The following descriptions allude to traditional versions of the drums. Modern synthetic versions are available for most if not all of the drums listed through various manufacturers.
The most commonAfrican drum known to westerners is thedjembe, a large, single-headed drum with a goblet shape.
TheAshiko is another African drum in the shape of a truncated cone. Similar to the Djembe it is rope strung. This drum is easily recognized as having straight sides (many actually have a slight curve but appear straight compared to most hand drums). The ashiko contrary to popular belief is traditionally mounted with wild game heads such as a gazelle. Most modern Ashikos are made with goat skin as a matter of convenience or legality. A more traditional-sounding Ashiko can be created using hand-picked goat skins that imitate the game skin or using deer skin (which requires more frequent tuning and maintenance). Ashiko drums are quite popular but less so than other types of hand drums and the difficulty in making sound as it should traditionally probably explains why they are less common. Most Ashikos found in common use have a non-traditional sound to them due to different skin types being used.
Bougarabou are African drums with cow skin heads. The base of the um drum is shorter than a djembe and the goblet shape less pronounced. (This is believed by some to be the African traditional predecessor of the Conga.)
TheDundun talking drum, is a class of hour glass shaped drum that is popular amongst the Yoruba people of West Africa. Dun-dun literarily translates to "Sweet-Sound". The class includes the largest in the ensemble Iya-Ilu (mother drum) and other smaller category like Ijin, Gangan, Adamo, and the smallest of the ensemble is called kanago. Depending on the parts of the Yoruba region, other types of Dundun drum in between may be available.
TheBatá drum is often used for spiritual worship of Sango in Yoruba, Cuba and Brazil. It has drums in category of Iya Ilu (mother drum) and other smaller drums. Omele Bata is a triplet bunch of strapped drums in the Bata Drum Category.
TheGudu-gudu drum is a pace-maker drum that is used in both Dundun and Bata drum category.
TheBembe drum is a Yoruba base drum. The modern base drum in drum sets used by professional musicians and military/school parades is an example of modified bemebe drum.
TheIpese drum is used for Yoruba Spiritual worship of Ifa.
TheIgbin drum is used for Yoruba Spiritual worship of Obatala.
Another type of drum family calledDundun is from Guinea. This is different from the Yoruba talking drum. It has 3 types of drums, the Dundun Songba and Kenke.
Congas andbongos are essential to all kinds of Latin American music, especially that of the Caribbean, Central America and Northern South American regions, as well as Brazil in Eastern South America. It is used in both folklore (punta: Of Honduras, santeria: Of Cuba, rumba: Of Cuba, etc.) and popular music such asmerengue,salsa,son,boleros,bachata,cumbia,latin jazz, and others.
TheTambora, a two-sided drum played with both a stick and a hand, is essential to themerengue dance of Dominican Republic.
The Primera & Segunda Drums, are one sided drums belonging specifically to the Afro-Indigenous Garifuna Community’s of Honduras, and is played alongside other percussion instruments in order to createPunta music. As well as Yancunu. Its origins are thought to be ofBantu peoples, as well as from broadlyWest Africa
The pandero or plenera, is a percussion instrument included in the group of frame drums. A set of these hand drums from Puerto Rico is usually performed inplena music. There are three sizes, primo or requinto (for playing solos), segundo or seguidor, and tercero or tumbador (for playing a fixed rhythm).
Thecajón is a box-shaped percussion instrument originating from Peru, primarily played inAfro-Peruvian music, as well as contemporary styles offlamenco andjazz.
