The pandeiro is a Brazilian hand drum of the tambourine type: a round frame with a stretched head, into which pairs of small metal jingle-cymbals are mounted. Despite its outward resemblance to an ordinary tambourine, the pandeiro is considered one of the most versatile and virtuosic percussion instruments in the world.
The secret lies in the playing technique: with one hand the musician holds the instrument, while with the other they deftly strike the head with the thumb, the fingertips, the heel of the palm, and its edge in different places, at the same time controlling the tension and the sound of the jingles. This allows a single performer to reproduce a whole rhythmic ensemble — bass, “cracks,” and rustle. The pandeiro is the heart of many Brazilian genres, notably samba and choro, and an indispensable accompaniment to the martial dance capoeira.
