will realize that unlike many other leather Native American drums used during tribal ceremonies, these rustic drums have natural raw hide, stretched over a wood 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 fashioned 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 necessary to lead you on your Shamanic journey.
You will also see that many Shaman drums have symbolic paintings on the rawhide drum face. These unique Native American symbols often depict a map of the universe or symbols of spiritual powers you can use to guide you in your meditating and journeying experience. If you are using the drum for Shamanic work, take time to study the symbolic meaning of the painting. Since the rustic paintings have a spirit and power that guides the journey, you want to make sure it is in line with your own practices and guides you in that direction.
Also, I always make sure to check the quality of the drum before purchasing. It’s important 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.
A lot of focus is placed on the drum alone but don’t forget to choose the right striking mallet so you can enjoy the resonating sound of these native drums to its fullest. You will see that there are many variations of mallets that pull out different sounds from the drum and although I personally like using a