Timpani are large kettledrums used primarily in orchestral and band music. Each drum has a calfskin or synthetic head stretched over a copper or fiberglass bowl, and the pitch can be adjusted by tightening or loosening the head with a pedal or hand screws.

A standard set includes three or four drums of different sizes, allowing the player to produce a range of pitches. Timpani provide both rhythmic foundation and definite pitch, often reinforcing the harmonic bass or punctuating climaxes. The player uses mallets of varying hardness to achieve different articulations and tone colors.

Tuning the timpani accurately and quickly is a specialized skill. In performance the timpanist must watch the conductor while preparing changes of pitch between entries. The instruments’ powerful, resonant sound makes them indispensable for dramatic orchestral writing.

A well-played timpani roll can undergird an entire orchestral crescendo.