The group comprising timpani, bass drum, snare drum, and tambourine is best described as which family?

The group comprising timpani, bass drum, snare drum, and tambourine is best described as which family?

• A. Aerophone
• B. Membranophone
• C. Chordophone
• D. Idiophone

Answer: (B)

Sound is produced by a vibrating surface that is part of the instrument itself, specifically a stretched membrane in this group. Membranophones are percussion instruments whose sound comes from the vibration of a drumhead when struck. Timpani, bass drum, and snare drum are classic membranophones, and although tambourine has jingles, its main sound source is the drumhead’s vibration. This differs from aerophones (sound from vibrating air), chordophones (vibrating strings), and idiophones (the instrument itself vibrates without a membrane). So this group is best described as membranophones.

Sound is produced by a vibrating surface that is part of the instrument itself, specifically a stretched membrane in this group. Membranophones are percussion instruments whose sound comes from the vibration of a drumhead when struck. Timpani, bass drum, and snare drum are classic membranophones, and although tambourine has jingles, its main sound source is the drumhead’s vibration. This differs from aerophones (sound from vibrating air), chordophones (vibrating strings), and idiophones (the instrument itself vibrates without a membrane). So this group is best described as membranophones.