DIY — How to Make a Native American Hand Drum
Please pardon the HGTV/Home Depot/OSH/Ikea sounding title of this post.
Part of me would like to think that describing a manual for learning a valuable traditional skill through the lens of one of those ultra-for-western-audience insitutions (again, HGTV/Home Depot/etc.) is somewhat comical.
Another part of me feels the need to explain it because
- I’m genuinely concerned my enormous readership won’t get the irony.
- There’s a certain degree of gratification I receive from making any sort of move towards a “…ha ha, get it?” situation.
Anyways, if you’re still reading and still don’t get it, the reason that was funny is because i’m about to teach you how to make a traditional Native American hand drum and I posed the entire setting through the recognizable lense of those less-than-colorful institutions. Granted, many of the folks working with materials bought from those institutions may be, and very likely are, a few shades darker than the folks shopping in the commercials.
Okay, i’m sorry. I promise i’m done with the passive racial commentary.
Moving on.
Step 1
Make sure you’re making it for the right reasons and with the right methods. Unlike dreamcatchers, Native American drums have largely avoided the appropriative reach of popular culture so please don’t be the first one to hang a hand drum on your rearview mirror so all your friends know you are #cultured.
Step 2
The next thing you need to do in order to make a hand drum is go shopping for materials (or hunting/tree-chopping if you feel so inclined).
You’ll need wood for the hoop, rawhide, scissors sharp enough to cut rawhide, an awl or leather puncher, and sage.
Step 3
We will begin with the rawhide. It needs to be cut in a circle. Keep in mind that while it is dry it is incredibly hard to work with and will keep its shape.
Step 4
In order to be able to use the rawhide, we soak it in cold water over night. You can do this many places but I tend to use a bath tub.
The circle of thinly cut rawhide will be used as string to pull the skin over the hoop of the drum.
Step 5
After soaking the rawhide over night, you prepare the materials and yourself for making the drum.
It is at this point that one will burn sage around the drum material and themselves while saying a prayer. The prayer is to bless the drum so that its sound will be well recieved by all those who hear it.
Step 6
After blessing the materials, make 16 pairs of holes, evenly spaced around the rawhide. Then place the hoop in the center of the rawhide and begin weaving.
Step 7
Continue weaving until you have gone around the entirety of the hoop and secured all holes. Then gather the rawhide string in four groups. This grouping is vital as it holds very strong meaning.
Step 8
Hang the drum to dry for 1–2 days. The skin will tighten as it dries. Make sure to hang the drum so that air is in contact with the entire drumface.
You’re Done!
After that, the drum should be complete and all there is left to do is play it. I hope you all found this interesting and/or insightful!
