How the batá drum makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the batá drum belongs to the struck drums: a stretched membrane (drumhead) is struck with hands or beaters.
More broadly it is one of the membranophones (drums), where sound comes from a vibrating stretched membrane.
Players shape its sound through technique and materials; the resonating body filters the raw vibration, boosting some harmonics and damping others.
From Wikipedia
The bàtá drum is a double-headed hourglass drum with one end larger than the other. The percussion instrument is still used for its original purpose as it is one of the most important drums in the Yoruba land and used for traditional and religious activities among the Yoruba of western Nigeria. Batá drums have been used in the religion known as Santería in Cuba since the 1800s, and in Puerto Rico and the United States since the 1950s. Today, they are also used for semi-religious musical entertainment in Nigeria and in secular, popular music. The early function of the batá was as a drum of different gods, of royalty, of ancestors and a drum of politicians, impacting all spheres of life in Yoruba land.
Other struck drums
More instruments from Cuba
Frequently asked questions
What does a batá drum sound like?
As one of the struck drums, its sound comes from the way a stretched membrane (drumhead) is struck with hands or beaters.
What type of instrument is the batá drum?
It is classified as struck drums (Hornbostel–Sachs 211.242.12).
Where does the batá drum come from?
The batá drum originates from Cuba.
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q811075 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Batá drum – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by Photo by Kenneth Ritchards. Bata drums carved in the U.S. by Harold Muñiz. – Public domain