In most musical styles, the tamborim is played with a small wooden
drumstick. In
samba-batucada, it is played with a beater made of several
nylon or
polyacetal threads bound together. On rare occasions, it may be played with the fingers. The tamborim is held with the weaker hand with the thumb either crossing the rim and resting on the
drumhead, or gripping the frame. The other fingers are curled under the rim, with the index typically applying and releasing pressure on the underside of the head to achieve higher or lower notes. The beater is held with the strong hand and the head is struck a little off-center. A playing technique called
virado is often used, in which the drum is flipped upside-down in the middle of the pattern, which produces one note that is slightly delayed, giving the samba its characteristic lilt. The instrument may also occasionally be struck on the rim. Tamborim players alternate between the
carreteiro, the main groove pattern, and other signature phrases which are easily distinguished above the other percussion instruments. ==See also==