How to Make Drum Heads
Some drummers like to make their own traditional hand drums, thereby making the drums an extension of themselves. Others own drums already and simply want to create their own heads for them. In either case, making a drum head for a hand drum is an ancient and true process that has evolved only slightly over time.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Animal hide
- Tub capable of holding water and large enough to contain an entire animal hide
- Hide-cutting tools
- Drum shell
- Hand drum tuning ropes
Instructions
-
-
1
Find a suitable animal hide from an online seller or at a physical store. The type of animal skin, its size and its thickness are a matter of taste. Different animal skins offer different tones and durability, and different drums require different sizes. If the drum requires only one head, a half hide is sufficient. If the drum requires two heads, obtain a full hide so both heads can be cut from the same piece.
-
2
Inspect the quality of the hide before purchasing. Look for consistency in the thickness of the hide, and look especially for holes or breaks in the skin. Breaks and holes render that portion of the hide unusable for the construction of a drum head.
-
-
3
Soak the rawhide in room-temperature water for at least six hours. The amount of time spent soaking the rawhide in water is another variable step. Some people prefer 24 hours or longer, but six hours generally is considered the minimum amount of time required. The duration is left up to the artisan.
-
4
Remove the rawhide from the water after the desired duration and lay it flat on a workable surface.
-
5
Place the drum shell on the rawhide, while the hide is still damp and pliable, in the location of the desired cut. Map out the cut of the rawhide by marking a circle around the drum shell, and allow at least 1 inch of extra circumference.
-
6
Cut the marked circle from the rawhide using appropriate hide-cutting tools.
-
7
Stretch the hide over the top of the drum. How tightly the hide is stretched is another variable left up to the builder, according to desires for tone and resonance.
-
8
Tie down the head with hand drum ropes and tune it to the desired pitch and resonance.
-
1
