Who's the better tambourine player?

I am not kidding. I think there is too little discussion of The
Beatles' use of percussion instruments (other than drums). For
example, whoever played tambourine on We Can Work It Out "made" the
song, as far as I am concerned. There's also a great combination of
maracas and tambourine (I believe) on Think for Yourself, a song which
has so much more to commend it. The tiny cymbals on Norwegian Wood,
the soft skinned arabian drum (?) on I'm Happy Just To Dance With You

cuppajoe2go...

Yeah, about a year ago I thought the same thing and brought it up. I
got trounced on. Now I only post when I think the weather is about to
change. Love your subject...I think it's fascinating listening to all
that extra stuff. Is some of it painstakingly planned, or some of it
thrown in for filler? Sometimes there appears a pattern, other times
willy nilly. Fascinating.

minglewood...

I love those percussive touches too, especially on 1965 stuff when
everything is so spare. Geoff Emerick relates a few interesting things
about the added percussion in his recent book. He says that Ringo
usually played the maracas or tambourine while seated at his drums.
And there is a stray--but splendid--comment in Barry Tashian's
published diary (Ticket to Ride) of his touring with the Beatles in
1966 as one of the Remains. He recounts that Ringo told him that he
got the tapping sound on "I'm Looking Through You" by tapping on a pack
of matches with his finger. I've never seen that mentioned anywhere
else, but when you think about it, that's what it sounds like.

brink...

I think tambourine qualifies as an instrument that only stands out when it's
*not* played well.

Several songs from the Rubber Soul/Revolver era -- can't remember which ones
honestly -- have some horribly out of pocket or just flat-out indecisive and
messed up tambourine playing.

Danny Caccavo...

You're thinking of the tambourine on "We Can Work It Out" and "Day
Tripper." Pretty sloppy stuff.

Love the tambourines on I am The Walrus, Baby You're A Rich Man and Hey
Bulldog. All Paul, I think. But I really don't know who played on other
tracks.

Oh, good tambourine on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

Taxman.

For No One.

tons more.

JohnB...

I believe some drummers like the effect of hanging a tambourine from
one of the pegs on their bass drum. Anyone know if Ringo ever did
this?

Tambourine is not easy to play consistently well. Try it. Your arm

DayTripper1966...

That might be true. But I cannot think of another instrument that is
easier to learn.

gets tired, you lose concentration, it's easy to miss the beat. Same
with marraccas, shaky eggs, claves and lots of other percussive
instruments. We all think we can play them but doing it well takes
practice.

Ray Cooper, who played with Elton John's band, is probably the best
known session percussionist (as opposed to drummer).

cgott...

I think they brought in Tracy from the Partridge family for some of the
more complex parts.

Runnnerr...

Didn't Peter Noone from The Hermits shake it pretty mightily?

DayTripper1966...

Hey, don't knock it! It takes years of training to be able to play the
tambourine. For example, there is the complex decision on whether to
bang it against the hip or other wrist.

fattuchus...

But what about banging it against one's genitals? Doesn't that make it
sound and feel special? :)

Man, wouldn't that be a kinky way to play it?

Dr. Strangemonde...

You'd be surprised how easy it is to play the tambourine badly! I
played drums/percussion on one track of the new Daniel Johnston album
"Lost & Found"*, and though my work on the snare & hi-hat are adequate,
my go at the tambo was disastrous!

I swear -- listening to the CD, it doesn't so much sound as though I'm

Dr. Strangemonde...

- Dr Strangemonde

*(The song is called "Rockin' 'Round the Christmas Tree", and I
received a check in the amount of $60 for my work as a "tambourine
session player"!)

**(Coming soon: Samuel L. Jackson's debut CD, "Snakes Under a
Tambourine"!)

Danny Caccavo...

My vote for the world's worst tambourine playing - The Rolling Stones
"Time Is on my side"

cuppajoe2go...

Oh man, I agree.....whew!