Exploring hand drums opens up a fascinating universe of rhythm and melody, where each tap or shake brings a unique sound to life. Whether you’re a beginner eager to learn the basics or an experienced musician aiming to deepen your skills, this guide offers valuable insights and practical tips to help you master these ancient instruments.
Looking to learn or play a specific hand drum? This guide offers essential insights on various hand drums available, their history, and key information you should know.
How Does Hand Drum Works?
Hand drums usually sound when a player strikes a stretched head with the hands or fingers. A stroke near the center often gives a deeper tone, while a stroke nearer the edge can sound brighter. The result depends on the drum, tuning, playing technique, and where the hand makes contact.
Hand drums are categorized by their types and origins. This article aims to compare percussion instruments from various regions, highlighting their similarities.
We’ll also explore various shapes and frames of hand drums, starting with the earliest known hand percussion family. Understanding these basics gets you off to a solid start.
Different Types of Hand Drums
1) Frame Drums
The frame drum, known as doff, deff, daff, muzzar, and riq/riqq in various countries, is the most favored type of hand drum. Originating in North Africa, the Caucasus, and the Middle East, this instrument has found its way across the globe.
Frame drums are unique across cultures, each adapting a distinctive design that reflects their traditions. Essentially, they consist of a single wide drumhead and a wooden shell, making them light, portable, and affordable.
At first glance, frame drums may seem straightforward and effortless to play, but they hold a significant role in developing rhythmic skills.
Affordable and lightweight, frame drums are popular with kids of all ages, typically measuring eight to sixteen inches.
2) Djembe
The djembe, a goblet-shaped hand drum associated with West African traditions, can produce deep bass strokes, open tones, and sharp slaps. Its range of sounds helps explain why players use it in both ensemble rhythms and solo passages.
The history of Djembe begins with the Mandinka people of West Africa. Its diverse sounds have made it popular in the West. It’s an excellent companion for other instruments due to its ability to generate loud noises. Its lightness and portability make it easy for anyone to carry it around.
Fiberglass djembes can be durable and less sensitive to changes in humidity, while wooden models offer another established playing feel. Beginners should compare the head, comfort, weight, and sound rather than assume one shell material is always best.
To play the Djembe properly, it needs a height of 24 inches with a 12-inch head for adults. Position it between your legs for easy access to the head. Remember, a good-quality Djembe creates better sound, as cheaper ones tend to sound awful. Quality really matters with Djembes.
3) Tabla
The tabla is a pair of drums central to many North Indian music traditions. Its two different drums provide contrasting pitches and allow detailed finger and hand techniques. It is misleading to describe tabla simply as one large hand drum.
Tablas consist of two parts: the Dayan and the Bayan. The Dayan, positioned on the right, is the smaller drum that creates a high-pitched sound due to its wooden construction. On the left, the larger Bayan, made of brass or copper, complements with its deeper tones.
Each drum features a goatskin head that includes a black patch made of iron oxide and rice paste, among others, which gives the tabla its distinct sound.
Playing the tablas is incredibly engaging as it demands excellent hand skills and stylish finger motions.
The earliest clear visual records of the tabla in India go back to around 1745, with the drum’s shape settling only in the early 1800s. Siddhar Khan Dhadi, who set up the Delhi gharana around the early 1700s, is often credited with shaping it into a solo voice rather than just an accompaniment.
4) Bongos
The Cubans are renowned for more than their Cuban cigars; they also take pride in the Bongos, a traditional hand drum. Played by seating with the drums positioned between the legs, these compact paired drums embody a rich cultural tradition.
Bongos serve both solo and lead roles, crafted from wood shells and calfskin heads, though contemporary versions feature synthetic shells.
Bongos consist of two drums, a small one known as the macho and a larger one called the hembra. They can create a diverse range of sounds, making them perfect for all music genres. Some are crafted for Latin tunes, while others suit pop music better.
Price alone does not predict how a bongo pair will sound. Beginners can compare tuning range, head condition, rim comfort, and build quality. Wood and synthetic-shell instruments both deserve a playing test when possible.
5) Congas
Congas are tall hand drums with different head diameters for different musical roles. Makers specify the playing-head diameter separately from shell height, so a single 9-to-34-inch size range can confuse two measurements.
In a solo, smaller congas take the lead in creating melodies, while the bigger drums lay down deeper rhythms.
Congas, loved by Latin drum enthusiasts, are crafted from wooden staves and often feature calfskin heads, particularly popular in Afro-Cuban music. This combination ensures a rich, authentic sound.
Modern Congas, crafted from either fiberglass or wood, feature synthetic or skin heads. Fiberglass shells produce a louder sound, making them a favorite among band players, while wood congas offer a softer, more mellow tone. Choosing the right material depends on the sound you’re after.
If you’re just starting out on the Congas, a 10 to 12 inch size works best, and a synthetic head is the easiest option to get along with.
Moving and playing the Congas can be challenging due to their large size, unlike the more portable Djembe or tabla. Typically, they come with a stand, though some players prefer using a strap to secure the drum to their body for improved positioning.
6) Cajon
Originating in Peru, the Cajon was created by African slaves as an alternative to traditional African drums. Crafted from wood, it resembles a percussion box.
Cajons from Cuba were originally crafted from dresser drawers and fish crates, serving as substitute hand drums. This innovative use highlights the creativity and adaptability in their musical tradition.
The cajon, also popular in Spain, is a versatile instrument that plays a key role in pop, fusion, and flamenco music. Its adaptability makes it a favorite among musicians.
This hand drum, played by sitting on it and hitting its surface, features a hole in the back for resonance. The surface edge can be adjusted for different sounds. Modern Cajons come with a snare for a distinctive buzzing sound.
Modern Cajons have evolved from simple wooden boxes to sophisticated instruments with stretched cords on their surface, creating a unique buzzing sound similar to string instruments like the guitar. To enhance their sound, some players even incorporate bells within the cords.
7) Doumbek
The doumbek or darbuka is a goblet drum played in traditions across the Middle East, North Africa, and nearby regions. Names and designs vary. The tombak is a related Persian goblet drum, but it should not be treated as simply another spelling for every doumbek.
The doumbek features a goblet shape and sits on the lap for playing, allowing musicians to use their fingers and hands to create a wide array of sounds from its horizontal position.
Doumbeks vary in shell material, head type, and tuning method. Many modern models have tunable synthetic heads, while traditional examples use skin heads. Players use finger strokes on the head and near its edge to shape contrasting tones.
Looking for a slimmer doumbek? Consider a Turkish doumbek featuring tunable heads for a metallic and booming sound. These instruments also include jingles and cymbals inside for an expanded variety of sound effects.
8) Handpans
Searching for compact hand drums? Explore handpans. With their rich tones and varied sounds, these instruments offer an enriching musical experience.
PANArt developed the Hang around 2000. The maker calls it the Hang sound sculpture, not a “Hang Drum.” Its tuned steel surface is struck with the hands, but it has no stretched drumhead like the earlier hand drums in this list.
As other builders set out to make instruments along the same lines as The Hang, they started calling their own versions handpans. Casual players, on the other hand, still tend to call any of them hang drums.
Handpans can be costly because forming and tuning the steel takes skilled work. Price alone cannot establish whether an instrument is genuine or well tuned. Listen across all note fields, check the maker’s identity, and understand the warranty before buying.
Steel tongue drums are a related hand-played percussion option, but they are built with cut tongues rather than the hammered tone fields of a handpan. Sizes, tuning systems, and accessories vary by model. They deserve their own comparison rather than being treated as miniature handpans.