Membranophones: What are they?
So like with our idiophones, this group of instruments also have to be struck to create a sound. The difference though, is that these ones have a thin membrane cover that is stretched over top of one side, and this is where the instrument gets hit. And so when the instrument is struck, it's actually this covered portion that starts vibrating, producing our sound, rather than the whole object itself.
The best examples to use from our classroom are our drum kit, our congas, and other hand drums. In the case of these, the membrane is the top portion or "drum heads" which we hit with either sticks, mallets, or our hands.
The best examples to use from our classroom are our drum kit, our congas, and other hand drums. In the case of these, the membrane is the top portion or "drum heads" which we hit with either sticks, mallets, or our hands.
Do factors like material and size also have an effect on Membranophones?
Just as with our idiophones, these factors also play a role in how membranophones sound.
- Material: The drum head on these can be made from a variety of different things including synthetics and animal skins. These different types affect the timbre and warmth of our membranophones' sound the same way it did with our idiophones, even if it's a different part that's generating the sound!
- Size: Let's picture our drum kit again, and picture our snare drum and our bass drum side by side. The bass drum is much larger in size, which means that its "membrane" or drum skin is also much larger than the snare's. Now let's think about the sound they make and which one is lower. If you thought the bass drum, then you were correct, and again we can see the relationship that as something get's bigger in size, it creates a lower pitched sound.