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What are membranophones and which instruments belong to this group?
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A membranophone is a category of musical instrument in which sound is produced by the vibration of a stretched membrane. This classification system, part of the Hornbostel-Sachs system, is used to provide an acoustically based alternative to the broader, less precise term percussion instruments.12
Instruments in this group generate sound through various methods, including striking, rubbing, or singing into the membrane. Common examples include:3
- Drums: These are the most prominent members of the class and are further categorized by their shape, such as barrel, cylindrical, frame, goblet, and waisted.12
- Friction drums: These produce sound through friction, typically by drawing a stick back and forth through a hole in the membrane.2
- Mirlitons: Also known as a kazoo, these instruments utilize a vibrating membrane to modify sound.23
It is important to note that some instruments may belong to multiple categories depending on how they are played. For instance, a tambourine is considered a membranophone when its skin head is struck, but it functions as an idiophone if it is only shaken to sound its jingles.1