Native American hand drums are among the most famous cultural icons in the world. For centuries Native people relied on their belief in the special power of drums for the most important things in life. Hand drums have always been the most prized possession and Native instruments of choice in the areas of Native American spirituality and physical healing. Native hand drums can be very personal and carry deep trust by those charged with the responsibility of Native American healing ceremonies.
Just as each tribe is different, the Native American drums of each vary accordingly. In some tribes, hand drums are used only in secret ceremonies whereas in others, Indian hand drums are the focal point of the public ceremony. In both cases and in every aspect in between, the drum plays a key role. Hand drums are also used in sweat lodges as well as in dancing and personal meditation.
Indian American hand drums are probably most commonly called hoop drums because of their construction. Unlike pow wow drums or trunk drums made from hollowed tree trunks, Indian hand drums are made with a light weight ring of wood. In modern times man-made products have replaced the traditional materials but the most authentic hand drums are still made with wood and rawhide.
To create a traditional all natural hand drum like those used throughout Native American history, it is a bent wood ring that forms the drum circle. In native culture there were no frame drums cut with power saws or laminated wooden hoops. Authentic American Indian hand drums used a piece of wood cut from a downed tree trunk. The tree trunk for making a hand drum was carefully chosen for long straight grain and the absence of knots. When cut properly, the long thin strip of wood maybe two to six feet in length, depending on the size hand drum desired, curled to form a ring.
Once the drum ring was properly bent it was held with one end overlapping the other and secured in place with a piece rawhide lace. Allowed to dry slowly in the open air, the remaining moisture in the drum hoop would evaporate allowing the ring to shrink to the final size. Native hand drums are covered on either one side or both sides with stretched animal skin. Depending on the Indian tribe and their geographical location various woods and hides were used. The most common materials were pine, and goat skin. Goatskin rawhide was always the preferred skin because of it special stretching and sound quality. In modern days drum makers offer a variety of more exotic hides but in Native history it was the thin hide of goats that was the most desired. Thicker hides didn't perform as well because they didn't stretch as well and the sound was dull in sound quality. In contrast, a properly stretched goat skin rawhide hand drum can deliver powerful sound that can be heard on the wind for miles.
Hand drums also make outstanding Indian art for rustic decorating. Hanging on the wall in a cabin or rustic room or being used in a drumming circle, Native drums add a rich quality of life. If you are interested in authenticity and traditional values in drum making and drumming music or cultural decorations, you will enjoy owning and displaying genuine Native American hand drums in your rustic home decorating.
Because of my career in interior design, I have always loved Native American hand drums for their simplistic beauty when used for western decor, and for the important role they play in American Indian drum music. Most people I come in contact with do not realize that these hand drums are among the most famous cultural representations in the world. For centuries, American Indian people relied on their belief in the extraordinary power of these drums for spiritual and healing purposes, and have always thought of the hand drum as a prized possession among all Native American musical instruments.
Though all Native American drums have comparable characteristics about them, you may not realize that native drums vary in many ways according to tribe. Some tribes use the hand drum exclusively in secret ceremonies, whereas in others, they are the focal point of the public event or powwow. Native people also use these hand held musical instruments for dancing, personal meditating and in sweat lodges. No matter how they are used, the hand drum still plays a key role in American Indian music and in Native culture today.
When choosing one of these beautiful drums to add to your southwest style home decor or for playing in a drum circle, it is important to choose one made with quality materials similar to the original materials used. The traditional, all natural hand held drums used throughout Native American history, were made of wood cut from a downed tree trunk. When cut properly, the long thin strip of wood curled to form a hoop that measured two to six feet in length, depending on the size of the hand drum desired. Once the drum ring was bent correctly, it was held with one end overlapping the other and held in place with a piece of raw hide lacing. Allowed to dry naturally in the open air, the remaining wetness in the hand drum hoop would evaporate, allowing the ring to shrink to the final size.
As you study the history of the various tribal hand drums made, you will learn that they were covered on either one, or both sides of the drum hoop with animal skin. Various woods and hides were used depending on the Indian tribe and where they were at geographically, but the most common materials were pine, and goat skin. These days, Native American hand drums are made using a variety of animal hides, but traditionally, goat skin rawhide was the preferred skin because of its stretching ability and sound quality.
Today, you can easily find Native American hand drums online and in stores that specialize in southwestern and American Indian home decor. Whether adorned on the wall in a cabin or lodge to enhance rustic decor, or simply being used for ceremonial drumming, these Native drums will add great character to your home and environment. If you are interested in authenticity and traditional American Indian values, you will definitely enjoy owning and displaying genuine Native American hand drums.
Craig Chambers has sinced written about articles on various topics from Interior Design, Culture and Society and Interior Design. Craig Chambers is an expert on Native drums and drumming. Extensive information on is available at. Craig Chambers's top article generates over 246000 views. to your Favourites.