An Investigation into the Mechanisms of Leather Materials in Tone Regulation of Traditional Percussion Instruments

Ning Zhao

Article
2026 / Volume 9 / Pages 351-365
Received 5 September 2025; Accepted 23 September 2025; Published 28 February 2026
https://doi.org/10.31881/TLR.2026.351

Abstract
This research provides a quantitative analysis of how leather materials influence the acoustic timbre of percussion instruments. It establishes a direct correlation between the mechanical properties of leather and the instrument’s acoustic performance. Key parameters of tanned leathers—including modulus of elasticity, density, thickness, and internal damping—were empirically measured and used as inputs for a finite element method (FEM) simulation to model membrane vibration. The simulation’s predictions of the sound spectrum were validated against experimental measurements from prototype instruments. The results demonstrate that leathers with higher stiffness and damping (e.g., vegetable-tanned) produce a timbre with rapid decay of upper partials, while those with lower damping (e.g., chrome-tanned) yield a brighter, more resonant sound. This “brighter” quality corresponds to a sound spectrum with more persistent and prominent upper-frequency partials. This study deconstructs traditional instrument-making craft into a set of engineering principles, offering a predictive model that links material processing to acoustic output. The findings have direct applications in materials science, acoustic engineering, and the design of novel sound-producing systems.

Keywords
leather, material properties, acoustic engineering, timbre control, finite element method (FEM)