How To Play Global Tambourine Techniques with Tom Teasley
- Nathan Coles
- Apr 25
- 3 min read
Discover how to transform your tambourine playing with a fusion of techniques from the Arabic riq, Brazilian pandeiro, and Southern Italian traditions.
Table of Contents
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Meet Your Instructor
Tom Teasley is a Black Swamp Artist and a globally recognized percussionist and educator known for fusing world rhythms with contemporary performance. With deep roots in jazz, Middle Eastern, and classical traditions, Tom regularly tours internationally and has collaborated with artists across genres and cultures. His creative approach to frame drums and tambourines reflects decades of exploration, making him a go-to voice for innovative hand percussion techniques.
In this lesson, Tom is using a TC1S Chromium/Bronze tambourine with a synthetic remo head.
Introduction – A Global Mindset
Most percussionists view the tambourine as a one-dimensional orchestral accessory. But what if we told you it could become a full-bodied solo instrument, capable of complex grooves, layered textures, and even melodic phrasing?
That’s exactly what Tom Teasley does. Drawing on techniques from Arabic, Brazilian, and Southern Italian percussion traditions, Tom transforms a standard Black Swamp tambourine into a canvas for global rhythmic expression. Whether you’re a classical musician looking to expand your vocabulary or a hand drummer seeking new textures, these techniques will inspire your practice.
1. Jingle Articulation – Arabic Riq Influence
One of Tom’s go-to techniques is borrowed from the Arabic riq, a small, high-tension tambourine with heavy jingles. Unlike traditional orchestral tambourine playing, the focus here is on striking the jingles themselves.
To do this:
• Muffle the back pair of jingles with your thumb.
• Play on the front pair, using rhythmic finger patterns with your ring finger and fingers from your free hand.
• A favorite combo is a four-stroke ruff: three quick strikes followed by a ring finger accent on the opposite hand.
This creates a rolling, groove-oriented feel that immediately sets your playing apart.
2. Head Playing – Doum & Tek Strokes
Next, Tom brings in finger drumming techniques familiar to players of the darbuka (doumbek), frame drum, and riq.
• Doum (low sound): Played with the index finger, roughly ¾ of the way from the center.
• Tek (high sound): Played with the ring finger, closer to the edge of the head.
Combined with a tick sound from the jingles, this allows you to mimic bass and snare tones, creating rhythmic depth and even melodic phrasing on a single drumhead.
3. Pivot Stroke – Brazilian Pandeiro
Borrowed from pandeiro technique, the pivot stroke is a subtle, powerful way to keep your groove moving.
Rather than striking the head, you:
• Move your hand in a circular swivel motion, allowing the jingles to shake.
• Use this between phrases or during softer sections to create a rolling sustain.
This motion adds breath and dynamics to your playing without overpowering the ensemble—or your hands.
4. Triple Stroke – Southern Italian Tambourine
Southern Italian tambourine playing is famous for its fast, intricate rhythms. One standout stroke involves getting three distinct hits from a single hand motion:
• Start with the thumb.
• Move to the side of the index finger.
• Finish with a sweep of the remaining three fingers.
This motion—when done at speed—produces a cascading triplet rhythm that sounds far more complex than it is, making it a favorite for adding dramatic flair and momentum.
Hybrid Style: Bringing It All Together
When combined, these techniques allow Tom to create a pan-global hybrid approach to tambourine playing. He blends:
• Middle Eastern finger finesse
• Brazilian fluidity
• Southern Italian flair
• Classical precision
The result? A tambourine performance style that is expressive, technically rich, and globally inspired—all made possible by a well-crafted instrument and an open mind.
The tambourine doesn’t have to be a background player. With the right mindset and a few global techniques, it can become the centerpiece of your percussion setup.
So grab your instrument, explore these ideas, and see what happens when you blur the lines between tradition and innovation.
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