Timbales

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Timbales (or tymbales) are shallow cylindrical single-headed drums, similar to single-headed tom-toms, but usually much higher tuned. The shells are referred to as cáscara, which is the Spanish word for shell. Cáscara is also the name of a rhytmic pattern common in salsa music that is played on the shells of the timbales. The shells are usually made of metal but some varieties are made of various woods. The heads are light and tuned fairly high for their size. Timbales is also the French word for timpani, thus the French refer to Afro-Cuban timbales as timbales latines. A musician who plays the timbales is called a timbalero.