DIY Making Native American Hand Drum

[@angelduncan9147]

I just made my first drum following your instructions in this video. It's still drying but it came out better than I expected for my first try! Your instructions were easy to follow, Thank you for posting the vid!

[@donaldporta]

+A Duncan Have fun with it my friend---Don

[@chicofun4779]

where did you buy your kit to make the drum? thanks

[@esben181]

@@chicofun4779 I believe he gathered the materials himself. The rawhide is skinned and processed skin/hide from an animal.

[@101mommer]

ME TOO!! I was so hesitant to start...and it isn't perfect, but I am loving it...not quite dry yet. I need to see a tutorial for the drum stick now!

[@kschanaman]

One day just a few years ago, I got into a 'different' type of spirituality than the 'certain mainstream' institutional 'religion' I was raised with. Through it, I began to research things just like what you share. And, that there is a much more beautiful way of life than that which I've been a part of as a descendant of the German people who emigrated to flee Hitler's Nazi Germany. I am very thankful for you and your fellow tribesmen for all that you choose to share. You bring HEILUNG to humanity.

[@sduyck1327]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video. Will be making these with my children as part of their Native American studies.

[@donaldporta]

Wonderful!

[@leandroraicoski]

Thank you Donald! I made my 18" Buffalo drum according to your instructions, and it produced an amazing sound! I use it everyday on my Journeys! Even some Native Americans friends were amazed about the drum!

[@donaldporta]

Great to hear!

[@amarie448]

This Tutorial was so useful. thank you for your teachings. AHO!

[@SergioNikitaLialin]

i'm very grateful for this video, friend. bless your life, Donald.

[@Takoon]

Boozhoo inawendaagan. I'm so thankful for your teachings. My father and other older relatives passed before being able to pass on this knowledge to me, and I live too far from my tribe for them to help me. Your teachings are helping me create my first drum, and it has been a healing experience. Miigwech.

[@Takoon]

I've finally finished my drum thanks to you. Nimiigwechawendam.

[@waynewilliams3380]

Rawhide is such a wonderful thing to use.I made and use regularly my 23 inch drum.I didnt use rawhide to tie it.But my next drum,I will.I used cord.This drum has such a beautiful deep bass tone. .

[@MrMarkar1959]

thanks for this video. i believe i have wondered possibly 50+ years ago how the Indian drum was made. but now, a small memory resurrected in my mind!! and You have shown the majik in this project! And sings my soul,,,bang the gong!! show how the silver bells were laced in too!!

[@barbmeyer6524]

Just finished watching & taking notes on your process of the rawhide drum. Excellent instructions. Than kyou. Just waiting to de hair an elk hide before building my drum

[@donaldporta]

nice!

[@randyknaggs7204]

Gratitude for sharing your skill, techniques and wisdom. I will carry it forward on my journey Donald.

[@americanpatriot2979]

Thank you, friend, for the video . 😊

[@donaldporta]

Welcome 😊

[@messerist]

Fantastic craftsmanship!

[@Ленад-е1ш]

Thank you my friend

[@chrissiehines3268]

Thank you ❤️ for your knowledge 💖

[@donaldporta]

You are so welcome

[@carentrujillo8785]

Thank you Donald.. your directions were very clear ... and the video video showed just how to do it.... blessings to you...

[@donaldporta]

You are so welcome

[@anamcara_6532]

Thank you so much for this in depth, easy to follow video kind soul!

[@donaldporta]

You're so welcome!

[@usmcxx1775]

Thank you sir for the video! Excellent instruction, very useful

[@PasqualeGalasso]

Many many thanks, love.

[@kanaskacarter1573]

thank you for this video. :) great craftsmanship.

[@donaldporta]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Carlie_flower]

wow! thank you so much, I've been looking for exactly this. you make it easy to follow too. thanks again for sharing with us!

[@TheEricrya]

Great video!

[@donaldporta]

Thanks for the visit

[@marialuna6668]

Thank You 💕🌀👣

[@donaldporta]

You are so welcome

[@skygirl2071]

Kwe' from Newfoundland! I'm going to use this video as an instructional aid when I make my first drum this weekend. Wela'lin my friend!

[@michael3573]

My deer hide has been soaking since 10pm yesterday. Have watched your video three times in preparation. Haha. Me? Nervous about doing it correctly? Nah... Thank you for the video!

[@donaldporta]

Good luck!

[@isabelkelly7717]

For experience I made one on a bike rim. Its thin, and extra large . At first I thought it was not good. However after it fully dried the sound is really amazing as the metal pics up the sound. It's not an easy drum to play with the hands , however with the drum stick it's right on and takes me into a very meditative place.

[@isabelkelly7717]

Thank you for the instructions!

[@russellthornberry]

Excellent tutorial!

[@sheilamontez6212]

Thanks so much! It’s beautiful! Can I paint the surface after its dried? Ink or acrylic paint?

[@donaldporta]

Yes you can! either paint is OK

[@chriscressey3600]

I am watching your very informative instructions. You keep referring to the "rawhide" , however, I have deer hide. Are there any different considerations for this material?

[@donaldporta]

this is deer hide--- rawhide is un-tanned hide with the hair removed

[@chriscressey3600]

@@donaldporta thank you..yours in the video is a darker color than mine..mine is almost white..perhaps it makes no difference. I’ve had this material for over 25 years..

[@essentialenergyhealing]

Thank you for this great video - question I have if you don't mind is - approx how much lacing would I need for an 18" hoop frame? Thank you for your time.

[@donaldporta]

the amount will vary according to the size of the drum head skin, so the lase for an 18 inch drum would be approximately 50 feet

[@rhetttaber4626]

Thank you, Donald, for your tutorial. I'm motivated to give this a try. Making a 16 sided 18" x 2 1/2" hoop out of 3/4" poplar. Wondering about the amount of lacing I will need. I think you used about 20' in your tutorial but later in comments I noted that you indicated needing about 50' for a 20" (?) drum. Wanted to check with you for your recommendation for what I might need. Also, any recommendations for where I could obtain quality cowhide for the head and lacing? I live in Minneapolis, MN. Again, thank you. Peace.

[@donaldporta]

I found most rawhide on amazon. with the length of cord--- if short you can always tie another length and make the tie in an inconspicuous spot.

[@enriquesilvestre8500]

Thank you so much for sharing and so clear explanation!! I have been watching other same kind of videos, all very good, but still had some doubt which you clarified which your explanation of all the working methods!! Though still i have a question, since i don't have the piercing pliers, could you advice any other functional way to pierce the hide? I'm afraid of the hole edges are not smooth enough or precise and there is a risk of tearing off when the hide dries and tights. Thank you so much for sharing, and good vibes!!!

[@donaldporta]

any small knife that is sharp will work, just remember indigenous people have doing this for thousands of years with just stone shards as a knife.

[@enriquesilvestre8500]

@@donaldporta Thanks!, Finally I have used a self drilling screw for piercing rounded holes, you are right concerning the indigenous, possibly I have been too picky about it, but I didn't want to spoil it up. Tomorrow the lacing...can't wait more!!!

[@somatiskorientering]

I want to make a drum, and I'm thinking of a 19" goatskin drum. I'm very much a youtube-learning-girl and it looks pretty straight forward. What I see from the videos I've seen is that the tension on the lacing varies. I live in Norway and also live next to both a river and small stream. Are there any rules of thumb as to how much the hide will shrink as it dries? My instinct is to put some tension on the drum head, and allow for about an inch give. I kind of want to just dive in, and have been warned that I should at least consult someone who knows their business ;) Thanks for the video!

[@donaldporta]

Both the drum skin and the lacing are going to shrink--- I have always just laced snug, without pulling too tight and the shrinking takes care of itself. If not satisfied with it's outcome--- soak hide again and redo. however the hoop may not take kindly to the soaking.

[@somatiskorientering]

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer me :) Much apprechiated! I'll be sure to ask about the hoop as I plan to buy one that is ready made. Hopefully it'll all work out well the first time. Thank you again!

[@rhythmforyoutoddmccann]

Great video I am buidling a 20" drum How many sets of holes would you advise? Thank You

[@donaldporta]

16 would enough

[@beyondyou4151]

@@donaldporta Thank You for the reply I used 24. Took all of my 1/2” elk lacing All went very well for my first time. I have 2 more to make.

[@VijayKumarPerupogu]

Superb, I am also Dappu Player

[@SoupieSullivan]

I have a drum that I bought about 15 years ago. today I noticed there is a split in the drum head along the hoop but not completely onto the drum head. How do I repair this?

[@donaldporta]

I'm not sure if this will work--- repairs that I made would involve wetting the area at and around the split, then stitching the split closed, upon drying the split should be closed and stop further splitting. Good luck on this one, Don

[@BananeHammond]

Thank You

[@gavinasay4993]

Is just leaving the finished drum out in the open the best way to dry it?

[@donaldporta]

That is all that I do, works fine and is dry overnight!

[@drummergirl9481]

I have a piece of kip bigger than 20", and it's already cut into a circle for me by the tanner. Will that work? I want as large a frame drum as I can make, even if it needs to sit on a stand to play. Also, where did you get the beautiful hoop? Did you make it? I wouldn't mind making one myself, but I have no idea how to start. thanks for your help!

[@donaldporta]

the hoop is steam bent birch, if you don't want to steam bend, you can laminate thin pieces of plywood to build one up

[@soozun171]

How long a lacing would you use to make a 20" circle drum? I recently bought a drum kit that sent me barely any lacing. I'm using moose hide btw if that matters. Thanks for the video!

[@xasthur98]

How did the native americans make those hoops

[@maggiemcrainey691]

hi! where does one buy that thick of a hoop?

[@isaiahman8601]

Cool

[@KyleTaylorLucas]

My first drums turned out pretty similarly to yours. However, I recently special-ordered a drum for my grandson and the artist failed to use large enough skin so the wood is showing in places all around plus he did not smooth the sidewalls so it's puckered all around. Is it possible to repair this. The sound is likely going to be okay but the aesthetics are not.

[@donaldporta]

you could wet the drum skin to soften it, then wrap the sides with ace bandages and smooth the sides while leaving the ace bandages on it until dry.

[@thefutureairmen8046]

How long will a take a drum to dry?

[@donaldporta]

dried overnight.

[@bomaite1]

How is the hoop made?

[@donaldporta]

I steam bent the hoop.

[@todorminchev2123]

if i use the chewing bone rawhide will it work?

[@djames8014]

Do you craft drums for sale?

[@donaldporta]

I have not, but I may start doing so since my kids have started selling their art work and I will support their site.www.dustinporta.com/ www.jessporta.com/

[@djames8014]

Well I look forward to when you start that. The tutorial was great and the drum looks and sounds amazing.

[@donaldporta]

Thank you my friend---Keep in touch---Don

[@celalsahin802]

Gunaydin ben istanbul turkiye celal bendir daire davul imalatcısıyım kolay gelsin tenkü

[@susanatoch366]

is it for sal

[@dadopesthocuspocus1233]

#NATIVEPRIDE

[@lexxx6107]

Вообще не звучит. Плохой бубен получился.

[@ianswampy99]

your supposed o use every thing thats a waste

[@gratefuldoge8598]

Ian Swampy he's not "supposed to do" anything. He enjoys himself , why hate , why criticize?