Looking for a simple way to give your home decor western or Native American design? Try including Shaman drums in your home design and along with your western home furnishings. I became interested in using American Indian drums as for rustic decor right after my husband and I bought our new home last year. Because of our love for the old west, we wanted true southwestern and Native American style decor with one of a kind rustic home furnishings for our new home. Once that was determined I set out to look for the perfec western and Native American pieces that would look great with my rustic decor and have historical and cultural significance at the same time. In doing this, I realized how easy it was to give my home that beautiful western style that you see in designer home magazines, by adding shaman drums to my decor.

Maybe you are like me when I first started hearing about the history and meaning of Native American drums, and do not really know what a shaman drum is or the role it plays in Native culture. Or, maybe you are wondering how to choose the best drum to play in your Shaman drum circle or other music groups. Whatever the case, it is important to understand the significance this rawhide drum plays in Native American culture so you can develop a true appreciation for its art and let its power influence and open your life.

If you are able to be present at a Shamanic ritual ceremony you will notice that the Shaman, or spiritual leader, will beat a unique looking rawhide hand drum with a soft drum striker to create the soothing monotonous beat needed to take him to an altered mental state. During this altered state of mind, called the Shamanic journey, the Shaman receives powers he uses to spiritually lead and heal his people. The Shaman's drum is very interesting to look at and if you inspect it closely you will realize that unlike many other leather Native American drums used in tribal ceremonies, these rustic drums have natural rawhide, stretched over a wooden frame on one side and are laced with raw hide string on the other side. They don't have the loop hold like many other tribal drums do. A drum made in this way allows for a natural hand holding position so you can fully control the drum and easily manipulate the sound that is vital in bringing out the right tones specific to the Shamanic journey.

You will also see that many Shamanic drums have paintings and symbols on the rawhide drum face. These unique Native American paintings often depict a map of the universe or symbols of spiritual powers you can use to guide you in your spiritual journeying experience. If you are choosing the drum for Shamanic work, take time to study the significance of the painting and the meaning the artist is trying to convey in the artwork. Since the southwest paintings have spiritual power that influences the journey, you want to make sure it is in agreement with your own practices and influences you in that direction.

Also, I like to check the quality of the instrument before purchasing. It's critical to check that there are no thin places at the points where the cords of the drumhead are connected. This is important for the quality and life of your Shaman drum and will save you money in the long run by not having to have it repaired or buy a new one.

Most attention is placed on the drum alone but it's also important to choose the appropriate striking mallet so you can enjoy the resonating sound of these native drums to its fullest. You will see that there are many different types of mallets that create different sounds from the drum. It is simply a matter of personal opinion and should be based on what you feel most comfortable using. Whether you are looking for Native American musical instruments such as drums to incorporate into your home decor or are using it to help you in your spiritual journey, you will no doubt be drawn to the true rustic beauty and western charm created by decorating or playing Shaman drums.