Zacciah Blackburn 220 Hidden Glen Rd. P.O. Box 389 Ascutney, VT  05030  USA Phone:  (802) 674-9585  Fax:  (802) 674-9586 e-mail us at: info@sunreed.com

About Our Drums Back to Sunreed's Home Page * How to Order Page Native American Drums Drum Care for natural hide Native American drums: NEVER LEAVE YOUR DRUM IN A CAR, NEAR A VENT OR ANY HEAT SOURCE, OR WHERE THERE ARE SUDDEN CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE.  DOING SO MAY CAUSE THE HIDE TO CRACK!!! ADJUSTING THE TONE OF YOUR DRUM  If the tone is too high...Add moisture (mist front and back using water and a spritzer, or take into the bathroom when you shower). If the tone is too deep...Add heat (put in the sun or next to heat source briefly, or use a hair dryer). If the tone is flat or drum ripples...Add heat as above (this is the extreme end of too deep—do not worry—tone will return as it dries). NATURAL HIDE DRUMS ARE VERY RESPONSIVE TO HEAT AND MOISTURE!!! Adjust with care!!!!! Native American Drum: What is the best type of drum for sweat lodges? A sweat lodge is a tough place for any drum to last long, as the hot moisture feeds into the skin of the drum head and lacing, making it eventually soften, and not play well. Your best choices are 1) Our double sided sweatlodge drum, which also uses buffalo skin. The double side, and the buffalo skin are two contributing factors to make this work well. And, our maker says it is guaranteed to make it through a sweat. 2) The second best choice is the 16" Remo drum. It has a great voice, and will never fail in humid conditions. It is made of a plastic head, and of course, many, especially of Native traditions, will feel that is not appropriate.  But for pureness of voice, and lasting in sweat conditions, nothing beats it.  It never changes its voice.  You can soak it in water, and it will keep its voice. Any natural skin head drum will lose its voice if exposed to enough moisture over time. For a single headed drum, an elkskin drum is as good as any.  Steer, moose, or buffalo skin may last a little longer in sweat conditions than elk, but the elk do about as well as any other skin in moist conditions, in my own experience. Most any single headed drum other than the Remo will have difficulty making through a full round of sweats. You can always dry the skin between rounds at the fire. I hope you find this helpful. See information on our drums page: http://sunreed.com/NativeAmericanDrums.htm

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