Udu - Nigerian Clay Drum

Learn about the Nigerian Udu drum in this instructional video. Kalani demonstrates basic sounds and talks about the construction as well as variations and how to purchase an Udu drum. Find out more and become a supporter of World Drum Club at / kalani

[@educostanzo]

I know this is an "old" video, but there's a musical group called The Burnt Earth Ensemble where they use exclusively instruments made of clay. Lots of udu drums and other instruments invented by the group's director. The album is called Terra Cota but it's extremely hard to find their music.

[@WORLDDRUMCLUB]

Good to know!

[@A-fg7ov]

It’s IGBO. Very important to mention the ethnic nations these vital instruments came out of. Preserving the history of the lineage is important!❤

[@An-jin]

Just stumbled on this and wanted to say this is awesome. Love the educational aspect and your dedication!

[@sherryb9770]

I fell in love with this instrument last month at Solstice FS. Bought one (a clay tone) and it arrives tomorrow! I requested an udu in my recording and I ❤️ it!

[@ChiefPoints]

How do you like your udu now that you've had it a while. Do you recommend it? I just heard one tonight for the first time and...well, here I am after looking for them online, lol. It grabbed me as soon as I heard that heavy note, cool drum.

[@Baukereg]

Just got myself an udu from the claytone series and I'm so happy with it.

[@WORLDDRUMCLUB]

Great!

[@andyyellowhouse2108]

This is such a calming sound

[@Yoginimind]

Hi thanks for this vid. I was given an udu and think it sounds so cool but have no idea how to use it! this helps a ton!

[@mysteryperson4295]

LOVE the udu.

[@MrMItzi-cc3xo]

I'm so inspired by this instrument to the point I'm watching various videos of dudes slapping a clay jug. Really looking forward to buying myself one and revisiting this video to learn how to play it. Very helpful and interesting video I'm giving the thumbs up immediately!

[@ChiefPoints]

I know I'm late to the party here, but thanks for posting this. I heard one of these for the first time tonight and knew I had to have one. Sounds like a good Christmas present to myself ;)

[@WORLDDRUMCLUB]

Merry Christmas

[@BrentAdams]

I have an Udu made by Liisa Reid of EarthSong Udu Drums. I love the sound of these, and have recorded a few tunes with mine. Thanks for your video.

[@WORLDDRUMCLUB]

Thanks Brent

[@markharding3640]

Very cool...do not have one yet but will be looking. Thanks!

[@davidkorneliussen5577]

Listen to a track from Weather Report called Jungle stuff part 1. The udu-drum in the beginning is awesome 👌

[@mogmason6920]

I have a broken vase that my grandparents were going to take to the skip until I asked them if I could have it. First thing I did was drill a hole in the side with a holesaw and voila! Instant Udu!

[@jigggro]

Nice

[@toddstropicals]

I've got one of the claytone udus, it's fun to play, not many know what it is.

[@GlennMichaelThompson]

I picked up an udu made of fiberglass by meinl percussion. For some reason I'm unaware of they call it an ibo drum. lt's a real blast to play with a wide variety of tones. It came with a small ring which keeps it from sliding around. Very good value at around $150 Canadian. Great video (as are all your vids). Thanks for such an informative channel.

[@WORLDDRUMCLUB]

Cool - Thank you for watching and please help share WDC with your friends and colleagues.

[@GlennMichaelThompson]

I've been sharing your KZbin videos and channel with others and will continue to do so. Best regards from Montreal Canada.

[@danamaguire4285]

Because it originates with the women potters of the Ibo people from Nigeria

[@WORLDDRUMCLUB]

@@danamaguire4285 That’s right. Thank you.

[@renjgr8]

Beautiful, inspiring & educational. Thank you very much for all the other details that go into percussion. Could you please cover the indian Morsing (almost like the Jew's harp)?

[@zoorodrop]

Buena Vista Social Club - Chan Chan. Since I heard that song I wanted to have one. And I've had it for a long time

[@leocadie0]

exatcly

[@Lordhermitcrab]

A local band at my university used an udu for a Led Zeppelin song. It was used during a performance of "Black Mountain Side." I had no idea what the instrument was at the time, so I emailed him and found out it was an udu. Specifically the LP Udu Drum Udongo Ii.

[@WORLDDRUMCLUB]

Cool story - Thanks

[@mickflaire]

Hello, Kalani. I found this video because of doing a search on Google to find out what an udu was, which led me to you and your video. In my KZbin TV feed was a video that featured the udu, and so I decided to find out more about it. This link is to the KZbin video that I'm watching and listening to right now featuring the udu. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJzCcomtg9-So68 Full Moon in Libra - Shamanic Drum & UDU - Go Deeper - Find Harmony & Balance :: Deep Bass :: 2:15:27 time length. Uploaded onto the Calm Whale KZbin channel on Tuesday 4/4/23. Thank you for the wonderful tutorial, Kalani! I too am a percussionist, mainly Latin percussion like congas, bongoes, & timbales. But I also like to play indigenous hand drums too. I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on an udo. Cheers, Mick Flaire 🧙‍♂️🪄🙌🪘🎶💚🦁

[@sharmatime]

I have a Frank Giorgini original and i love it... He made it for me long ago

[@howiecampbellmusic]

Enjoyed your background info, but really enjoyed your demo at the end. I thought I heard this instrument on a Native American flute song, can't remember who. So I purchased the one by LP. Quite a bit different sound than yours (big diff in price). I like it. Thanks

[@thehappypotter9612]

I've been meaning to make one. Starting tomorrow...

[@retreatsinbeing924]

I play & make udu drums, hand (built), burnished & smoke fired. Thanks for the playing tips ;)

[@jamesstanlake4064]

I have 2 Udu drums, made by Meinl. They are fiberglass construction and one has a water filled chamber at the bottom while the other one has a extra skin covered hole. Very enjoyable to play.

[@WORLDDRUMCLUB]

Does the fibergalss have a very different sound from the Clay?

[@jamesstanlake4064]

The difference I hear is perhaps a bit brighter tones. The water chamber makes a dramatic difference when used. To hear it search for Nadishana "Udu drum" kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpzbqYB-bpqGp80

[@classicturn]

Kalani, you are one hell of a musician! I had the pleasure of seeing you conduct a workshop at the NYSSMA conference a few years back. I have the LP Claytone and really enjoy it, but I want to get my hands on a better quality udu as i find mine a little muffled for my taste. Thanks for posting!

[@WORLDDRUMCLUB]

My pleasure

[@cameronespinoza9478]

Yes it's relaxing

[@WORLDDRUMCLUB]

Correction: Frank is still making udu drums. You can find them on his website: www.udu.com/ Update as of 10-25-22: The website is not available as of this date. Let us know if it comes back online.

[@chelosynx7202]

Ok

[@revkelly58]

Yeah, it’s gone.

[@jouflow]

Nope

[@WORLDDRUMCLUB]

@@revkelly58 I see. Not sure why. Maybe Frank did retire this time…

[@fabrice27]

Frank died on the 16th of last October, in its 75th year. RIP 😔🙏🏽 Some of his hand-made drums are in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

[@gerrymullen4176]

I have a utar. Never knew it was named differently from udu. Thank you Kalani for this video. I do recognize it's sound in music, just can't recall on which CDs it appears.

[@WORLDDRUMCLUB]

The Utar is nice because you can place it into an extended snare stand. Of course we often play these while seated, using a soft ring to stabilize it.

[@gerrymullen4176]

WORLD DRUM CLUB I have looked for a small microphone that would go in the hole provided. Any suggestions?

[@WORLDDRUMCLUB]

@@gerrymullen4176 I don’t have specifics, but you want a “clip-on” style mic that are often sold for micing horns and drums. Maybe search for “clip on Sax or Trumpet mic”

[@MohiniSharma.]

Informative 👍🏻

[@mostroamarillo]

gracias.

[@Brain7ombies]

How well are udu’s used in drum circles??

[@gorga1709]

what is the different between udu and ibo drum?

[@melonfernsebner1771]

where can we listen to your recordings?

[@SimonWillig]

I own an udu drum and use it as a replacement for the copper vase used in hungarian Gypsy music. As a percussionist used to darbuka and framedrums I find this instrument quite hard to play as it is not even near as loud as the drums I'm used to and not very responsive. Maybe I should practice more.....

[@nbuehster]

Since I'm guessing udus are pretty fragile, I want to know if there are any udus, or anything like that, that I wouldn't have to worry about, in terms of rolling off my lap and breaking if I was sitting in a chair.

[@scotty6124]

Curious, can you or have you ever put water in it to create even more unique sounds? Love this channel!

[@WORLDDRUMCLUB]

I don’t believe so. I’ve not seen it done, but never say never.

[@coffeetoride5800]

Very hard to catch that deep bass with the mic right 😅 tryed it often

[@MichaelSmith-zv7om]

used in WOTE I’ll Be there for you - Acoustic Which is how I “found it” and then searched for 1 week to find this amazing drum

[@gg9960]

You can still get a handmade....just have to motivate my uncle Frank to make you one.......He was making 2 when I was visiting last month

[@piotr_jurkiewicz]

LOVE IT!!! :'D

[@smaklilu90]

I heard a very similar sound in Indian music. I wonder what kind of drum they are using

[@SjoeperdKnoepert]

Most probably a tabla...?

[@subbiahv4519]

samuel gebru I think you're talking about the ghatam. It's also a clay pot drum.

[@johndriskol6073]

Guaguancó!!

[@SONGSTICKS]

I bought a broken Udu years ago at a craft fair with the intention of repairing it. I had it sitting around for ages and a few years ago I finally got round to it. The edge of the spout had a chunk missing which I repaired using miliput, which has worked a treat. I now play it on a couple of tracks with a band I’m in called “The Emergers”. It’s a bit tricky to mic up in a live band setting but I’m working on that. I’m thinking to try and make an electric one from wood using a guitar pre amp with an internal gooseneck mic. May work or it might be a feedback machine 🥴 but here’s a track I did in my studio with the repaired Udu and my home made Fujara overtone flute kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGGrf6uNpMqShdU

[@WORLDDRUMCLUB]

Thanks for sharing

[@lilydas5981]

what if u dropped it

[@jigggro]

Shakti, played by Vikku Vinayakram. Yes, it is a South Indian ghatam. But same family i guess !!

[@steverman2312]

Sounds like something from spore’s soundtrack

[@alpervarol6659]

p4vl,m, b jb

[@danielkarajos4310]

Not quite sure but I guess that's an udu among the other percussions in that song: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJfLgp6Oo7aqeKsm40s For me it's really inspiring.

[@bembesully8360]

Theres another way to play the dun skund.. v Relax a close your hand as you pull off the hole..fascinating that this is a womns instrument and so many men try to play..kman kinda knows the herstory.

[@kiran_t_karthik]

Indian name kahadam making with clay like a poat

[@carlosdelaislatiernan8380]

chan chan - Buena Vista social club

[@Goldiiglockz]

I just bought my first udu 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@jonathonphelps2146]

lGBO

[@Caligari...]

Udu vs Ghatam both are made of clay one Nigerian one comes from India .

[@elmaestro9593]

I am no expert sir but that really aint the right way to play it. you have westernized the traditional udu drum. where is your playing foam pad? Udu sound should boom and be mellow at the same time. It is smooth, soft and loud. It is not a percussion, it works by forcing air in and out of the clay pot via strike modifications using your foam pad. What you are doing is good and interesting but ensure to let people know that there is a traditional way of playing it and what you are showing them has undergone some modification.

[@OM-md6ki]

"Cause you needed ashtrays in elementary school"!!!! Your funny as heck bro

[@randyduncan4004]

Well is it a sphere? Or a lightbulb? Cmonnnnn dude....

[@RogersPhotographyGuilford]

a lightsphere-spherelight

[@andree1991]

No offence but this is as much an instrument as a flower pot.