How to Build Native American Drums

Native American drums are built from various local natural materials. The drum head is made from stretched hide. To build a high quality Native American drum requires patience. Native American drums are used in many rituals and ceremonies and also used for interior decorating. The drum's intended use will determine the level of skill required.

Instructions

1. Choose the drum body. The drum body must be solid without cracks. A single heavy carved wood drum body is the best. The wood should be a easy to work but also substantial enough to withstand years of beating. Birch and maple are very good choices for making a Native American drum.

2. Select a fine grade of maple to make a hoop drum. A hoop drum is simply a heavy wooden hoop with an animal hide stretched across to form the drum head and fastened beneath with laces spaced evenly across the drum surface. This type of drum is fairly easy to make. Be sure to select the best quality laces as they keep the drum in tune.

3. Design a beater, or drumstick, to match the drum. The head of the drumstick is wrapped in hide bound to the stick with sinew or leather laces. Drumstick handles are wrapped with leather or rawhide to give them a good gripping surface. Leather laces often are wrapped around the end of the drumstick and left to dangle as the drummer performs.

4. Make a double headed drum. The drum body should be solid. The 2 skins need to be interlaced together to create a taught surface on each side. Rawhide, sinew, leather or other lacing can be used. The lacing also needs to be adjustable in order to tune the drum.

5. Buy a kit. Making a Native American drum can be simplified by buying the pieces pre-made. Assembly of the drum is not too difficult, and drummers can customize their newly built drum to suit their taste. Building a Native American drum with a kit teaches the builder how a drum is constructed and often leads to inspired original designs.

Resources

• Native American Culture
• Native American Drums
• The Drum People