head. Do not apply more pressure to the head with your non-dominant hand than necessary, as this will mute the sound.
  2. 2
    Avoid some of the common mistakes in tambourine grip. Many tambourines have a mounting hole drilled in the frame; avoid placing your finger through this hole during play. This can mute the instrument's sound and make it difficult to pick it up and put it down without making unwanted noise. Also avoid clutching the tambourine any tighter than is required to keep it steady; this can lead to fatigue.

Method 2
Learn to Play a Standard Strike

  1. 1
    Apply the basic technique for striking a tambourine. Traditionally, the tambourine head should be struck with the tips of your fingers. Hold your four fingers together and quickly strike the head at a location about a third of the distance towards the center of the head from the frame. Striking in the center of the head will produce a muddled tone, as the head will not be able to resonate fully.
  2. 2
    Adjust your technique to improve the instrument's tone. Ideally, when striking the tambourine, you should hear both a short jingling from the zills and a short resonance from the head. Adjust your striking force and location until the instrument's tone is to your liking.
  3. Image titled Play a Tambourine Step 5
    Vary your technique as the setting requires. In orchestral settings, it is best not to deviate from this technique. However, in less formal applications such as rock or pop music, you have enormous latitude in choosing a striking technique. For instance, you can strike the tambourine head with your entire palm for a fuller sound.

Method 3
Learn to Play a Shake Roll

  1. 1
    Understand when a shake roll is best used. When music calls for sustained sound from the tambourine rather than for individual strokes, you can play a shake roll. This sound is generated by simply shaking the tambourine continuously to keep the zils jingling.
  2. 2
    Apply the technique for executing a shake roll. To play a shake roll, rotate the wrist of your holding hand back and forth at a constant, continuous speed. This motion should always be generated from your wrist. Using your elbow or entire arm to shake the instrument can lead to poor tone and fatigue.
  3. 3
    Learn how to vary your dynamic level. Shake rolls are excellent for long, sustained rolls, especially when crescendos or diminuendos are called for. To vary your dynamic level, simply vary the speed and intensity of your wrist's motion. Shaking the tambourine harder and faster will produce a louder tone, and a softer motion will produce a quieter tone.

Method 4
Learn to Play a Thumb Roll

  1. 1
    Familiarize yourself with the thumb roll. A thumb roll is an alternative to the shake roll that is played by rubbing your thumb across the surface of the tambourine. it is generally more difficult to execute, but provides a more uniform tone than a shake roll.
  2. 2
    Learn the technique for playing a thumb roll. To play a thumb roll, press the tips of your four fingers against your palm, leaving your thumb extended. Press your thumb firmly into the head of the tambourine and drag it across the head in a circular motion. The friction between your thumb and the head will cause the zils to jingle continuously.
  3. 3
    Understand the ideal applications of the thumb roll. Thumb rolls are ideal for short rolls, as they can be more difficult to sustain properly than shake rolls. Thumb rolls can also be substituted for individual strokes in very fast passages.

Method 5
Strike with a Stick or Mallet

  1. 1
    Strike the tambourine with a stick or mallet as necessary. Often in a multi-percussion setup, it will be necessary to mount a tambourine to a stand in order to free your hands for playing other instruments. In this case, it is acceptable to play the instrument with either a stick or a mallet. The tambourine can be struck directly on the head or on the top edge of the frame.
  2. 2
    Experiment with different tones using sticks and mallets. If you are interested in exploring the tonal possibilities of the tambourine, varying your striking implement is helpful. For instance, a soft yarn marimba mallet will produce a much more subdued tone than a drumstick or glockenspiel mallet.

Questions and Answers

    Don't see your question? Ask it here:



    • For applications in which the tambourine will see heavy usage, such as rock drum set playing, consider using a tambourine with a plastic frame. These tend to stand up to abuse better than wood frames.
    • Applying a thin coat of beeswax to the head of the tambourine will assist in building the friction necessary for a good thumb roll.


    • Make sure to keep the tambourine as still as possible when not playing a stroke. This will prevent the zils from jingling unnecessarily. Care should also be taken when lifting and setting down the instrument during a piece of music.

    Things You'll Need

    • Tambourine
    • Stick or mallet
    • Beeswax

    Article Info

    Categories: Percussion | Musical Instruments

    In other languages:

    Español: tocar la pandereta, Italiano: Suonare il Tamburello, Русский: играть на тамбурине, Português: Tocar Pandeiro e Pandeirola

    Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 42,957 times.

    Did this article help you?