Timbales: Sharp, Cracking, Thumping and Penetrating!

Timbales can easily be a part of a singer’s percussion arsenal.? I have found that timbales can be implemented in many styles of music and not just limited to Latin or Afro-Cuban styles.

Try using the timbales for a quick sharp accent with ensemble parts, or play them simply to keep time with?the drummer to thicken the groove.?It is very common to have a cowbell or cowbells (high and low pitched)?mounted to the timbale stand for combinations of sounds and?rhythms.

ry this: play quarter notes (1 2 3 4) on the cowbell while playing an eighth note pattern on the side (the shell) of the timbale (1 - 2?- 3 -?4 -). Now reverse your hands so that the quarter notes play on?the timbale head while moving the eighth note pattern to the cowbell. Experimentation is key to discovery.

Play along?with a metronome or drum machine to lock into steady time. Timbales are a great accompaniment instrument as well as a dynamic soloing and?accent instrument.

As always, I recommend listening to and playing along with recorded music be it?CD’s, tapes, or records (remember them?) ?to hear yourself playing basic rhythms while blending into the groove. Search out the masters of timbales such as Tito Puente and listen to his style and play along!

Tito is so cool he was even on The Simpsons. A true testament to his timbale playing greatness!

A Brief History of the Timbales
Timbales are shallow single-headed drums, shallower in shape than single-headed tom toms, and usually tuned much higher. The timbalero (one who plays timbales) can use a variety of stick and hand strokes, rim shots, and rolls on the skins to produce a wide range of percussive expression. The shells are referred to as cáscara (the Spanish word for shell) which is also the name of a rhythmic pattern common in salsa music that is played on the shells of the timbales to keep time. The shells are usually made of metal but some manufacturers offer shells made of maple and other woods. Typically the heads are light and tuned fairly high for their size.

Timbale is the French word for Timpani thus the French refer to Afro Cuban timbales as timbales latines. In fact, timbales were invented in the early 20th century as a more portable replacement for the standard timpani used in Afro-Cuban orchestras. Traditionally, a pair of timbales is mounted on a stand and played while standing. They may be played with drumsticks, or more traditionally with timbale sticks which are straight sticks with no shoulder or head. The head diameters usually range from 12” to 16” with a pair normally differing in size by one inch. The smaller drum is the “Macho” (male) and the larger the “Hembra” (female). Skilled players strike the heads, rims, and shells in rapid succession to produce lively rhythms.

Manufacturers have recently produced small timbales (usually called “timbalitos” or “mini timbales”) with diameters of 6”, 8” or 10”; usually they are sold as pairs and are suitable for kit drummers. They may be mounted slightly above and between the two timbales a little further from the player. It is fun to express yourself creatively by incorporating timbales into larger percussion set ups consisting of cowbells, cymbals, wood blocks, congas and bongos. Having options is always a good thing!

So whether you are a beginning student of percussion or a seasoned veteran, there is always more to be learned about the musical application of Timbales. Experiment with tuning, muting,?different sticks, rods and mallets. There is no limit to your creativity. Open your ears and open your mind.