Buyer's Guide for Timbales

Guide to Buying Timbales

Timbales are cylindrical, usually metal drums which are played with a pair of sticks, sometimes along with a cymbal or bell and/or perhaps a wood or plastic block. They are of Cuban origin, and are actually related to the tympani. Timbale drums are occasionally referred to as "pailas" or pails, because of their origins in sugar cane factories as vessels of iron or copper used to hold "guarapo," the juice of the cane.

Timbale drums (sometimes spelled tymbales) are shallow, single-headed drums, and are usually much higher tuned than typical drum toms. The player, known as a "timbalero," uses timbale sticks, rim shots, and rolls on the skins to produce a wide range of percussive sounds during solos and at transitional sections of music, and usually plays the shells of the drum or auxiliary percussion such as a cowbell or cymbal to keep time at other parts of the song.

Timbales is also 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, although advanced timbaleros such as Tito Puente may use more than two timbales, even up to seven or eight in one set, often suspended from shoulder straps rather than on a stand.

The shells are referred to as the "cascara" (Spanish for shell) which is also the name of a rhythmic pattern to keep time in Salsa music. Timbale shells are usually made of metal but some manufacturers offer shells made of maple and other woods.

Timbales may be played with drumsticks, or more traditionally with timbale sticks which are straight sticks with no shoulder or head. Timbale drum head diameters usually range from 12" to 16" with a pair normally differing in size by one inch. As with the bongos, the smaller drum is the "macho" or male and the larger is the "hembra" or female. Rhythmic figures tend to cast the two drums in sexual roles, with the macho providing the sharper, attacking sounds.

Some manufacturers have introduced smaller timbales called "timbalitos" or "mini timbales" with diameters of 6", 8" or 10". These are usually sold as pairs and are mostly suitable for drummers. Drummer John Dolmayan of System of a Down is known for using two mini timbales (6" and 8") on his drum kit.

Timbales can be heard in many, mostly Latin based, musical genres including Salsa, Merengue, Son, Cumbia, Mambo, Rumba, Latin Rock, Latin Folklore, Afro-Latin Jazz, and Neo-Bossa Nova.

Some of the world's best timbales are made by Latin Percussion (better known as LP) and Tycoon Percussion.