The pandeiro is a type of hand drum that's thought of as one of the most versatile of all Brazilian percussion instruments. Pandeiros are used in a wide range of Brazilian music styles, including samba, pagode and capoeira. You could compare the pandeiro to the European tambourine, though the pandeiro is equipped with an adjustable drum head. Additionally, the metal jingles (platinelas) are domed on the pandeiro, which creates a sharper tone that's dryer and less continuous than that of a tambourine.
You can play the pandeiro by holding it in one hand while striking the drum head with the other hand. Typical pandeiro patterns are played by switching between striking with the thumb, fingertips, heel of the hand, and palm of the hand.
