Goatskin shaman drums are usually made from high quality goat skins that are hand-treated and tanned to ensure durability and fullness of tone. With a frame made of hardwood slats, goatskin shaman drums have a deep and captivating tone that is full-bodied and resonant. The tension of the drumskin can be adjusted by adjusting the tightness of the leather to change the pitch to suit different playing needs. When playing, the drum can be struck with mallets or hands, or with other instruments such as iron rings or brass bells to create additional sound effects. It is considered by some to be a bridge between humans and the supernatural world. In shamanic rituals, drumming is used to invoke spirits, exorcise evil spirits and heal the sick, as well as to enter a state of ecstasy.
Shamanic drums are used in traditional rituals and healing in the spirit world, and experimental results have shown that these rhythmic drums have a significant effect on brain activity. While this finding is certainly neutral in itself, further research has revealed that drumming is indeed an effective method of healing.
Shamanic drumming induces us to enter the spiritual world, and once in this world, guidance and healing become easier. This is because in the shamanic worldview, the universe is seen as a single, flowing, rhythmic being created by vibration. Therefore, drumming can change a person's vibrational state.
There are numerous examples of shamanic cultures using music to help with hypnosis, but chanting and dance forms exist as well. Healing and ritual are the main uses of these techniques. In the wandering dance, the shaman can strike different parts of the drum so that he can summon special spirits to help us access specific areas of the universe. Drumming had this effect because it was believed that nature spirits created their own world of sound and that humans could communicate with them through the subtle changes in the sound of the drums. Sound is a perfect medium because it can travel through space.
