Choosing your first shamanic drum

Acquiring a shamanic drum is a very personal, intimate process and choosing a drum for the first time can be a little scary because we want to get it right! The first drum is like the first love, it's a leap into a new world.

So here is my "one penny worth" advice for anyone who is thinking of or is already committed to take that leap.

First, let’s dispel a common myth: you don’t have to make your own drum. While crafting your own drum can be a powerful and meaningful ritual, it’s not the only way to connect deeply with this sacred instrument. Making a drum requires time, money, and access to a workshop — and not everyone feels drawn to that process.

Some people love working with their hands; others don't. Some have the opportunity to build a drum locally; others don’t.

Personally, I’ve never made my own drum — and yet I’ve been journeying and guiding others with the drum for many years. Your connection to the drum is built through tuning in to spirit, setting an intention, and the relationship you develop over time, not just through how it was made.

That said, if you do feel the call to bring your own drum into life, seek out a drum-making workshop in your area. It can be a beautiful and ceremonial process, and many practitioners cherish that path.

Since I can’t speak from personal experience when it comes to building a drum, I’ll focus on what I do know: how to choose and buy a drum that feels right for you.

How to chose your drum - the technical bits

You can find quality drums from specialised makers online, in new age shops or at holistic fairs, festivals and gatherings — You can also buy a second hand drum from another practitioner.

If you're lucky there will be a ceremonial sound shop in your area.

It's rare to find frame drums in music shops as the shamanic drum is considered a sacred object rather than an actual instrument, but it's worth a try.

Types of drums

The shamanic drum is also called hand drum or frame drum ( not to be confused with the hang drum or pan drum). Look for one that is played with the "beater" ( drum stick) rather than with the hand like the Persian style.

The traditional shamanic drum is made with a light frame and animal hide, and it's tied in the back through a pattern of "branching threads" helps us to tense the drum regularly for optimum performance.

Although any percussion can be used for the shamanic journey, the frame drum is designed specifically to have a depth of sound that induces the gentle and natural alteration of perception which facilitates the journey.

There are two main types of "shamanic" drums

• Animal hide

• Vegan ( synthetic )

The animal hide drums are the most commonly used as they are the traditional ones that have been utilised for tens of thousands of years. They are beautiful companions and carry the "medicine " of the spirit animal whose hide created the drum. They have a natural feel and warmth to the touch.

If you decide to make your own, this is the type you will build.

The cons of this type of drum is that its susceptible to changes in temperature, meaning it works great in dry, warm conditions but it suffers in humid, cold weather. This decreases the tension of the drum and translates in the drum getting "loose' or "going flat" which makes playing harder or sometimes not practical at all.

But this should not put you off, there are ways around it and we will look at these in a separate post.

Please know that drums are made with redundant hides ( no animals are killed for the purpose) and drum makers are usually inclined to obtain the hides in ethical, sustainable ways. It's legitimate to ask the seller where and how the hides come from so you can make an informed decision. 

The vegan drum is made with synthetic materials and it's very sought after nowadays for a variety of reasons, here are a few :

•  No animal products utilised

• Low maintenance ( it doesn't need tensing...ever!)

• Good to go in all weather conditions

• Often beautifully decorated ( universal design styles ie: lotus flower vs eagle )

The vegan drum is practical and easy to use, the cons are the fact that it's made with synthetic materials so not always environmentally conscious ( ask the seller about it ) and it lacks the "nature connection" vibe which for someone can be a real deal breaker. Otherwise, vegan drums are perfectly functional drums that create excellent sound and depth for the shamanic journey.

I have both synthetic and animal hide drums and they are all great !

Buying a drum

When buying a drum is good to ask questions, for example :

• Is it handmade? If so, did the seller make it?

• Where was it made?

• What materials they used?

• Does it come with a beater? ( if not, do they sell beaters? It's also easy to make yourself)

• What's its weight ?

• Dimensions? This is useful to know especially if you are planning to get a drum bag

• Ethical credentials?

• If it's animal hide, what animal ?

• Does the seller play drums ?

• Can they show you how to play it?

• If it's second hand, why are they selling it?

• is it damaged, has it had any repair done? If so, was it the frame or hide?

• Is it well tensed ?

• What's their return and refund policy?

It's easier to "feel" the drum through physical contact so it'd be great if you could see it and touch it beforehand (ie: in a shop), but just like on dating sites, some people meet their perfect drums online....lol.

Drums tend to get to us in mysterious ways so leave all your options open.

• In person

If you can see the drum in person before you buy, you can tune into what it feels like to hold it in your hand.

Ask to try it, even if you don't know how, hold the beater /drum stick and play. Try it out, don't be shy, see what it feels like, do you like the sound? Has it got depth? Try closing your eyes while you do that, does it transport you? Does your body resonate with it? If you're in a shop you can't engage in a full blown shamanic journey perhaps but even playing for a minute and quietly can help you understand if you feel comfortable with a particular drum.

Even if you are immediately drawn to a drum, try others, see the difference.

If you're not sure, leave and come back later, sleep on it, try other places....

Don't feel too pressured about it, a drum is not always forever, it's ok to take a drum home, play it for a while and then realise it's not right for us. We can bring it back, resell it, give it to someone who feels a connection to it.

It's common to change drums, sometimes we outgrow them (or they outgrow us!) and we get a new one.

Sometimes we end up having several drums at once if we go deeper into the practice.

There are some beautifully hand painted drums out there, many of which displaying spirit animals, or in the case of vegan drums, also yoga patterns etc. I would encourage you to focus more on the drum itself than the image, you can always have it painted later if that's what's calling you.

•  Online 

If you decide to buy your drum online, ask the seller to send you good pictures and a video of the back and front, and to send you another video when they are playing it so you can hear and feel the sound and vibration the drum produces.

If you want a unique drum, look for a handmade one, on Etsy or similar platforms. A lot of skill, time and care go into creating a handmade drum and usually you can commission one and be part of the creation process.

Size and shape

Frame drums are usually round but they can also be hexagonal, octagonal etc.

Some drums are oval shaped.

The shape does not influence the sound as much as the size.

The smaller the drum, the higher pitch it usually is.

There is no right or wrong drum, it's about what feels right for you.

If you travel a lot and want to have an easy to carry drum, consider getting a small one.

I have a small drum that fits in my handbag and larger ones that need to go into a large size checked in bag when I travel. They are all perfectly capable of facilitating the shamanic journey.

If size is not an issue from the practical side of things, chose the drum that resonates more, no matter what size.

Try different ones and see what feels more comfortable.

Standard weight and dimensions

A shamanic drum typically weighs between 225 grams and 1.2 kilograms (0.5 to 2.6 pounds), depending on the size and materials used. Smaller, portable drums might weigh around 225 grams, while larger drums can reach 1.2 kilograms. I recommend you keep within 1 kg max. A frame drum or shamanic drum is supposed to be light weight because when you journey you play for 5-10 minutes straight, sometimes longer, away from your body, so make sure you have a drum that is not too heavy to hold.

Shamanic drums typically range in diameter from 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 cm).

The most common sizes are 16 inches (40 cm), 18 inches (45 cm), and 20 inches (51 cm), with 18 inches being a popular choice for its balance of weight and deep tone. The depth of the drum is generally between 2 and 7 cm. 

• Small: 12 inches (30 cm) diameter

• Medium: 16 inches (40 cm) and 18 inches (45 cm) diameter

• Large: 20 inches (51 cm) and 24 inches (60 cm) diameter

Average prices

The price of a shamanic drum varies depending on size and quality.

A large new drum starts at around £120.

If it's a unique drum, handmade by an artist , perhaps in ceremony with special care, a large drum can cost £300 or more. Second hand is often cheaper but it's not always the case.

Retailers

I acquired my drums in unusual places, my first drum was given to me by my teacher, another one I found in a hippy shop in Tulum, ( that didn't sell instruments), one in an antique market stall ( an original Bodhran) in Greenwich on a rainy night, one was commissioned to a Mexican wizard, and another one I got in Glastonbury.

If you're coming to my Avalon Mystique retreat this summer, I can take you to my favourite music store to find your perfect drum, sprinkled with fairy dust. Otherwise look for shops and individual sellers in your area first, then look for online retailers.

An artist I know in the UK makes beautiful drums ( you can commission ) hand painted with Celtic and Avalon themes. Her name is Elaine Morgan ( Elluna) and you can find her on FB.

How to chose your drum - the spiritual side of things

Whatever type of drum you choose, whether you decide to buy it in person or online, before you embark on your search, there are simple steps you can take to connect to the spirit of the drum so that it may find its way into your life.

Many years ago, when I was living in Tulum, I was still using the drum my teacher in the UK had given me before I moved to Mexico. But over time, I began to feel that my journey with that drum was coming to a close.

I felt longing for a different drum, one that matched who I was becoming.

I started asking around, but back then, no one in the area was making this type of drum. Balam, a sound healer who offered sessions at my healing centre, referred me to a man in Cancún who sold instruments and had some shamanic drums. Before heading out, I asked for some photos—but none of the drums resonated. They looked beautiful, but I knew they weren’t for me. I was ready to wait—or even give up entirely—rather than settle for a drum that didn’t belong with me.

Two weeks later, during a lunch break, I decided to visit a friend who worked at a mojito bar. But without thinking, my feet took me straight to the little "hippy" shop instead.

The shop—Confucious (it’s still there!)—sells rolling tobacco, Thai pants, Indian jewellery, essential oils, hemp bags, Tuluminati crowns, bikini tops... the usual tourist-meets-new-age collection.

As soon as I stepped inside, my eyes landed on a drum tucked away under a table.

I picked it up and asked the girl at the counter, “What about this one? I didn’t know you sold instruments.”

“We don’t” she said.

I ran my hand over it and gave it a few beats. It felt... familiar.

“Do you know what hide it is? Or where it comes from?”

“No idea,” she replied. “The owner brought it in a couple of weeks ago. It’s too big to keep on display, so it’s just been hiding there.”

I was about to put it back when I felt something tug at my heart.

“Could you check?”

She messaged the owner and found out it was made in Indonesia, from goat hide.

She looked at me and smiled. “It seems like it wants to go home with you.”

I laughed. “I only stepped out for a break. I wasn’t planning to buy a drum... How much is it anyway?”

She called the owner and got the price.

As it turned out, I had the exact amount in cash.

We both laughed. I took the drum home.

That drum became my most cherished companion on many spiritual adventures.

I had called out for her, and she had answered the call.

We found each other.

Since then, other drums have found their way to me in similarly unexpected ways—often when I wasn’t even looking.

Drums are alive. The relationship we build with them goes far beyond a simple purchase. It's a dance of spirit, timing, and recognition.

Tuning into your drum

When you are looking for your drum, know that most likely the drum is looking for you, so you can establish a telepathic connection which will act as a GPS for you to find each other .

You can do that by

• Calling your drum in a meditation

• Ask to get hints in your dreams about where to find your drum

• Make an offering to the earth and ask her to lead you to your drum

• Tune into the spirit of the drum in a shamanic journey.

Once you have made contact, unless you gained clarity about how to proceed, sit back and wait, be patient and trust that the call is out and the drum is on its way.

You can also tune into a drum you already know, perhaps one you saw ( in person or online) and are considering buying. Ask the spirit of the drum if it's the right one for you, if it's happy to walk alongside you.

You can also ask the spirit of the drum about the "medicine" it carries and get a feel for whether it resonates with your path.

If you need help, advice, guidance, or you would like to journey together to the spirit of your drum, let me know.

Calling in the spirit of our drums to come out and play.

Cinzia

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