Tibetan Drum: A Traditional Art Instrument

Tibetan drum is a traditional art instrument for musical, ceremonial, and performance in Tibet, including Damaru, Dhyangro, Skull Drum, Ritual Drum, etc. This is a cultural artifact that can transmit sound to history, and the sound of drums. The thunder stirs the thousand-year-old culture of the Tibetan people. The Tibetan drum is an integral part of Tibetan music and culture, and its significance goes beyond just music. The drum is believed to have spiritual and healing properties and is often used by Tibetan shamans in their rituals. In addition, it is also used in dance performances and theatrical productions, where it is used to provide music and sound effects. 

Tibetan drums are known as the "first of the group tones" in Tibetan instrumental music. It strikes a magnificent sound that sends a solemn reverberation in the hall. Combined with Tibetan opera, Reba drumming, Zhuo dance, and other artistic expressions, it is a restoration of the original Tibetan society.

Types of Tibetan Drum

Tibetan Hand Drum (Damaru)

Damaru or damru is a small two-headed hand drum. It has significance in both Hinduism and Buddhism. In Hinduism, the damru is the instrument of the deity Shiva. It is said to have been created by Shiva to produce spiritual sounds. The whole universe was created and regulated. It is believed to generate spiritual energy. In Tibetan Buddhism, the damaru is used as an instrument in tantric practices. The drum is typically made of Sheesham Wood with green color leather drum heads at both ends. It is played single-handedly. As the player waves the drum using a twisting wrist motion, the strikers beat on the drum head.

Dhyangro

The Dhyangro is a Tibetan Drum with a double-headed frame, mainly played by Tibetan Buddhist musicians and Shamans or Jhakri from an ethnic group of Nepal. The drum has a unique design and is made of wood, leather, and metal. The Dhyangro has a distinct sound that is deep and resonant. It is often played in an improvisational style, with the musician using different techniques to produce a range of sounds. In addition, the center of the drum is painted with a spiral in the colors red, yellow, and blue, representing the Three Jewels of Buddha, Dharma & Sangha. The two heads of the drum are made from animal hide, which is stretched over the wooden frame and fastened with metal rings. This drum is an essential instrument in Tibetan culture and is mainly used during Buddhist ceremonies and festivals such as Living Buddha’s enthronement and opening-of-light ceremony.

Skull Drum

The Skull Drum is a double-headed percussion instrument fashioned from the tops of human skulls joined at their apexes. It has been a part of the standard ritual paraphernalia for practitioners of the later forms of Tantric Buddhism. The skull drum is most commonly made of wood, and whose heads may be round or in an elongated shape. In addition, these drums may be festooned with ribbons, tassels, bells, and other adornments. 

The drum is held in the practitioner’s right hand, between the extended index finger and thumb, with the long strap grasped between the palm and the remaining fingers. When held upright and rotated back and forth in a semicircle, the two pellets at the ends of the strings extending from opposite sides of the drum’s waist hit the drumheads simultaneously. With just a little practice one can produce a variety of rhythms, or make a continuous sound by quickly spinning the drum back and forth.

Ritual Drum

The Ritual Drum known as Choe-Pai-Nga is used for both monastic rites of peaceful and wrathful practice. There are a few types of ritual drums, such as the ceremonial drum, the large drum, and the small drum. These ritual drums are decorated with beautiful paintings. A pair of wooden sickle-shaped drumsticks is used for beating these drums and the drumstick has a padded skin tip and handle. The exquisite double-sided drum is used for personal ritual practice or ritual practice in the temple.

Tibetan drum making

The first step in making a drum is to split the log into several curved pieces of wood, and all the wood needed for a drum is sorted out and carved into various parts, which is completely done by hand. The curvature of each piece of wood has a uniform standard, which must be polished repeatedly according to the mold. The number and size of wood chips is determined by the size of the drum. Then use the baked cowhide glue to glue the wood chips together, the process is as follows: lightly apply a layer of kraft glue on the edge of the drum blade, and then tightly seal and glue the bonded drum body, and then use a long rope to tie the bonded drum body, bake the glue on the drum with a brazier, and after drying, add two tough wooden strips to the inner ring to fix it. In this way, the first step of drum making is completed. 　　

Once these drums are fully set, the shell needs to be sanded and finally colored. The pattern and base color of the drum are chosen by the guests themselves, including traditional motifs such as the auspicious eight treasures, the three joy spins, and the two dragons roaring in the sky. After the final design and drawing of the pattern, it should be brushed with transparent paint, which can protect the pattern and will appear more beautiful. In this way, the drum production is all done.

The process of making Tibetan drums

1. Make wooden blocks and wooden frames for the drum body;

2. The carpenters glued the wooden blocks into rings with cowhide glue, and tied them with thick hemp rope to set them;

3. Engrave drum handle;

4. Paste scriptures on the inner wall of the drum body;

5. The freshly skinned drum is dried in the sun, waiting for further decoration;

6. Pigments extracted from ores and plants are used for coloring, but advertising colors are commonly used nowadays;

7. Carefully depict the drum head and drum rack.