Recording Tambourine

[bobbydj]

Which has the added bonus of floating, should you drop it in the river whilst recording in your kayak. Y'know, how y'do.

[CaptainAdultDiapers]

Thanks for the replies. I was trying to do it all myself yesterday and got a little frustrated. I got a friend coming over tonight so I will give these ideas a try.

Thanks

[SpaceCad]

One variation I have like in the past is to set the tambourine on the floor and play it with my foot (like a kick pedal). It's a lot easier to do this with the semi-circular ones, but I prefer the ones with a hide. If you use a round one, just use a wedge as a fulcrum. Set the tambo on a rug or fine carpet to cut the transient and use a 57 a couple of feet above. Works for a deadened, jangly sound.

[New Orleans Steve]

Hi, i to have been recording tam. My proformer plays it with his hand while holding it on his lap. He said it gives hem more control. After seeing it in action, i tend to agree. Not the traditional style, but, in this case it worked.
Speaking about tambourine -Has everyone seen "Standing in the Shadows of Motown"? I mean I have NEVER seen the insturment make such a contrubution to the music! A real insperation. It was the loudest thing in the mix. And well it should have been. Lead Tambourine? This guy stole the show.
What was his name -he should be in the R-n-R hall of fame, if he's not already!
New Orleans Steve

check us out on the web www.frenchmenstreetrecords.com

[hulahalau]

His name is Jack Ashford.

And take a good look at his technique; it gives the lie to those "experts" who say you shouldn't hit the T with your hand.

[supafuzz]

wood tambourine /no skin/ stapes audio mic/ neve preamp..it sounds so fucking realistic!!

I play every tambourine I come across and must have tried literally hundreds listening for the sound..

Finally got a 50's japanese tambourine[really!!] at a flea market in nyc for $5 it's a Stewart model #919 [ i shit you not!] sounds great...

I keep searching for the Beatles tambourine sound which to me sounds more metallic..

[pantone247]

I agree with the playing sitting down, I just 'drop' the thing on my knee rahter then try 'clap' with it, gives a more defintie sound, well I think.

For me a big big part of recording Tamb is treating it afterwards, I use a lot of short delays to get that jangle going on once it's recorded.

Anyone else any tips for delaying or reverbing or [insert effect here]?

[Seej]

I you're used to the feel of playing it that way, try folding a hand towel a couple of times and grabbing that with the hand you're hitting so the tambourine whacks that instead of your hand.

I use my winter gloves which arent that thick, but good enough to stop the pain to my left palm.

[vvv]

The opposite of what some said ($100 for a tambo?), but consider a toy tambourine.

My kids have lots of little percussion noismakers, and many are very useful. The little Fisher-Price type tambos with only 4 sets of disks is killer.

Now I just have to find a use for my 5 year old's electric drum kit...

[joeysimms]

Anyone else any tips for delaying or reverbing or [insert effect here]?

I've had success sending it through an aux. to a short plate sound from an ensoniq dsp-4, and using mostly the effect return channel.

Speaking of motown / Jack Ashford, check that thWAPP! in Dancing in the Streets, it sounds like tambourine slap,a 2 x 4, handclaps, and a garbage can all mixed together! Delicious..