DRUMMER CAFE

have any of yall played any wood top hand drums? which ones? what did you think? did you try 'em with sticks? howd that work? etc etc etc ...

ive played a couple wood top djembes and was kinda into it, but it was such a different beast compared to natural or synthetic heads it was hard to compare them.  and I didnt think to try 'em with sticks.  im setting up a couple "world beat" variations off cocktail kit and the recent review of the toca stuff in MD got me interested.

Check out this thread:

http://community.drummercafe.com/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=2855

I talk about a few instruments that I own, as well as some that I have played on, which have wood playing surfaces.

I also posted some photos on that thread.

Are we just talking wood top drums?
If so, as you probably know, a frame drum is not that. By definition, a frame drum is just a single-headed drum, with a membrane, in which the diameter is larger than the depth. A rather vague definition ... so I would add that's also typically played with the hand. I know you know that bongos have skin heads as well. You can play on the sides, which I do quite regularly when I play fram drum (ala Glen Velez), using my knuckles and fingers.

As far as a beater on the cajon, I've done that, but it's not the same sound as using your hand. I've developed my own kickdrum beater to use when I play it on hand drums. The surface area of the beater is larger, much like that of your hand. I haven't found anything on the market that met my liking, so I made my own. Since I have the "hip" cradle, I'm able to play congas, djembe, etc., with a pedal. Normal kick beaters just have to much of a focused attack because only a small area strikes the instrument. The only way to counter that (at least that I've found) is to lower the pitch of the instrument so the head is very, very loose.

The head diameters of these hand drums are far less than any kick drum, so getting the same type of low-end is not easy. That's why you need more mass striking the drum, like what you get with your hand.

Now ... back to wood surface hand drums.

I would checkout all of the instruments over at Schlagwerk. I've played on all their instruments, and they are ALL very, very cool. The best wood surface drums I've seen or played on. Of course other companies make the wood surface conga drums ... but they don't compare to these as far as timbre and sonority quality.

Yes, I'm familar with the "new" wood drumheads ... but have never played on them, and I don't know that they are being massed produced. I've seen a website with the guy who came up with the concept. I'm sure it will be available in mass quantities very soon. If you know otherwise, please share.

The membrane DOES define the instrument; look in any Music Dictionary and you find that out very quickly. What I will say, however, is that these new wood drumheads will REDEFINE what we now call congas, bongos, djembes, frame drums, etc. I'm sure the wood tops are thin enough that they soon will be viewed as a membrane ... all based on their vibrating potential.

I'd love to get some retrofitted wood drumheads.  

The definition of a membrane, from a chemistry view point is: "A thin sheet of natural or synthetic material that is permeable to substances in solution."  All other definitions are very specific in that a membrane is a "thin layer of tissue (cell material)" which could be from plant or animal. So I gues the question is ... how thin does it have to be?

Drums are considered to be a Membranophone: "a musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each end." My Oxford Dictionary of Music gives a similar definition, although is not specific as to say that both "ends" have to have a membrane.  A kazoo is considered a membrophone.

My cajon has a thin layer of wood on two sides, thus two different playing surfaces ... and I don't think I would ever consider them to be membranes ... but that's me. I'm definitely not the official word as to what a membrane is or isn't.  Like I said, I think the definition will have to be revised with the latest innovations.

Well, maybe it shouldn't ... but right now ... it does; whether we like it or not. Like I said, with these new innovations, I'm sure the definition will be updated and changed to accomodate all of this. A membranophone will be expanded to say something that would include any material that ACTS like a membrane.

I'm just making my statements based on scholarly documentation. It will be revised ... I'm certain. We can call it whatever we want ... but that doesn't make it a correct assessment.

Remember, I'm the Pedantic Percussionist!  

I just wanted to state one more thing regarding the whole membrane topic ... which is actually off topic somewhat from this thread ... then I'll leave it alone.

There are four classifications of instruments:

• Idiophone
• Membranophone
• Aerophone
• Chordophones

Electrophones is the latest classification which was added much later.

If we stick with the definitions, these wood surfaced drums would fall under the Idiophone classification.

An Idiophone is an instrument that produces it's sound from it's own substance, e.g. castanets, cymbals, bells, etc. They can be struck, plucked, blown, or vibrated by friction.

I would contend that these wood surfaced percussion instruments are Idiophones and not Membranophones. Until we can call the wood surface a membrane ... I don't think we can call it a membranophone.

Is it any different than a large wood block? Is the surface thin enough to be considered a membrane? The wood is not stretched across the drum, so by definition, it wouldn't be a membrane, regardless of the thickness ... right?

Yes ... I'm speaking in terms of the genus; thought you were too!  

I can see why youd consider it idiophone, but as far as I know "produces it's sound from it's own substance" means from itself.  your examples are perfect.  but wood headed drums arent like that.  they are a wood body with a seperate head attached, that happens to also be wood.  if it were carved from one block, id agree, but since its not ... which makes it different from a wood block.  it may not be technically stretched, but thats inherant of the substance, not the design.  wood isnt really high up on the elasticity chart.  but the principle is the same as a tack headed drum.

and I would content the surface is thin enough in most cases.  heck, a 1" plate of slate works in the same fashion as the thinnest drumhead, its just a matter of degrees.  but in these cases they are pretty thin.

ahh semantics (or is that "pedantics" ).  anyway ... this isnt really all that relevant ... and id still like to know of any experience using sticks on these ... things ...  


yes and no ... I call a conga a conga regardless of the size, a dumbek a dumbek regardless of the size etc.  so yes and no  

and louis, I think bart and I should be the least of this board referee worries