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How to Make a Tom-Tom Drum

Tom toms are the part of the drum kit that provide most of the tone. While the snare drum, bass drum, and cymbals form the core of the rhythm, toms provide a variety of pitches and timbres to fill in the groove. Fortunately, there are several household items that can be used to make homemade tom toms. A homemade tom tom will not sound quite as punchy as a store-bought one, but for just a fraction of the price it can achieve the basic effect.

Things You'll Need

  • Empty cylindrical oatmeal container
  • Glue
  • 1 sheet construction paper, any color
  • Scissors
  • Coloring pens
  • 2 balloons
  • 2 rubber bands
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Instructions

  1. Decorating the Drum

    • 1

      Apply glue to the outside of the oatmeal container. Spread the glue evenly across the surface of the container with your finger. Be careful not to overapply the glue.

    • 2

      Cut the construction paper to the same size of the oatmeal container and wrap it around the outside of the container. The full surface of the container should be covered. Press down on the paper, and, if there are wrinkles, press them out with your finger.

    • 3

      Wait 10 minutes for the glue to dry.

    • 4

      Decorate the drum in whatever way you would like. Using coloring pens, you can draw shapes, color in the whole drum, or paint a picture that tells a story.

    Preparing the Drum

    • 5

      Punch out the bottom of the oatmeal container with your fist. This should leave a hollow cylinder. Clean out any excess oatmeal still in the container.

    • 6

      Cut off the narrow end of the balloon.

    • 7

      Stretch the balloon across the top of the oatmeal container so that it remains tight. The balloon will be the surface of the drum, so it cannot be loose. The tension on the balloon will also determine the drums pitch, so if you want a lower-pitched drum, keep the balloon slightly looser. If you want a higher-pitched drum, make sure the balloon is taut.

    • 8

      Pull a rubber band over the balloon while the balloon is still in place. It might help to have a friend pull over the rubber band while you hold the balloon. If your rubber band is large, wrap it around the balloon twice.

    • 9

      Repeat Step 2 through Step 4 for the other side of the container. The drum can be played with the eraser end of a #2 pencil.

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