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 Indian 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 very important in bringing out the right tones necessary to lead you on your Shamanic journey.
You will also see that many Shamanic drums have symbolic paintings on the rawhide playing surface. These unique southwestern paintings often depict a map of the universe or symbols of spiritual powers you can use to help you in your meditating and journeying experience. If you are using the drum for Shamanic work, take time to look into the symbolic meaning of the painting. Since the southwestern paintings have a special power that influences the journey, you want to make sure it is in line with your own practices and guides you in that direction.
Also, I like to check the quality of the drum before purchasing. It’s critical to check that there are no thin places at the points where the cords of the drumhead are attached. 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 it’s also important 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 different types of mallets that evoke different tones from the drum and although I personally like using a