This classical member of the percussion family can be played with the hand or with a beater.
Sturdy, wooden frames have pairs of metal jingles ( called 'zils') mounted to give a bright and crisp percussive sound that even young children will enjoy making music with. They can be played in numerous ways, from stroking or shaking the jingles to striking it sharply with the hand or a stick or using the tambourine to strike the leg or hip.
Play fortissimo or pianissimo! 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.