Ashiko Hand Drum

[Dee Bee]

Well right now I am working on building a hand drum

It is based on the african ashiko.

http://www.nfdc.net/home/cbdb/Ashiko.htm





Any other hand drum builders here? I would like advise on the bearing edge for the drum head.

Dee Bee

[cherokeegeorge]

I play hand drums and have some but have never built one . Yours looks great keep posting photos,

[Fenlason]

I have not made one yet myself but know people that do. These are more Native American type hand drums. or the larger pow wow drums. In any that I have seen, the rawhide skins are stretched directly against the wood.

glenn

[Joseph]

I'm more of a bodhran guy myself. Same deal with the Indian drums - the skin is streched and tacked directly to the wood. IIRC the edge is slightly rounded.

Joseph

[Dee Bee]

Here is an update on the drum building process. I am trying to take me time in creating a good beqring edge for the drum head....

This is how I created a true plane on the bearing edge.



http://www.nfdc.net/home/cbdb/Ashiko.htm

Dee Bee

[Dee Bee]

Here is an update....


http://www.nfdc.net/home/cbdb/Ashiko.htm
http://www.nfdc.net/home/cbdb/Ashiko.htm#20

What are you building now that winter is here At least in the North East.

Dee Bee

[Dee Bee]

Well my goat skin finally arrived. I soaked it cleaned it and then shaved it. All in preparation for the ashiko drum I am building.

http://www.nfdc.net/home/cbdb/Ashiko.htm

Dee Bee

[halfdome, Danny]

I really appreciate all your research and hard work that you have put into this drum project. I don't know if I would want to do all that filing though but would take it for a spin on the lathe. Great job, keep up the good work, Danny

[Dee Bee]

I have had a little time the last few weeks and I used it to put the goat skin on my ashiko drum.

This link gives the update of recent progress.
http://www.nfdc.net/home/cbdb/Ashiko.htm#32



Thanks for looking at the web page..

Dee Bee

[cherokeegeorge]

nice job Dee, it looks good now get drumming

[Dee Bee]

nice job Dee, it looks good now get drumming

Now that the head is dry I have begun to play it. Wow! This drum has a very defined base that sounds like a deep rumbling growl. The drum also produced nice middle and upper tomes. I even discovered a clear half tone beyond the upper tone depending on where and how the head was played.

This pic shows the Mali weave I used to tune it...



Thanks for taking the time to look...


Dee Bee

[George T.]

Greetings from Colorado!

What a surprise when I stumbled on this topic! I am just now exploring the world of drumming. I have played drums since I was about 9, but it was the typical school band/orchestra and drum set scenario. My middle daughter played for years and has rhythm that wont quit.

I was introduced to drum circles here in Colorado during an Equinox celebration. One session and I was hooked! I have picked up two drums, a small aluminum bodied job with a surprisingly good sound and just recently a hand made drum from California very similar to the African ashiko that deebee has built.

My daughter, grandkids and 85 year old mother and I enjoy playing together. I intend to make a few drums out of cardboard forms for cement pillars. There is a web site at http://www.rhythmweb.com/homemade/ that explores making instruments out of common and not so common items. I am a Cub Scout leader and the boys are excited to try their hand at making their own drums/percussion instruments.

What a compliment to teardropping! Of course, location and neighbors would dictate if you could have a "drum circle". The Second International Teardrop Gathering is coming up in June... http://itg.teardrops.net/ I am working to have the use of the gazebo at Pioneer Village for "Jam Sessions" in the evenings for our musically talented teardroppers.

George T.