Membranophone Percussion Instruments: Pitched and Unpitched Types
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Membranophone Instruments Explained
Membranophone instruments produce sound through a vibrating membrane. Percussionists make the membrane vibrate by striking it with their hands or hitting it with wooden sticks called drumsticks or mallets.
Although many membranophone instruments have a system for adjusting the tension of the membrane or drum skin, only a few membranophones allow the percussionist to determine the precise pitch of the sounds the instrument emits. Membranophones are classified into two groups: pitched and unpitched.
Pitched Membranophones
Most instruments in this group have a single membrane and can emit a note that is tuned to a musical scale. The best-known instruments in this group include timpani (also called kettledrums), which are the percussion instrument par excellence in a symphonic orchestra, and bongos, which are two essential instruments in any Latin music ensemble.
Timpani (Kettledrums)
Timpani have a pedal that is used to adjust the tension of the membrane so the instrument can play notes. The instrumentalist uses drumsticks, usually wrapped in felt, to produce sound.
Congas and Bongos
Congas and Bongos are played with the hands. By using different parts of the hand to strike the instrument and hitting different parts of the membrane, it is possible to obtain a vast variety of sounds.
Unpitched Membranophones
The instruments in this group do not emit tuned sounds. Nevertheless, they play a crucial role in many musical works. These instruments often have two membranes, one on top and one on the bottom. They can be played using one or two drumsticks. Even though these instruments are not tuned, the pitch can be adjusted by tensing the membranes (the tenser the membrane, the higher the pitch).
Some of the most typical instruments include the bass drum, the drum, and the snare drum.
The Snare Drum
The snare drum is easy to distinguish thanks to its sharp sound. This distinctive sound is produced by a series of metal wires that are in contact with the bottom of the drum and vibrate along with the drumskin.