The Drum Instruction Page

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What Is an Ikigala?
"Ikigala" is the name I gave to the drums featured on these pages. They are rather simple bass drums usually played with long, thick, wooden sticks. They are powerful, but the drummer can do rim shots or strike the sides to get a hard, cracking sound. An essential feature of an ikigala is its light weight. They are intended to be worn over the shoulder, as well as played on a stand.

The purpose of these pages is to demonstrate a way to make a drum, in any size, that has simple construction with few parts, and the nice sound of tight, natural leather heads.

Where Did They Come From?
Ikigalas are from the exotic suburban jungles of San Diego, California. When I set out to outfit the Goro-Goro drum ensemble with new drums, I considered the ideal drum to provide the core foundation for our performances.

• They must have a big and powerful sound.
• They must be lightweight so they can be worn over the shoulder for movement.
• The shell can be struck with the sticks to produce a sharp, woody sound.
• They must be able to be mounted and played in sets.
• They must be easy to make.
• They must be affordable.

Ikigala Construction
You only need three components for an ikigala: the shell, heads, and rope. You can use anything for the shell, from thick cardboard to aluminum to PVC plastic. Mine are all made of laminated maple wood.

Two heads cover both ends of the shell, and the heads are held in place and tensioned by the rope. The heads are applied wet, so that the hide becomes tight as they dry. All of my drums have cowhide or elkhide heads, but you can use goat, deer, etc.

Any strong rope will work for attaching and tensioning the heads. It is readily available in hardware stores, boating supply shops, and outdoor gear shops that feature climbing equipment, like REI and Adventure 16. In this website, you will see photos of ikigalas with a variety of ropes and roping styles, but the drum that is now standard is like the photo at the top of this page.

Construction Process

Playing an Ikigala
Ikigalas are very versatile. I usually play mine on a stand, but they are light enough to wear over the shoulder. This was an important feature for me, since I like to move when I play.

Ikigalas work best with sticks or mallets, although with the proper hide and shell shape, you can play them by hand. You can also strike the rim of the drum for a sharp crack during play.

Wearing your Ikigala

One of my favorite ways to play my ikigala is on a shoulder strap. The drum is very light, and never strains my back. I can wear it all day.

Ikigalas are quite light and are specifically designed to be strapped over the shoulder when the player wants to wear the drum. I have worn mine in political marches. The disadvantage to wearing a drum over the shoulder is that it is more difficult to use it for double stick play. I have demonstrated how it's done at right.

Onstage, there are endless possibilites for using the drum to add visual dynamics. It is also very fun for the player. You can pivot, shuffle, duckwalk, skip, slide, jump, etc. By mixing mounted play with dramatic physical movement, the ikigala can add energy and visual elements to drum performances.

Ikigalas were inspired by two drum styles: miya-daiko (Japanese temple taiko drums) and an East African drum called an amashako, played by the Drummers of Burundi (Batimbo). These drums are very different from each other, but they share some characteristics. Neither are worn, but played mounted or standing upright. Both are played with long, thick, wooden sticks. They are powerful and bassy, but the drummer can do rim shots or strike the sides to get a hard, cracking sound.

I love the music of taiko and the Batimbo, and I wanted to outfit the Goro-Goro drum ensemble with similar drums, capable of the same kind of performance. Unfortunately, amashakos are just about impossible to get in the US and taiko drums are heavy and expensive. Therefore, I put together a drum using my background in making okedo-daiko and rawhide-laced drums.

Haven't I seen these before?
There are many drums that are similar to the ikigala. They bear a strong resemblance to the West African jun-jun (dunun). They differ in that they have lighter laminated shells and different head tensioning techniques. There are also similar drums in Turkey, Afghanistan, and Japan.

Bass ikigala (60cm by 50cm)