Which of the following is a percussion membranophone?

Prepare for the Academic Decathlon Music Test! Practice with flashcards and multiple choice questions that include hints and explanations. Enhance your knowledge and boost your exam readiness today!

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a percussion membranophone?

Membranophones produce sound from a stretched membrane that vibrates when struck. The timpani fits this description perfectly: it’s a kettle drum with a drumhead stretched over a shell, and striking or tightening the head makes the membrane vibrate to produce sound with adjustable pitch. The other instruments here generate sound from solid bodies vibrating themselves: xylophone uses wooden bars, cymbals are metal plates, and the triangle is a bent metal rod. Since only the timpani uses a membrane to create sound, it’s the percussion membranophone.

Membranophones produce sound from a stretched membrane that vibrates when struck. The timpani fits this description perfectly: it’s a kettle drum with a drumhead stretched over a shell, and striking or tightening the head makes the membrane vibrate to produce sound with adjustable pitch. The other instruments here generate sound from solid bodies vibrating themselves: xylophone uses wooden bars, cymbals are metal plates, and the triangle is a bent metal rod. Since only the timpani uses a membrane to create sound, it’s the percussion membranophone.

More practice questions