Ancient shamans in Lapland used Sami drum for healing and travelling to the other side to ask for help and assistance from their ancestors. We might not use the Sami drum nowadays for similar purposes, but it will help you to meditate and be more present as the vibrations of the sound will soothe your mind and soul.
How to care for your new drum:
Shaman drum is a carefree instrument if you remember a few basic things:
- use grease or some leather conditioner couple times a year
- keep the drum for example on the wall but not directly in the sunlight or near a heater (strong air conditioning can also dry the drum)
- don’t leave the drum in a hot car during the summer
- the drum doesn’t like dry air. The risk is that the drumhead becomes too tight causing it to rip (usually really cold weather equals dry air)
- instructions for caring for the drum are included in the package.
Tuning
The drum is very sensitive to the air humidity loosening it in a moist weather and tightening it in a dry weather. This affects the sound as well.
If your drum is too loose, you can dry it e.g. in the sunlight or with a hair dryer.
If your drum is too tight, you can spray water on the skin or wipe it with the moist cloth. The drumhead doesn’t respond immediately so wait a couple of minutes.
Watch our video and learn more about tuning (third video from the top).
Dyeing/painting
The picture on the drumhead has been hand-drawn. If you liked to add your own symbols or colour, you can use acrylic- or oil colours (please test first on a small area). You can also attach talismans on the frame or carve symbols to it. The drumhead is greased straight after we have attached it to the frame, so that it does not rip. If you have concerns regarding adding paint on the skin, please contact us to check whether the skin is suitable for painting.
The frame is made of birch plywood which is very suitable for carving your own symbols or adding some paint. You could also decorate your frame with different kind of talismans, feathers, pearls and other elements of your liking.
Blessing the drum
Blessing a drum is an old tradition in which the energies of the drum and the owner merge and the drum becomes your own. Though, blessing is recommended, it is not necessary, you can still use the drum without doing it. Read more about shamanism.
