con tono indeterminado

English translation: indefinite pitch

23:28 Apr 16, 2015
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Music / Musical instruments
Spanish term or phrase: con tono indeterminado
Hi,

I'm translating a descriptions of musical instruments for an exhibition. The text is in Spanish and is to be translated into British English. The expression features in a description of a "pandereta", which is a type of tambourine. It is provided below to give you full context:

"La pandereta es un instrumento de percusión con tono indeterminado."

What would be the most idiomatic way of expressing this please? Thanks in advance. :)
Matt Valentine
Norway
Local time: 23:08
English translation:indefinite pitch
Explanation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitch_(music)#Definite_and_inde...
Selected response from:

George Rabel
Local time: 17:08
Grading comment
Thanks, George!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1of indeterminate pitch
Natalia Ulla
3 +2indefinite pitch
George Rabel


  

Answers


46 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
of indeterminate pitch


Explanation:
My studies (and online refs)


¨The tambourine is a percussion instrument of indeterminate pitch¨


See ref:....¨those whose pitches are both indeterminate and predominately unrecognizable (snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, triangle, tambourine, castanets, tam-tam, sleigh bells, rattles, and shakers)¨

http://www.newmusicbox.org/articles/the-problem-of-pitch-see...


    Reference: http://www.newmusicbox.org/articles/the-problem-of-pitch-see...
Natalia Ulla
Spain
Local time: 23:08
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish, Native in CatalanCatalan

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Charles Davis
8 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

52 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
indefinite pitch


Explanation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitch_(music)#Definite_and_inde...

George Rabel
Local time: 17:08
Native speaker of: Spanish
PRO pts in category: 36
Grading comment
Thanks, George!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Joel Schaefer: This is how I learned it.
7 hrs
  -> Thank you, Joel

agree  Charles Davis: "Indefinite" does seem to be the standard term.
7 hrs
  -> Thank you, Charles
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