How the pate makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the pate belongs to the struck idiophones: the body is struck directly – bells, gongs, xylophones and cymbals.
More broadly it is one of the idiophones, where the solid body of the instrument itself vibrates, without strings or a stretched membrane.
Players shape its sound through technique and materials; the resonating body filters the raw vibration, boosting some harmonics and damping others.
From Wikipedia
The Pātē is a Samoan percussion instrument of Tahitian origin, named after the Samoan word for "beat" or "clap" "pulse". It is one of many Samoan log drum variants and is of the slit drum family, and therefore is also of the idiophone percussion family. It is made from a hollowed-out log, usually of Miro wood and produces a distinctive and loud sound. Different sizes of log drums offer different pitches and volumes, as well as striking the log drum in the middle or near the ends.
Other struck idiophones
Frequently asked questions
What does a pate sound like?
As one of the struck idiophones, its sound comes from the way the body is struck directly.
What type of instrument is the pate?
It is classified as struck idiophones (Hornbostel–Sachs 111.243).
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q2081927 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Pate (instrument) – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by Koffeinoverdos – CC BY-SA 3.0