Drums are living, breathing allies, and should be cared for in this way, with love. Be respectful of the sacred tool and open the channel of communication, listening, and care.
Always store your drum face up, either in a bag or natural cloth fabric, or hang on the wall. Protect your drum from extreme temperature changes. Do not store your drum in direct sunlight or in your vehicle, especially in heat or cold. Consider the face of your drum as an actual face. Do not set things on the face of your drum.
Drum skins will expand in the cold and tighten in the heat. Using this, you can change the tone of your drum. Placing your drum near heat will tighten the hide and give it a higher tone. Spraying your drum with a little water or briefly laying a wet cloth over the face of your drum will help bring the tone lower. Always aim to heat or cool your drum gradually.
You can clean your drum by gently wiping it with a damp cloth. Lightly moisturizing your drum from time to time keeps the skin from drying and cracking. Good options for this are shea butter or bear grease.
Blessings on your drum journey ♡
~ Nature's Drum
