Pow-Wow Hand Drums
Tim Abdella is an enrolled member of the Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota. His hand drums / powwow drums are all 12 sided, to represent the 12 moons in a year.
He creates his drums using cedar for the frames, and covered with either Elk, Buffalo or Moose hide. The larger the diameter, the deeper the voice.
To play your drum, you will need a beater. Tim creates two types: leather and buffalo fur.
All drums come with a Certificate of Authenticity.
Email Tim for custom size drums, or for any questions.
For sale in the USA ONLY.
Info on Native American Drums
Black Elk, an Oglala Sioux holy man made famous by John Neihardt's book Black Elk Speaks, offers this perspective: "Since the drum is often the only instrument used in our sacred rites, I should perhaps tell you here why it is especially sacred and important to us. It is because the round form of the drum represents the whole universe, and its steady strong beat is the pulse, the heart, throbbing at the center of the universe. It is the voice of Wakan Tanka (Great Spirit), and this sound stirs us and helps us to understand the mystery and power of all things."
Realize
that a drum made of wood and any type hide/skin was created from two
living beings, one a tree being a cedar tree that gave itself for
the frame, the other gave its robe to give the drum its voice. Combining
these two lives has created your drum. Some may tell you that these
lives, in a way, live on when the drum is played.
Owning a drum means respecting the drum. If you don't feel that a drum is more than a 'showpiece', perhaps you shouldn't own one. Respect goes deeper than physically caring for a drum, your drum is a living being, so you will want to honor its spirit with love and respect.
If the drum belongs to an individual, then permission must be given by that individual for anyone else to even touch it much less play it. In other words, look but do not touch unless permission has been given.
Play the drum regularly. A Native American drums sound will evolve over time the more often it is played. This will give the drum a more complex individual sound.
If your drum sounds like you're smacking hollow wood, play it with a lighter touch. Never hammer or beat, usually a normal, moderate tapping is all it takes for your drum's voice to be heard and also to be carried further.
Store skin side up this shows respect and it is easier on the hide.
Store your drum away from direct sunlight. The animal skin of the drum can burn just like human skin with too much exposure to direct sunlight. If using heat to tighten your drum remember, if it is too hot for your skin it is too hot for the drum. A little water spritzed on the drum will deepen the tone or voice.
Remember each drum has its own voice and it will change with the weather.
12 Sided Elk Hide Hand Drums
The 12" and 14" drums are usually in the 2.5" range for depth, and the 16" drums are in the 3-3.5" range.
A twelve sided cedar frame is covered with elk hide and laced with a single strand, in the four direction pattern.
Readily available in 12",14",16"
Custom sizes available on request.
Beaters
The fur beaters are better for higher voiced drums, or buy one of each for two different voices.
$10
$15
12 Sided Buffalo Hide Hand Drums
14" diameter, 2" deep, 12 sided cedar frame drum, covered with buffalo hide and laced with a single strand, in the four direction pattern.
Readily available in 16"
Custom sizes available on request.
12 Sided Moose Hide Hand Drums
14" diameter, 2" deep, 12 sided cedar frame drum, covered with moose hide and laced with a single strand, in the four direction pattern.
