With a head or without — which to choose?

It depends on the sound you need. Instruments with a head (headed tambourines, frame drums, pandeiro) give a full drum tone — you can play rhythms by striking the skin or plastic. Tambourines without a head focus on the bright sound of the jingles for accents and shaking. Many musicians have both. For a rhythmic foundation, take a headed instrument; for accents — a tambourine. We'll suggest which is better for your style.

Tambourines, Frame Drums & Hand Drums

Q: What is a tambourine?

A tambourine is a small percussion instrument in the form of a frame with metal discs (jingles) that jingle when struck or shaken. Tambourines come with a head (membrane) or without one, round or half-moon shaped, with one or two rows of jingles. They're played by hand, with the fingers, or mounted on a stand. Tambourines are used in pop, rock, folk, orchestra and worship. It's a simple and popular instrument. We'll suggest a tambourine for your style.

Q: How does a tambourine differ from a headed tambourine?

The terms are often used interchangeably, but there's a nuance. A 'headed' instrument usually has a membrane stretched over the frame and often jingles too — it's played by striking the head. A plain 'tambourine' more often means a frame with jingles and no head (or a small one), where the discs give the main sound. In practice the two overlap in stores. We'll suggest a specific model for your task and playing style.

Q: What is a frame drum?

A frame drum is a drum whose head diameter is greater than the depth of the shell (frame). It's one of the oldest drum types, common in many cultures: the Irish bodhran, the Middle Eastern def and riq, the tar, the Brazilian pandeiro, shamanic drums. They're played by hand, with the fingers, or with a special beater. Frame drums give a deep, frame tone and are used in folk, ethnic music, film, orchestra, meditation and sound therapy. We'll suggest a frame drum for your direction.

Q: What types of frame drums are there?

The most common frame drums: the Irish bodhran (played with a double-headed beater), the Middle Eastern def and daf, the riq (an Arabic tambourine with jingles), the tar, the Persian daire, the Brazilian pandeiro (a headed tambourine for samba), as well as the ocean drum (with beads inside to imitate waves) and shamanic drums. Each has its own timbre and playing technique. The head material is natural skin or synthetic. We'll suggest a specific type for your music and level.

Q: How do I choose a tambourine or frame drum?

Consider the purpose (pop/rock, folk, ethnic, orchestra, therapy), the presence of a head, the number and material of jingles, the frame size and the head material (natural skin — a warm authentic tone but sensitive to humidity; synthetic — stable and undemanding). For hand play, choose models comfortable in weight; for mounting — with a bracket. For ethnic music and therapy the character of the tone matters most. We'll suggest an instrument for your style, technique and budget.

Q: What are tambourines and frame drums used for?

Tambourines are used in pop, rock, folk, orchestra, at rehearsals and worship, and to teach children rhythm. Frame drums — in folk and ethnic music of different cultures, film and theatre music, orchestra, and in meditation, yoga and sound therapy (including the ocean drum and shamanic drums). These are expressive instruments, accessible for beginners and deep for masters. We'll suggest a model for your direction and tasks.

Q: Where can I buy tambourines and frame drums in Ukraine?

Tambourines, headed tambourines and frame drums can be bought at SoundsGood with delivery across Ukraine; consultation and self-collection are in Kyiv (Olzhycha St, 15, Dorohozhychi metro). We offer tambourines, headed tambourines, bodhrans, def, riq, pandeiro and ocean drums from Meinl, Remo, LP, Toca for folk, ethnic music, orchestra, study and therapy. Free delivery from 4000 UAH, instalment payment and invoices for institutions. We'll suggest an instrument for your style. Tel. +380 (73) 060 01 01.

Tambourines and Frame Drums — from a Pop Accent to an Ethnic Rhythm

Tambourines and frame drums are a family of hand percussion: tambourines with bright jingles, headed tambourines with a membrane, and frame drums (bodhran, def, riq, pandeiro, ocean drum). They add rhythm, colour and accents to pop, rock, folk, ethnic music and orchestra, as well as meditation and therapy. At SoundsGood — Meinl, Remo, LP, Toca for musicians, schools and practitioners. Free delivery across Ukraine from 4000 UAH, self-collection in Kyiv. We'll suggest an instrument for your style.

🔔Tambourines
Bright jingles

🥁Headed tambourines
Membrane + jingles

⭕Frame drums
Bodhran, def, riq

🌊Pandeiro & ocean drum
Ethnic & therapy

🥁 Types of instruments

🔔 Tambourines

A frame with jingles — bright accents for pop, rock and folk; played by hand or on a stand. Meinl, LP.

🥁 Headed tambourines

Membrane + jingles — a full drum tone for rhythms by striking the skin or plastic. Meinl.

⭕ Frame drums

Frame drums — bodhran, def, riq, tar for folk, ethnic music and film. Meinl, Remo.

🌊 Pandeiro & ocean drum

Ethnic & therapy — a Brazilian pandeiro for samba and an ocean drum for relaxation. Meinl, Remo.

🆚 Tambourine or headed frame drum

Both are from the frame family, but the sound and role differ.

Parameter	Tambourine	Headed / frame drum
Head	Often none	Has a stretched membrane
Main sound	Jingles (discs)	Striking the head
Role	Accents, shaking	Rhythmic foundation
Style	Pop, rock, folk	Ethnic, folk, therapy

Not sure — tell us the style, and we'll suggest.

🔍 What to look at when choosing

🎯 Purpose

Pop/rock, folk, ethnic or therapy — determines the type: tambourine, headed or a specific frame drum.

🥁 Head

Natural skin or synthetic — a warm authentic tone or stability to humidity.

🔔 Jingles

The number of rows and material (steel, brass) determine the volume and richness of the jingle.

📏 Size and weight

For comfortable hand play or mounting; a larger frame — a deeper tone.

⭐ Brands and categories

Tambourines

Meinl, LP — bright jingles for pop, rock and folk.

Headed

Headed tambourines

Meinl — a full drum tone plus jingles.

Frame drums

Remo, Meinl — bodhran, def, riq for ethnic music and film.

Pandeiro

Pandeiro & ethnic drums

Meinl, Remo — samba, bossa nova, ocean drum for therapy.

Percussion

All percussion

Cajons, djembes, congas, bongos, hand percussion.

Check exact availability and current models with our manager — we'll match an instrument to your style.

🚚 Delivery, warranty and instalments

📦

Delivery across Ukraine

Via Nova Poshta; free from 4,000 ₴

🏪

Pickup in Kyiv

Olzhycha St, 15, Dorohozhychi metro

🛡️

Official warranty

Original Meinl, Remo, LP

💳

Pay in instalments

PrivatBank, monobank — up to 12 payments

🎯

Selection by style

Type, head, size — we'll suggest

🎓

For schools and therapists

Student models, invoices, tenders

🔗 Related categories

❓ Frequently asked questions

What is a tambourine?

A small percussion instrument in the form of a frame with metal discs (jingles) that jingle when struck or shaken. It comes with a head or without, round or half-moon, with one or two rows of jingles. Played by hand, with the fingers or on a stand. Used in pop, rock, folk and orchestra.

How does a tambourine differ from a headed one?

A 'headed' instrument usually has a membrane stretched over the frame, often with jingles too — played by striking the head. A plain 'tambourine' more often means a frame with jingles and no head, where the discs give the main sound. In practice the two overlap.

What is a frame drum?

A frame drum whose head diameter is greater than the depth of the frame — one of the oldest types. They include the bodhran, def, riq, tar, pandeiro, shamanic drums. They give a deep frame tone; played by hand, fingers or a beater. Used in folk, ethnic music, film, orchestra and therapy.

What types of frame drums are there?

The Irish bodhran (played with a beater), the Middle Eastern def and daf, the riq (an Arabic tambourine), the tar, the Persian daire, the Brazilian pandeiro, the ocean drum (with beads to imitate waves) and shamanic drums. Each has its own timbre and technique. The head is skin or synthetic.

With a head or without?

Instruments with a head (headed tambourines, frame drums, pandeiro) give a full drum tone — you can play rhythms. Tambourines without a head focus on the bright jingles for accents. For a rhythmic foundation take a headed instrument; for accents — a tambourine.

How do I choose a tambourine or frame drum?

Consider the purpose (pop/folk/ethnic/therapy), the presence of a head, the number and material of jingles, the frame size and the head material (skin — a warm tone, sensitive to humidity; synthetic — stable). For hand play — comfortable in weight, for mounting — with a bracket.

What are they used for?

Tambourines — in pop, rock, folk, orchestra, at worship and in teaching children. Frame drums — in folk and ethnic music of different cultures, film and theatre music, orchestra, and in meditation, yoga and sound therapy (ocean drum, shamanic drums). Accessible for beginners and deep for masters.

Where can I buy them in Ukraine?

At SoundsGood with delivery across Ukraine; consultation and self-collection are in Kyiv (Olzhycha St, 15). Tambourines, headed tambourines, bodhrans, def, riq, pandeiro and ocean drums from Meinl, Remo, LP, Toca. Free delivery from 4000 UAH, instalments. Tel. +380 (73) 060 01 01.