Tam-tam

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The Tam-Tam is a huge metal percussion instrument which makes an unforgettable booming sound. It is a type of gong, but it is made of thinner metal than most gongs and has no raised boss in the center. When you strike the tam-tam, the sound gets louder and louder, building up to a shimmering climax before fading away.

Family
Percussions
Pitch range
None.
Material
Usually bronze, a mixture of copper and tin.
Size
More than 30 in (75 cm) in diameter.
Origins
The tam-tam's origins are uncertain, but it may have originated in the country Hsi Yu - between Burma and Tibet - in the early 6th century.
Classification
Idiophone: an instrument that produces its sound through the use of the material from which it is made, without needing strings or a stretched skin.
And also...
In the East, the gong is considered to be an enormous good-luck charm. Touching a gong is believed to bring a person happiness and strength.

picture of Tam-tam