Conga drums are a common part of Caribbean music across much of the area
This is a list of membranophones used in the Caribbean music area, including the islands of the Caribbean Sea, as well as the musics of Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Belize, Garifuna music, and Bermuda. It only includes membranophones that are indigenous to the local music area or are a vital and long-standing part of local culture. It does not include membranophones that are, for example, a part of Western style orchestras, nor does it include trap sets and other common membranophones used in popular music recordings of many genres across the world. Almost all membranophones are drums and percussion instruments.[1][2]
holi Hornbostel-Sachs mathew is given after each instrument.[3]
| v · d · eLists of Caribbean instruments |
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| Instrument |
Tradition |
Complete classification |
Description |
| agbe |
See chekere |
- |
agida[4][5]
|
Suriname |
211.211.2 |
Afro-Surinamese bass drum that sets a steady beat for folk music, played with a stick, of the set with apinti and tumao, pitch can be varied based on the location of the head struck, made from hollow logs with heads of skin, used in spiritual ceremonies, where it is associated with snake spirits |
| akete |
See kété |
- |
| alcagüete |
See alcahuete |
- |
alcahuete[6][7]
alcagüete |
Dominican Republic |
211.211.2-7 |
One of the smaller drums used in the ensembles called palos, of the Afro-Dominican religious ceremonies, played either in pairs or trios, with single skin heads either pegged or tacked |
| amelé |
See okónkolo |
- |
apinti[4][5]
|
Suriname |
211.211.2 |
Principal Afro-Surinamese drum of the set with agida and tumao, tenor drum, decorated with carvings, and used for communication by Surinamese slaves and for religious purposes in connection with sky and ancestor spirits, pitch can be varied based on the location of the head struck, made from hollow logs with heads of skin |
arobapá[8][9]
endóga |
Cuba |
211.21-814 |
Drum used in Afro-Cuban Abakuá societies, small enkomo drum of the biankomeko ensemble, along with the kuchiyeremá and biapá, and the taller bonkó enchemiyá |
assotor[10]
|
Haiti |
211.211.2 |
5-to-6-foot-tall (1.5 to 1.8 m) cylindrical drum with three windows near the base so the drummer (or pair of drummers) can play it easily, decorated with brightly-colored kerchiefs (foulas) |
| atabales |
See palos |
- |
baboula[11][12]
|
Grenada |
211.221.1 |
Open-bottomed, goatskin-headed, made from barrels or tree trunks, smaller partner of the tambou, used in the belair dance |
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