New and modified instruments

For the past few months, I have been making new instruments and modified some of the older ones. Nowadays, I have been focusing on simple folk drums, since I find them to be very forgiving instruments. You can make drums from just about any material and in a variety of ways and still have a drum. Also, tuning some drums is an option rather than being a requirement.

These are cardboard drums. The smallest ones are shown on the left and consist of tape rolls with masking tape drum heads. The shell of the second drum is a mailing tube and the shell of third drum is a tube used for pouring concrete.

I made these two drums from pieces of lumber. Once again, the drum heads are made from masking tape. Many of the following drums have drum heads made from the same material. It is versatile!

This is my big hoop drum.

Here are two small drums carved from a fallen tree branch.

This is a drum with a bamboo shell. Note the shell itself is covered with tape.

I made a few drums from wood and plastic shims. Shims have a variety of uses, including stirring paint. The drum heads in this case are made from a party balloon.

Here is a clay doumbek. Note the drum head is made from masking tape, once again.

Here are three more small drums. Two are made from parts of a fallen tree branch and the third is made from part of a birch tree trunk originally sold as fire wood.