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October 25, 2006
Native American Indian Drum Sound Quality
We recently had a lady involved in a drumming circle asked if Native drums have a variation of sound or if they are consistant across the surface of the drum.
Native american drums are made with natural hides rather than modern man-made materials and the sound charactoristics are different.
People who drum with Indian drums vary the tone of the drum in two ways. First by the strength of the strike with the beater and then also by where they strike the drum. By alternating the strike point from drum center to the edge of the drum, the drummer can control the tone and volume of native drums.
I've also noticed that drummers use different tom tom's or beaters. It is quite noticable that a hard or soft head on the beater brings forth a different sound even on the same drum. The soft drum stick delivers a softer thud sound while a hard beater yields a more ringing tone with a noticable resonance.
Enjoy your Native rawhide drums.
October 22, 2006
Care and cleaning of Native American Indian Drums
Rawhide Indian drums are very durable and can be played for extended periods of time. The only concern for Indian hand drums made of rawhide it that they not get wet. Native rawhide drums actually use stretched skin and do well in conditions that our own skin likes. This is true for any shaman drum, hoop drum or frame drum as they are called that is made with untanned rawhide. Some modern hand drums made with non-natural materials have different properties.
Store the drum in a cool, dry place. If exposed to high humidity, hoop drums may temporarily lose their tone, becoming loose. The tone can be restored by heating the instrument slowly in front of a fire, by using a hair dryer on hot. Be careful not to over heat a drum, but they can stand slightly higher heat than the human hand can tolerate.
Heat is the enemy of rawhide Indian drums. Do not make the mistake of leaving a natural stretched animal skin drum closed in a car or in a window with direct sun. Heat and dryness may split the head. If you transport a drum through a dry climate you can keep it in a plastic bag with a slightly damp piece of paper towel enclosed. In a humid climate you can preserve the tone of a drum by sealing it in a plastic bag. After shipping, transporting or rain storms the heating or drying/tightening process will probably need to be repeated. Most drummers will dry their drum before their drumming group meets for best sound quality.
Many people love to see their drums when not drumming and use them as décor. Hanging on a wall or shelf is fine. But remember to avoid heat sources like a radiator or heating vent or where there is direct sun or high temperature. It is best never to store a rawhide Indian drum in plastic because it needs to breath.
Native American drums can be cleaned by wiping with a damp cloth. Remember not to over dampen the rawhide unless you have time for it to slowly air dry to re tighten. Occasional oiling with neatsfoot oil especially on the points where the lacing joins the drum head is helpful. The oil should be rubbed into the hide using very little oil rather than saturating the hide. If you have painted drums avoid rubbing the actual decoration. With a little care, you will enjoy and get the most from your Indian drums.
October 18, 2006
How to Use Rawhide Lamp Shades with Rustic Lamps
Rawhide lamp shades can be used as replacement lamp shades on your existing lamps or as the perfect accessory to your new rustic lamps. Each rawhide lamp shade is handmade and the shade of choice for southwestern table lamps, vintage or antique lamps or western floor lamps. Old world craftsmanship and the natural material characteristics of rawhide allow rustic lamps to create perfect ambiance. If you want rustic lamps that hang from the ceiling such as antler chandeliers, rawhide chandelier lamp shades allow light to filter through the rawhide. Mini lamp shades or clip on lamp shades have a built-in bulb clip at the top of the shade which allows the lampshade to rest directly on the bulb to give your rustic lamps a custom look. Rustic lamp shades made of rawhide work with cowboy, Native American Indian lamps, log homes, cabins and cottages as well as any ranch, lodge or country décor and are the staple of western and southwest decor. You can find a full assortment of sizes and colors at Mission Del Rey where stock or custom rawhide shades are available in 16 sizes and 5 colors. You will love the glow of rawhide lamp shades.
For southwest décor and lighting, use bleached rawhide which has a consistent light cream color with occasional brown, gold and rust colored highlights and a warm glow when illuminated. The light rawhide of southwestern lamp shades is a warm accompaniment to other southwest elements. If you have Indian pottery or Indian drums on the wall or other leather or raw hide near lamp shade they pick up the color tones and carry the theme throughout the room. Light rawhide lamp shades look best with light or natural colored rustic wood furniture and accessories such as kiva ladders. Our southwest rawhide shades are an excellent example of skill and lamp shade craftsmanship.
If you love western lamps, design and décor try using Mission Del Rey’s dark western rawhide lamp shades. Made with natural dark goat skin rawhide, western lamp shades have the look you want. These lamp shades have a rich variety of color tones in a very rustic appearance that varies in tone on the rawhide. Lamp shades full of character, western rawhide shades are less consistent in color so you see the natural light and dark coloring come through. Western rawhide yields a dark smoked look that is very unique and allows light to pass through. Laced with matching dark rawhide stitching, they have a warm golden brown glow. When a room has a lot of dark leather furniture or dark wood, the dark western rawhide lampshades will pull the room together to complete the perfect space.
When decorating or lighting a home with colorful country or arts and crafts style, consider dyed rawhide lamp shades. Dyed rawhide is also fantastic in cabins and cottages or anyplace where a touch of color is needed or for designer lamp shades and decoration lampshades while also building a rustic theme. Skillfully made dyed rawhide lamp shades use premium quality rawhides and undergo a dual process, lightened then tinted with dye to create the colored shades hide. Colored rawhide lamp shades reveal unique grain patterns that are further enhanced when illuminated. The resulting red rawhide, green rawhide and brown rawhide dyed lamp shades each have a unique colorful glow.
For a complete or finished look, use rawhide lamp shades on all of your chandeliers, table lamps or floor lamps as well as and wall sconces or candelabras you may have. For complete information visit missiondelrey.com. By all means, if you are fortunate enough to own custom antler lamps or wrought iron lamps, dress them with fabulous hand laced rawhide lamp shades.
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