How the tambin makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the tambin belongs to the free aerophones: the vibrating air is not enclosed in the instrument.
More broadly it is one of the aerophones (wind instruments), where sound comes from vibrating air.
Its timbre – the colour that lets you tell it apart from other instruments playing the same note – comes from the mix of overtones its body and resonator emphasise.
From Wikipedia
The tambin (also sereendu, fulannu or Fula flute) is a diagonal diatonic flute without a bell, made from a conical vine, with three finger-holes and a rectangular embouchure with two wings on either side. It is considered the national instrument of the Fula people of West Africa and is similar in its sound and quality to the Middle Eastern ney. The flute has a two and a half octave range, achieved by overblowing to different overtones. It is traditionally tuned to an approximately equidistant heptatonic scale. Players often employ a technique of singing alternately or simultaneously to blown notes. The flute was used in the 2018 Marvel movie Black Panther.
Other free aerophones
Frequently asked questions
What does a tambin sound like?
As one of the free aerophones, its sound comes from the way the vibrating air is not enclosed in the instrument.
What type of instrument is the tambin?
It is classified as free aerophones (Hornbostel–Sachs 411.111.22).