by Berimbau » Mon Apr 24, 2006 1:29 pm
Hey Mango!
I use a numbar of different tambourines in my work and enjoy having a many choices to fit the variety musical contexts that I work in - Brasilian, jug band, South Italian, gospel, etc. To pick just one is a tricky proposition, but let's examine the variables.
I think you are wise to choose a 10 inch drum with a tunable head as this will provide a wide range of sounds and possibilities. Drums with tunable heads are usually better built and hence a bit more reliable. Try to choose a drum with a good balance of jingle to head sound ratio, especially if you want to play using traditional hand techniques. An instrument with a single row of jingles works best. One that isn't too heavy is also important, especially if you end up playing it a lot on the gig! Plastic or natural head? Calf sounds better but can be unreliable in humid conditions. Either way, use a little rosin around the circumerence of the tambourine's playing area to get a consistant thumb roll.
So now, which brand? The sad news is that most tunable tambourines are poorly made and can fall apart rapidly. The Sonar drum company makes a nice, but expensive 10 inch tunable tambourine for classroom use. Airto ued to play one a lot. But they are a bit hard to come by, check out some sites that supply Orff instruments for schools. Pearl also makes a 10 inch tunable called a "tombourine" that looks good although I haven't actually played one.
A good Brasilian pandeiro might work as well. You could always replace the jingles if you want a brighter sound. The Cooperman drum company sells a variety of jingles.
Saludos,
Berimbau
.