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| DRUM GUIDE |
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| Talking Drum |
| Ashiko |
| Djun Djun |
| Literally meaning "lower drums," they are from highest in pitch but smallest in size, to lowest in pitch and largest in size: the kenkeni, the sangban, and the big dununba. The double sided cow or goat skinned cylindrical barrel is held horizontally and played with a wooden club while the other hand can optionally play a metallic kenken bell with a metal stick. Some other names used are dnununs, junjun, diun diun (in S�n�gal), doundoun (in Guinea), and dondoumba, based on the musical role of the instrument in the ensemble and also the size of other dununs present. |
| A cone shaped drum of the Yoruba peoples made with strips of wood placed next to one another and skinned with goat, antelope, or rarely with cow skin. Also called shiko. |
| The talking drum is shaped like an hourglass, it has two heads of the same size and shape. The two heads are sewn together with leather thongs call 'osan'. This drum is the youngest in the Yorubaland of the traditional drums, but the most powerful one. The drum is locally called dun dun, meaning 'sweet sound'. According to oral history, the talking drum was originally created as means of communication before the invention of writing. |
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| A goblet shaped hand drum, skinned with goat or antelope, which can optionally be played with a bell attached. Likely to have originated among the Malinke peoples of West Africa, the djembe has a very wide sound spectrum which generates a great richness in pitch. The open mouth shape of the barrel is believed to have come from the traditional grain grinder. Also spelled "djemb�," or "djimbe," due to variable African/French/English transcription of such words. |
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| Djembe |
| The ceramic doumbek, also called a darabukka (and many other names in different countries and cultures) is a traditional instrument most commonly played in the Middle East and North Africa. The doumbek gets its name from the two basic sounds it produces--the deep, low-pitched "doom" and the crisp high-pitched "tek". In many Middle Eastern cultures they are the main drums for classical and theatrical music, as well as popular music. Westerners often associate doumbeks with belly dancing. |
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| Doumbek |
| The following are some of the more common hand drums. This is in no way a comprehensive guide. Hopefully though, it will help to educate those without much knowledge on the subject. |