Specifications
- Material: raw cowhide from small-scale farms, partly organic
- Diameter: 40 cm (the size refers to the drum frame; the hide is larger to allow the traditional feeltone overhang)
- Weight: approx. 400 g
- Origin: Germany, hand-prepared in the feeltone workshop
- Use: for building a frame drum (shaman drum), pre-cut
Sound and character
Raw cowhide produces a warm, full and rich sound. At 40 cm it gives a singing mid-high fundamental with long, breathing overtones. Because every hide is unique, the colour, thickness and surface tell the story of the animal it came from. The voice is firm yet open, ideal for melodic and ceremonial playing.
How to use
This skin is intended for hand-built frame drums. After soaking, you stretch it onto the frame; as it dries, it tightens and locks into shape. The 40 cm size is friendly for beginners and intermediate drum builders alike, resulting in a comfortable, easy-to-hold drum that feels at home in circles, therapeutic work and personal practice.
Why this product
You receive a genuinely natural material sourced from small German farms, including organic ones. The hide arrives pre-cut with the overhang designed for traditional feeltone frame drums, so you can focus on building rather than on measuring and trimming.
Care tips
- Soak the hide in lukewarm water for 2-4 hours until fully pliable.
- Lace the skin evenly around the frame to keep the tone symmetric.
- Let the finished drum dry slowly at room temperature, away from drafts.
- Store in a dry, moderately humid place, away from direct sun and heaters.
About Feeltone
Feeltone is a hand-craft instrument workshop in Lassan, northern Germany, founded by Ingo Böhme. For more than two decades they have built monochords, sound beds, sound chairs and ceremonial drums for therapists, sound artists and meditation practitioners. Every instrument is hand-made from certified sustainable wood and finished with natural hard-wax oil.