Percussion plays a crucial role in native music, consequently involving many aspects and components. These instruments appear in many different shapes and sizes, with varying sounds and uses. Percussion instruments, which are all idiophones or membranpophones, consist of rasps, bells, clap-sticks, rattles, and drums, the latter two being most common. Some of these instruments can be constructed within an hour or two depending. In addition, many of these drums and instruments carry or have a symbolic significance presented by how it is used (ceremonies, recreation, etc.), its appearance, the sound it produces and its name.
Within Native American tribes, the word "drum" refers to not only the instrument, but the group of players. Ceremonial drums have strict governing codes and are treated with great respect and very cared for. They are played in communal groups alongside singers and often, dancers. Drums will differ from tribe to tribe. Traditional drums were generally approximately 2-3 feet in diameter. One specific type of drum are Powwows (shown right). These are exceptionally large, constructed with a wooden frame or a carved/hollowed out log. Both faces are then covered with animal rawhide as a head. Different common animal hides include deer, elk, buffalo, bison and others. The hides are then fastened with sinew thongs. Powwow drums were/are very prevalent throughout tribes, although especially within Northeastern people.
Other drums include water drums, which are classified into two types; Iroquis and Yaqui. Iroquis water drums are composed with a small cup-shaped wooden vessel with water inside. The open face was covered with moistened tanned hide. The wetness and tightness of the hide produced changes in pitch over time. Yaqui drums are constructed with a large gourd cut in half. This half floats in a tub of water with the opening side facing the water. The exposed outer surface is struck with a drum beater. The tub of water acts as a resonator and amplifies the vibrations
Foot drums, found in southwestern/central California in Native American area sites inhabited/formally inhabited by the Miwok, Maidu, Aztec, and Hopi tribes are another popular percussion instrument. The drum is a semicircle cross-sectioned hollow log. They are placed on wood covered resonating pits to amplify the sound. It is played by stomping on the top of the hollow log.
Alongside drums, drum beaters, or mallets, were constructed as a mean to play certain drums. Beaters frequently consisted of one or two wool stuffed heads on one or either end of a wooden stick as a handle. This handle would be wrapped in colorful cording or strings between the heads. Another regular feature of Native American ceremonial drums was pictures painted onto the heads of drums. These paintings or drawings were often colorful figures of animals such as a turtle, bird, bear, bison or many others. Other figures also included the sun, trees, mountains, or more relating to nature.
Percussion instruments other than drums still play a large role in Native American music. For example, rattles, which are generally made of bone or gourd. Although turtle rattle are also popular, made with a turtle shell containing small items such as turtle bones or cherry pits to produce a "rattling" sound when shaken. These turtle rattles honor turtles for the vital role is the creation of "Turtle Island", a Native American name for North America.
Within Native American tribes, the word "drum" refers to not only the instrument, but the group of players. Ceremonial drums have strict governing codes and are treated with great respect and very cared for. They are played in communal groups alongside singers and often, dancers. Drums will differ from tribe to tribe. Traditional drums were generally approximately 2-3 feet in diameter. One specific type of drum are Powwows (shown right). These are exceptionally large, constructed with a wooden frame or a carved/hollowed out log. Both faces are then covered with animal rawhide as a head. Different common animal hides include deer, elk, buffalo, bison and others. The hides are then fastened with sinew thongs. Powwow drums were/are very prevalent throughout tribes, although especially within Northeastern people.
Other drums include water drums, which are classified into two types; Iroquis and Yaqui. Iroquis water drums are composed with a small cup-shaped wooden vessel with water inside. The open face was covered with moistened tanned hide. The wetness and tightness of the hide produced changes in pitch over time. Yaqui drums are constructed with a large gourd cut in half. This half floats in a tub of water with the opening side facing the water. The exposed outer surface is struck with a drum beater. The tub of water acts as a resonator and amplifies the vibrations
Foot drums, found in southwestern/central California in Native American area sites inhabited/formally inhabited by the Miwok, Maidu, Aztec, and Hopi tribes are another popular percussion instrument. The drum is a semicircle cross-sectioned hollow log. They are placed on wood covered resonating pits to amplify the sound. It is played by stomping on the top of the hollow log.
Alongside drums, drum beaters, or mallets, were constructed as a mean to play certain drums. Beaters frequently consisted of one or two wool stuffed heads on one or either end of a wooden stick as a handle. This handle would be wrapped in colorful cording or strings between the heads. Another regular feature of Native American ceremonial drums was pictures painted onto the heads of drums. These paintings or drawings were often colorful figures of animals such as a turtle, bird, bear, bison or many others. Other figures also included the sun, trees, mountains, or more relating to nature.
Percussion instruments other than drums still play a large role in Native American music. For example, rattles, which are generally made of bone or gourd. Although turtle rattle are also popular, made with a turtle shell containing small items such as turtle bones or cherry pits to produce a "rattling" sound when shaken. These turtle rattles honor turtles for the vital role is the creation of "Turtle Island", a Native American name for North America.