Tambour de basque

As Printed on a Score

French for tambourine, abbreviated T. de B. or Tamb. de basque on later systems. Do not read it as tambour (the side drum) or tambourin (the long Provençal drum): only the full phrase means the jingled frame drum. Single strokes are plain notes; a shake or thumb roll is written with tremolo strokes and named in words.

Abbreviations: Tamb. de basque, T. de B.

How Composers Use It

The name — the “Basque drum” — already signals Spanish dance colour, which is how French composers used it. Name the stroke when it matters (struck, shaken, thumb roll); a loud shake covers more of the texture than you expect, while single light taps can stay delicate. Give the player a moment to pick it up, since it is held in the hand.

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