Best Tambourines

Whether you’re just starting out your musical journey or have been playing for a while, you can’t go wrong with the Remo tambourine. From the date of its establishment back in the 60's, the brand has always been associated with high-quality and reliable instruments. Today, we’ve chosen the Remo TA-5210-70 as one of the best products in their lineup, thanks to its reasonable price and impressive set of features.

The drumhead on this model is made out of Fiberskyn with a sturdy Acousticon shell which allows it to withstand pretty hard playing. You can sing gospel in church, busk on the streets, or shake the instrument around in an improvised jam-session, tapping it wildly. No matter what you do, the drumhead will stay whole and you’ll get juicy layered sounds that will make your music stand out.

The Remo TA-5210-70 has 2 rows with 8 pairs of zils on each so the jingling will be loud and echo for a while, which is perfect for loud concerts as well as intimate acoustic sets. The tambourine is quite easy to hold using the special metal hole. You can hook your finger through it and shake the instrument with one hand, though it might take some getting used to at first. The Remo TA-5210-70 weighs just 14.4 ounces, however, the prolonged usage might put some strain on your digits and you should practice a bit before doing long sets with this instrument. Other than that, our only complaint is that this tambourine can’t be mounted on a drum kit, which would add some versatility to your performances.

However, these flaws are minuscule compared to the kind of quality you get with the Remo TA-5210-70. This is an instrument you can really rely on; it's a percussive wonder that will get everybody in the earshot on their feet and dancing.

For another true and tried tambourine, we’ve turned to the Rhythm Tech RT1010, one of the flagship models of a brand that has undergone some huge changes in terms of design. The founder of the company Richard Taninbaum was the one who came up with an idea of creating a tambourine in a crescent shape so that it will be lighter in weight and more comfortable to hold than any regular one. If you seek a tambourine for recording sessions, long concerts, or just for practice, which may take hours upon hours, your best bet is a crescent tambourine.

With an ergonomic cushioned handle, the Rhythm Tech RT1010 is easy to grasp firmly, so you can get as wild as you want in your music, shaking the instrument and jumping around making your audience dance. This and the 12-ounce weight make this light tambourine perfect for street musicians.

Despite being so lightweight and seemingly simple in design, the Rhythm Tech instrument has a way of standing out with its nickel jingles that deliver a very bright sound. This makes it suitable for playing upbeat and dancey music that many people enjoy to perform.

To sum up, the Rhythm Tech RT1010 is a great product that will be good both for beginners and for experienced musicians who are tired of holding those bulky and unpractical instruments. While the majority of tambourines look and feel like cheap knockoffs made of recycled plastic, the Rhythm Tech’s nickel zils with a soft-grip handle will serve you for years without losing their convenient shape or breaking.

What could possibly be more fun than shaking your sleek black tambourine as you perform your favorite song? If you ask us, we'd say it's only shaking a tambourine that has a double crescent shape and comes with twice as many jingles as in ordinary models. If this description fits your needs and intentions, then we recommend you to consider the YMC TAM20-BLACK that will let you add a new layer to your music.

The instrument has 10 sets of 4 zils, with each of them being made out of stainless iron and with both rows of the frame featuring 5 sets. Even the slightest shake of the tambourine will get those 40 jingles ringing with a bright sound, which is just perfect for upbeat songs that you can dance to. If you're concerned with the tambourine being too heavy or inconvenient for long use, don't be as the instrument has an ergonomic grip and provides ample space for each finger, making it convenient to hold the instrument in hands. We do feel that the handle might appear to be just a bit too wide for people with small hands, so this particular model may be not the best choice for kids or women and may take some getting used to.

Thankfully, the YMC TAM20-BLACK is easy to hold as long as your palms are big enough. It weighs 13.6 ounces, which is neither too light nor too heavy. Busking or playing a concert with this stylish tambourine will always bring you nothing but joy. So if you want a double crescent instrument that jingles brightly and can get the crowd going, we can definitely recommend the YMC TAM20-BLACK.

If your hands are already occupied with another instrument, be it a guitar or a saxophone, you might think that it’s impossible to add some jingle to your music. Luckily, we’ve found a way out thanks to the Meinl Percussion FJS2S-BK, a tiny tambourine that you can wear on your feet.

The Meinl instrument is easy to strap on using a durable nylon elastic band that keeps the tambourine in place. You can tap your foot or walk around freely without the instrument falling off. This hassle-free mounting may come in handy when you have a concert to prepare for or/and lack time to fiddle with straps and locks.

We were a bit concerned with how wobbly this model looks but, after hearing from many satisfied customers, changed our opinion. The Meinl Percussion FJS2S-BK should easily hold on for a good while thanks to the reliable materials it's made of and on condition that you use it with care and make sure not to jump too much. Thankfully, you won't need to do so because a single light tap is enough to get all 4 pairs of jingles ringing loudly. As to the materials, the frame of the Meinl Percussion FJS2S-BK is made out of rubber wood, a tropical hardwood that is much more reliable than standard plastic which is used in the majority of budget tambourines.

In short, the 2.4-ounce foot tambourine from Meinl Percussion is easy to play and wear, making it a solid choice for guitarists or singer/songwriters. The stainless steel jingles that produce bright and loud sounds will let you reach a wider audience, while the instrument itself will serve you for years to come.

Just starting out in music and feel lost, needing to hone your skills with a simple yet melodic instrument? You’ve come to the right place because the Flexzion FBA_DHLF_MN_DRM_GRN is a good choice for any aspiring musician. This sleek tambourine, which is available in a variety of colors, is no worse than expensive high-end models designed for professionals and will surely become a trusty companion on your musical journey.

You can spend hours practicing without your arms getting tired, all thanks to the ergonomic handle with grooves for each finger. Shake the tambourine around as wildly as you want, the instrument won’t slip out of your hands. Despite the fact that the body of this model is made of plastic the instrument doesn't feel flimsy and can withstand heavy use very well. A wooden frame might have been nicer but it would have an impact on the cost, making the tambourine much pricier. 

Getting your start with percussive instruments will be easy as tapping the tambourine will get all 40 zils jingling crisply. We would’ve complained a bit about the sound from the jingles fading too fast but we don’t really expect a starter model to be perfect.

To summarize, this model has a bright sound and is easy to grip and play, which is important for an untrained player. While we wouldn't advise touring professionals to purchase this particular model, we'd certainly recommend it to those that have yet to find their way around music.