Topic: What the heck are these percussion instruments?

[liquid8]

Help! - I could do with some light being shed on my ignorance here.

I've been asked by a client to auction a batch of ethnic indigenous percussion instruments via ebay but I don't know what most of them are!

Any help identifying them would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers - Andy

[Bart Elliott]

In order of appearance:

• Balafon (African Xylophone)
• Hudak (Talking Drum)
• Timba or Timbal (Brazilian drum)
• Bongos
• Maraca or Gourd Shaker
• Kids Drum (quasi Native American)
• Pueblo Drum
• Egyptian Bongos
• Metal Doumbek (brass?)
• Bongos

Since I'm helping you sell these instruments, perhaps you or your client can send the Drummer Cafe a donation! 

[liquid8]

Bart,

Thanks for that - it saved me a ton of research.

Where's the donation button?

[Bart Elliott]

Bart,

Thanks for that - it saved me a ton of research.

Where's the donation button?

Checks can be made out to Drummer Cafe and sent to the address on our contact page. Cash donations and be sent via PayPal to donations@drummercafe.com. We don't accept credit card funded donations. Thanks!

[TheSpindoctor]

In order of appearance:

• Balafon (African Xylophone)
• Hudak (Talking Drum)
• Timba or Timbal (Brazilian drum)
• Bongos
• Maraca or Gourd Shaker
• Kids Drum (quasi Native American)
• Pueblo Drum
• Egyptian Bongos
• Metal Doumbek (brass?)
• Bongos

Since I'm helping you sell these instruments, perhaps you or your client can send the Drummer Cafe a donation! 

Holy crap, that takes skill.

[Tony]

Not only an impressive knowledge of the instruments Bart, but an impressive response time!

[Flam]

Holy crap, that takes skill.

Yeah, Mr. Elliott, did you just know that off the top of your head, or did you look them up?

[Bart Elliott]

Yeah, Mr. Elliott, did you just know that off the top of your head, or did you look them up?

I knew what they were off the top of my head. It's not that big of deal really. I'm a percussionist/drummer ... with a musicologist edge. I also own most of these same instruments.

[Jon E]

Jeez Bart, it took you 53 minutes to get him the answers???!!  You're slipping! 

[Bart Elliott]

Jeez Bart, it took you 53 minutes to get him the answers???!!  You're slipping! 

And before 8am! LOL
Musicians don't usually operate until well beyond 10am ... so YEAH!!! 

I don't think I mentioned this but liquid8 did make a small financial contribution to the Drummer Cafe for my assistance. Thank You!

[e2c]

Interesting collection of photos - and incredibly varied!

I can't help wondering if the rope-tensioned drum is actually a bombo legüero - anyone know for sure?



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombo_leg%C3%BCero

[Bart Elliott]

I can't help wondering if the rope-tensioned drum is actually a bombo legüero - anyone know for sure?

Yes ... that's why I didn't say it was a Bombo!   

Turista instruments can look like a lot of different things. 

Seriously though, many instruments have different names based on who you talk to and depending on the region the instrument is located. I would suggest that the drum in question is not a Bombo (too small), but has many of the same qualities of a traditional Bombo. Having a skin head with the fur left on it helps to dampen the sound, thus enhancing the low frequencies (roll-off the high frequencies). You'll get a low tone from the drum ... even with a small diameter like these drums.

All of the Bombo/Bomba drums I've ever seen or played were much bigger than this ... and bigger than the drum in the photo you've supplied. Keep in my bombo is Spanish for Bass Drum; in Portuguese it's bomba. Perhaps in Argentina the Bombo legüero is smaller than your typical Bombo. I have a friend who was born and raised in Argentina; perhaps she can clarify some of this for me.

Here's an example of how big the drum is typically. This photo shows a gentleman making a Bombo drum out of a Ceibo tree ... in Argentina. See how big the tree trunk is? Imagine how big the drum will be when he's finished. That's how big a Bombo typically is.

[e2c]

Yes, I understand that the drum I was actually referring to (what you called a "kid's drum") is likely a tourist instrument, but... the point I was trying to make is that it resembles a drum from the bombo family.

Just my .02-worth...

Thanks for the photo, etc.

As for the pic I posted, I grabbed it from Google image search. Wasn't intending to suggest anything about the quality of the drum (etc.), but was looking at the way the rope is strung, for comparison purposes.

Edit: As far as "different names," sure - I've seen and heard so many for that goblet drum that we Americans tend to call doumbek, it's not funny.

Best regards,
e2c

[A.Drummer88]

Eish man... I Love my Jembe!

I play kit normaly but I would recommend that anyone add some of these hand percussion sounds into their regular playing.  You can get some really nice grooves.