Tambourine Steps

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Steps are the building blocks tambourine playing. Many steps put together form movements. Before beginning to learn movements, you should first learn how to play the steps in each movement.

You should start by learning how to play the “Shake”, the foundation step of the Timbrel Praise style of tambourine playing. Practise it lots as you will use it in most tambourine movements.

Step Name

 

Description

 

Bang the tambourine’s North side on the 1st four fingers of your non playing hand.

Move the tambourine TO your hand.

The membrane should not touch the palm of your hand.

Counting

 

Each Bang is usually worth either 1/2 or 1 beat.

The presence of an ‘S’ indicates that the South side be used.

An “LT’ or “RT’ indicates that the front left or right thigh be used.

The Bang

Symbol(s)

 

 

Do 1 Bang followed by 0.5/1 Shake.

1 Continuous Bang is usually worth 1 Beat.

 

Do 1 Bang on the North side of your tambourine, followed by 1 Bang on the South side.

For this step both your non playing hand and your tambourine should turn.

Unless otherwise indicated, this step begins on the North side of your tambourine.

Each turn of the tambourine equals 1 Double Bang. 

2 Double Bangs are usually worth 1 beat.

This step resembles the Shake, but with a Bang at each turn.

A South Bang

 

Using a wrist action, swing the tambourine back and forth, with the membrane facing the direction of movement.

1 Swing is usually worth ½ beat.

Unless otherwise indicated, the membrane should face left.

 

Whip the tambourine in the direction indicated, skimming the membrane with the open palm of your non playing hand.

When more than one Skinner is to be played, a line above or below the symbol indicates in which direction the return Skinner should be played.

Arrows indicate in which direction to begin.

Unless other indicated, the membrane should face left.

1 whip of the tambourine is counted as 1 Skinner and is usually worth 1 beat.

The beginning of the Skinner

 

Tap the inside membrane of your tambourine with the first 3-4 fingers of your non playing hand.

Unless other indicated, the membrane should face down.

1 Under Hit is usually worth 1 beat.

The Under Hit

 

Phase 1

Begin with the tambourine membrane facing you, often upper centre.

Phase 2

Let the tambourine fall anti clockwise, to your left, without moving your arm, only your wrist.

Phase 3

Bring the South side up to the right, continuing in the anti clockwise direction until you return to the original position.

1 Twirl is usually worth 1 beat.

Primarily use only your wrist for this step.

Twirl – Phase 1

Twirl – Phase 2

 

Rattle the tambourine using a slight wrist motion — do not turn or twist the tambourine.

As there is no definite beginning or end to the Tingle, it is counted in beats:

  • 1 Tingle = 1 beat,
  • 2 Tingles = 2 beats, etc.

 

Symbol

Description

Do 1 Bang on the North side of your tambourine, followed by 1 Bang on the South side.

For this step both your non playing hand and your tambourine should turn.

Unless otherwise indicated, this step begins on the North side of your tambourine.

Counting

Each turn of the tambourine equals 1 Double Bang. 

2 Double Bangs are usually worth 1 beat.

This step resembles the Shake, but with a Bang at each turn.

A South Bang