Types of Drums

Cylindrical Drums

• There are two basic types of cylindrical drums. A frame drum has a circumference wider than the height or depth of its shell and is usually small enough to hold in one hand; the tambourine is a type of frame drum, and most drums in a rock band set are this type. A long drum is taller or deeper than its circumference length; these drums can be extremely large, sometimes made from whole tree trunks.

Barrel Drums

• A barrel drum is so called because it is shaped like a barrel, meaning it is actually wider in the middle than it is on the top or bottom. These drums, which often have a membrane head on the top only, are popular in Asian countries like India, Thailand, Korea and Indonesia.

Goblet Drums

• Goblet drums are shaped the exact opposite of barrel drums. The drum itself is narrower in the middle than it is on top or bottom, much like the drinking cup it is named after. The top and bottom of the drum usually have different circumferences, with the top usually wider. These drums are mostly seen in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and North Africa.

Waisted Drums

• Waisted drums are similar to goblet drums, except that the top and bottom have the same circumference; they can also be called hourglass drums. These drumheads are usually connected to each other by multiple thick laces, and these laces can be grabbed and squeezed while playing, which will change the drum's pitch. These drums are mostly found in Korea and West Africa.

Conga Drums

• Conga drums, also known as bongo drums, have origins in both Cuba and Africa. They are similar to barrel drums--including being open-ended on the bottom--except that the circumference of the drum's bottom is much smaller than on top where the membrane is. Conga drums can come in many sizes, including handheld versions, but typical congas are about 75cm (29 1/2 inches) high.

Bowl Drums

• Bowl drums are so named because their bottoms are completely rounded with no flat surface. The membrane covering the top is held on by either wrapping the laces tightly around the circumference below the top or across the bowl-like bottom from one side of the top to the other.