Drums by Kasin Hunter, 2001
Row Three
Just prior to the drum workshop for the Southern Arizona Gourd Association,
I constructed some additional drum-related items as follows. These are rabbit
fur beaters. I took two sanded chopsticks, covered the tips with raffia, then
rabbit fur and cinched them on with artificial sinew. They have a great sound on
some of the drums.
Here's a couple more beaters, "A" is made from a whitetail deer antler which has
been stained with an acrylic wash; "B" are made from these simple materials: chopsticks,
Arizona cotton stuffing, artificial sinew lashing, and cheaters (knee high stockings.)
These water drums are sooo easy to make. Cut and clean two differently sized gourds.
Put water in the larger one. Invert the smaller one onto the water. Beat on the smaller,
floating gourd. Experiment with gourd sizes and water volume for different sounds.
I had a chunk of irregular leather left over, so I dug out an old metal rim I had
from a whiskey barrel planter that had long ago disintegrated. I wove the wet leather
inside the metal rim. When dry, I painted the border in three colors: metallic turquoise,
white and adobe, then added some
bells on top for additional sound. When struck, it has a deep rich sound. The rabbit
fur beaters sound especially good on it.
Whichever drum you make -- Happy gourding! Happy drumming! -- Kasin Hunter
Now, here's some links to some other sites involving music, gourds and/or drums.
Visit: