Tam-tam
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The Tam-Tam is a huge metal percussion instrument which makes an unforgettable booming sound. It is a type of gong, but it is made of thinner metal than most gongs and has no raised boss in the center. When you strike the tam-tam, the sound gets louder and louder, building up to a shimmering climax before fading away.
| Family |
| Percussions |
| Pitch range |
| None. |
| Material |
| Usually bronze, a mixture of copper and tin. |
| Size |
| More than 30 in (75 cm) in diameter. |
| Origins |
| The tam-tam's origins are uncertain, but it may have originated in the country Hsi Yu - between Burma and Tibet - in the early 6th century. |
| Classification |
| Idiophone: an instrument that produces its sound through the use of the material from which it is made, without needing strings or a stretched skin. |
| And also... |
| In the East, the gong is considered to be an enormous good-luck charm. Touching a gong is believed to bring a person happiness and strength. |
