Abstract: Tambourines and methods for playing tambourines are disclosed, which may overcome drawbacks inherent to the designs and playing techniques of conventional tambourines and tambourine-like percussion instruments. A tambourine includes a peripheral frame, a plurality of sound producing elements coupled to the frame, a rigid first rod coupled to the frame and extending substantially diametrically across the frame, and one or more rigid additional rods coupled to the first rod. A method for playing a tambourine having a peripheral frame and a plurality of sound producing elements coupled to the frame includes holding the tambourine by gripping a rigid first rod coupled to the frame and extending substantially diametrically across the frame, and by one or more rigid additional rods coupled to the first rod.