The best shamanic drum is more than just a drum—it’s like a spiritual rocket ship, a mystical Uber, if you will, transporting you straight to the spirit realm.
The drumstick?
Think of it as your paddle, setting the beat that ushers you through the veil, from one world to the next.
Shamans everywhere know the power of the shamanic journey drum—a few pulsing beats, and boom, you’re in meditation mode, communing with the cosmos.
The beauty?
With a bit of practice, you can wield the shamanic drum for meditation too.
Here are the 7 best shamanic drum styles from around the world; find the one that resonates with your soul’s rhythm.
The frame drum, my friends, isn’t just a drum; it’s practically the founding member of ancient spiritual practices!
This beauty’s been around for centuries, spreading rhythmic enlightenment from one culture to the next, and now it’s here, offering itself as the portal to your inner mystic.
Think of it as nature’s own drum machine—crafted from a humble wooden hoop and a stretched hide, this drum hums with shamanic tradition and ancient soundscapes.
And here’s the kicker: it’s not just portable; it’s pocket-sized transcendence, ready to take you out of the ordinary and plunge you into the cosmic groove.
These unique shamanic drums for meditation are designed for simplicity, but don’t let that fool you. One moment, you’re tapping lightly, and the next, you’re in a trance, fully engaged in the rhythms of the universe.
Some of these beauties, like the iconic Celtic Bodhrán, even come with tunable skins—just twist a hex key, and you’ve got a personalized sound that evolves with you, your practice, and all your cosmic vibes.
And let’s not ignore the symbolism: that round shape? Pure perfection.
It’s like it channels the circular energy of sound waves, sending vibrations straight to your soul.
Found in cultures from Nordic lands to Russian Sami traditions, the frame drum—round or oval—is the heartbeat of shamanic culture. It’s affordable, soulful, and powerful—a drum that’s more than an instrument. It’s an ancient experience waiting to sweep you off your feet and take you on a journey.
If you are looking for Affordable shamanic drums, a frame drum is a good choice pecause they are popular and widely available and there is a frame drum to fit every budget.
If you’re seeking a drum that combines the rhythmic power of shamanic drumming with incredible versatility and rich, resonant tones, consider adding a djembe to your practice—it’s perfect for both solo journeys and drum circles alike.
Traditional Native American shamanic drums?
Oh, they didn’t just settle for boring old circles, my friend. No, these masterpieces often took on hexagonal or octagonal shapes, rich with sacred geometry vibes that’ll make your third eye do a double take.
These shapes weren’t just aesthetic choices—they echoed deep spiritual significance for Native Americans, tied to their sacred dwellings like the Tipi and Hogan.
Here’s the kicker: both the Tipi and Hogan had east-facing entrances, aligning their homes—and likely their handcrafted shamanic drums—with the heavens.
Imagine a drum circle for healing, each beat resonating with the cosmic flow of sacred geometry. It’s like drumming your way to divine alignment!
The 8-sided octagon drum, my dear seekers of the mystical beat, is like the spiritual Swiss Army knife of the percussion world. Perfect for sound healing with drums, its octagonal shape isn’t just aesthetically pleasing—it’s downright cosmic, with the 8 sides symbolizing harmony and balance.
And when you play it, those vibrations don’t just tickle your eardrums; they go straight to your soul’s Wi-Fi, realigning all your energetic signals with the universe and setting you right.
For those of you keen on drumming for spiritual awakening, this drum’s earthy tones are like a shamanic call-to-action, shaking loose all the emotional baggage you didn’t even know you were carrying.
It’s not just for healing—it’s the ultimate companion for drums for inner journeying, guiding you through meditative depths and sacred spaces with every resonant thump. A drum like this doesn’t just play—it transforms.
Ah, the tambourine-style shamanic drum—the ultimate multitasker of the mystical percussion world!
This iconic instrument, beloved by Siberian shamans for centuries, is still their drum of choice.
Why?
Because it’s not just a drum; it’s a vibration factory, a natural skin shamanic drum that sends waves of low-frequency resonance right through your very being. It’s like the drum is saying, “Don’t just hear me—feel me.”
These beauties come in all sorts of shapes—oval, egg-shaped, round—you name it, and they’re covered in animal hide that gives them their signature deep, earthy tones.
It’s no wonder they’re the go-to for trance-inducing rituals and a favorite frame drum for meditation.
One hit, and suddenly, you’re vibrating with the universe, effortlessly slipping into that entranced, otherworldly state. If you’re looking for a drum that doesn’t just play—one that connects you to the cosmic heartbeat—this is the one to beat
Ah, the Siberian tambourine shamanic drum, a portal to the mystical unknown and your one-way ticket to a trance journey that’ll leave your spirit vibrating like a cosmic tuning fork. This isn’t just a drum; it’s a sacred vessel of sound, handcrafted with purpose. Used for drums for shamanic journey, it delivers hypnotic beats that seem to bypass your ears and head straight for your soul.
Its oval or round design, often wrapped in animal hide, produces deep, earthy tones that are ideal for shamanic drum circles, where collective rhythm creates an almost magnetic pull into the spiritual realm. Whether you’re calling spirits, finding your center, or losing yourself in the beat, this drum isn’t just played—it leads you somewhere extraordinary
The Siberian shamanic tambourine drum has been a cornerstone of shamanic rituals in Siberian culture for centuries, used to facilitate spiritual journeys and communal connection. Traditionally crafted from animal hide stretched over a wooden frame, these drums were played in shamanic drum circles, often during ceremonies to invoke spirits, heal, or guide participants into trance states.
In Siberian shamanism, drum circles served as collective experiences, where the repetitive, hypnotic rhythms of the tambourine drum would unite the group, creating a shared energy field for spiritual exploration. These gatherings emphasized the communal power of rhythm, aligning participants with each other and the natural world. Today, the Siberian tambourine drum remains a powerful tool in both traditional and modern shamanic drum circles, preserving its ancient role as a bridge to the spiritual realm.
Ah, the bodhrán—the Celtic meditation drum that’s been thumping its rhythmic magic through Irish culture for centuries!
This isn’t just some quaint pub relic; it’s a shamanic drum healing machine, a goatskin-clad portal to ancestral vibes. Ranging from a neat 10 inches to a whopping 26, it’s as versatile as your granny’s stew pot, but way cooler.
Played with a nifty little “tipper” (basically a drumstick with a fancy name), this drum does more than keep time.
Oh no, skilled hands can manipulate the skin’s tension to unleash tones so dynamic, you’d think the drum was channeling the Irish gods themselves.
It’s not just a beat—it’s a spiritual pulse, vibrating through the room, the crowd, and straight into your soul.
Historically, the bodhrán may have started out in rural Ireland winnowing grain or adding rhythm to rituals, but now it’s a symbol of Celtic pride, storytelling, and connection. Whether it’s driving a rollicking pub session or holding the mood in a heartfelt, soulful jam, this drum is the sound of a people united by music and magic.
So, grab a bodhrán and let its deep, resonant voice lead you into a rhythmic journey of heritage, healing, and a bit of Irish mischief. It’s more than a drum—it’s a heartbeat, a history, and a healing rhythm all wrapped into one.
The shamanic hoop drum—an absolute gem of mystical percussion!
It’s like the spiritual cousin of the frame drum, with a wooden hoop wrapped in a single layer of animal hide, often made of elk skin.
This beauty isn’t just for show—it’s the real deal in Native-style shamanic drums, a tool for connecting with the cosmos while keeping your feet planted firmly on Earth.
These drums come in all sorts of shapes—oval, egg-shaped, round—because, let’s face it, the universe doesn’t do boring.
They produce a deep, low-frequency resonance that you don’t just hear; you feel it reverberating through your entire being.
One good thump, and suddenly, you’re riding soundwaves straight into the spirit world.
With a handle on the back and a trusty beater in hand, this drum becomes an extension of yourself.
Its vibrations are primal, entrancing, and downright addictive, making it a favorite for rituals, meditations, or just getting lost in the rhythm of life. If you’re looking for a drum that feels alive, that resonates in your bones and opens doors to unseen realms, the elk skin shamanic drum is calling your name.
Sami shaman and Sami people believe that all elements of nature have a soul, and therefore, all of nature is to be respected.
The Sami drum has a long history and encountered a painful clash with the Christian religion in the 16th to 19th century. Many Sami were persecuted and even killed for practicing their form of spiritualism, and many Sami drums were destroyed. The Sami culture was pushed underground, but thankfully not lost.
In the Sami tradition, the shaman is considered a Magician, who would use the monotone beating of their Sami drum to go into a trance during their ceremonies. The Sami shaman used the drum trance and
sacred drumming practices to travel into the spiritual world, using the drum as a map and a guide while traveling to the other side and connecting with spirit through drumming.
There are two types of Sami drums, a bowl style, and a frame style.
The Sami frame drum is a single strip of wood bent into a circular or oval shape with a hide stretched over the top.
The bowl style Sami drum is smaller than a frame drum because it is made from the burl of a tree.
The Sami drum is traditionally decorated with symbols that are there to speak to the shaman. The pictures on the drum may depict Gods, goddesses, animals, plants such as trees, the sun and other stellar entities, secret symbols, artifacts, people, weapons and tools, boats, abodes, and the world tree.
A Sami drum may be decorated with three layers depicting the underworld and other realms or upper, middle, and lower worlds.
Today shamans use the Sami drum for trance, meditation, divination, ritual ceremonies. Sami drums may be one of the best shamanic drum styles due to their rich heritage, interesting shape, and meaningful art and symbolism, but be aware, the Sami drum is hard to find. The best place to find replicas or modern drums made in the sami style is on Etsy.
This large Sami frame drum is built in the traditional Lapland Sami frame drum style. It features
It is made from reindeer and birch plywood and includes a beater.
The Powwow drum—now here’s a beast of rhythm and ritual, a proper sonic time machine!
This isn’t just any drum; it’s the centerpiece of drumming for spiritual journeys, a heartbeat for trance-inducing drum sounds that power Native American ceremonies and gatherings.
Think of it as the communal Wi-Fi of the spirit world—connecting everyone present to rhythm, tradition, and each other.
Powwows are grand affairs, often sprawling across days, with singing, traditional Native American dance, and these mighty drums leading the charge.
A Powwow drum isn’t a dainty little thing—it’s got a sturdy frame with two hides: a thicker top hide that takes the beats and a thinner bottom hide that resonates the sound like a whisper from the cosmos. Together, they create a rich, deep tone that you feel in your chest and hear in your soul.
Picture it: a vast gathering, dancers moving in sync to the hypnotic pulse of the drum, voices lifting to the sky. It’s not just music—it’s a full-on spiritual symphony. Whether you’re there to celebrate, connect, or journey inward, the Powwow drum is the anchor, the guide, and the rhythm that drives it all.
The sweat lodge ceremony—a spiritual sauna with a side of rhythm!
Native Americans across many regions use this sacred practice for penance, purification, and connecting with the spiritual world.
At its heart?
The healing drum for meditation, offering beats that sync your soul with the cosmos.
Traditions vary, but the sweat lodge drum always plays a vital role.
Picture it: prayers, offerings, and singing, all punctuated by the steady pulse of the drum—a true meditation drum for deep relaxation. These ceremonies are no casual affair; they’re guided by properly trained Native ceremonial leaders who ensure everything flows with reverence and intention.
The drumming doesn’t just set the rhythm—it creates a resonant, otherworldly vibration that helps release the mind and body from the mundane, leaving you refreshed, aligned, and deeply connected to the spiritual essence of the universe.
Elk
Elk hides drums are thinner and may produce a higher pitch than cow or buffalo. An elk hide may be used on the backside of a drum as a resonator layer.
Traditionally, elk hide is associated with the shadow side of us and helps us navigate the darkness to bring healing from fears, past trauma, addiction, and loss. Elk hide allows us to face the shadow side and come through the other side with more trust and connection to spirit.
Cow or Bull Hide
A cowhide drum is easy to source, inexpensive relative to other hides and may contain unique patterns, and is reasonably thick and good for deep tones.
Cowhide is common in frame drums, as it is soft, thick, durable, and inexpensive.
The Cow represents Mother Gaia, Mother Earth.
The cow is a universal and metaphysical symbol of motherhood, fertility, nurturing, survival and protection.
They are a symbol of protecting the vulnerable, safeguarding humanity, and providing sustenance such as milk and meat.
The Hindu revere the cow as sacred for this reason and will not eat or harm cows.
Buffalo
Buffalo hide drums are thick and stand up to humidity and use. They are common for sweat lodge drums.
Buffalo hides, also sometimes called Bison Hide are often dark-colored and thicker than other hides. The thick hides produce deep resonant tones.
The buffalo drum is used to seek knowledge, add wisdom, and promote abundance.
The buffalo drumming calls on masculine sky energy joining with sacred feminine earth energy. Shaman drumming rituals with a buffalo hide drum call to mind the connection between the spirit world (masculine sky energy) and the physical (sacred feminine earth energy).
Moose
Moosehide is usually dark in color and thicker than cow, deer, or goat hide. Moosehide is a bit rarer, but it has a nice rich deep sound and withstands humid conditions and locations where the weather changes frequently or where humid is encountered
The moose calls the feminine energy empowering her. The moose is a water lover and drumming with a moose hide drum allows us to swim through our feelings and encounter the release of emotional honesty.
Moosehide encourages us to feel and trust our feelings, honor and is proud of who we are, getting validation from the inside, not seeking it externally. It teaches us to trust ourselves and be confident in who we are and helps us protect and feed our inner self.
Horse
Hose hide has specific properties not found in other hides. Specifically, horsehide is more elastic than other hides. It is also usually thicker and provides a deeper sound. It withstands humid environments.
The horsehide drum will take you on a journey, just like a horse can take you for a ride in the physical world, the horsehide can carry you to the spirit realm to seek healing for yourself and those in your care.
Horse hide drums are excellent for drumming for altered states.
The horse has an abundance of energy, making it a lightning-fast leader to the spirit side, trance states, and higher vibrations.
Goat
Goat hide is cheap and widely available. It is a popular choice for beginners shaman drums because goatskin drums are easy to play and tune. It is thought, lightweight and supple, perfect skin for a shaman drum.
The goat spirit provokes a childlike spirit. Have you ever seen baby goats playing? They are some of the most playful, fun animals I know of.
The goat can help you navigate rough terrain with grace and nimble movements. If you find yourself on a rocky path and in need of and seeing from a fresh perspective of the world like a kid again, choose a goatskin shamanic drum.
Looking for other types of drum circle drums? Djembe drums are traditionally covered with goat skin, prized for its durability and ability to produce a wide range of tones—from deep, resonant bass to sharp, crisp slaps. This versatility, combined with the djembe’s loud, powerful sound, makes it an excellent choice for drum circles, where its vibrant energy and dynamic range can unify and uplift the group rhythm.
Deer
Deerskin is thin and good voice in dry or moderate climates. It is not suited to humid weather or wet climates.
The deerskin drum is an instrument for dropping a scarcity mindset and embracing abundance and the infinite resources of the universe.
The deer is related to the heart chakra and opening or seeking the heart. The deer hide can help you get out of your head and into your heart. It helps us seek and discover love and wisdom. Shamanic drums made with deer hide are
Powerful meditation drums precicly because they open the heart.
There is abundant love in the universe, abundant time, and scarcity does not exist.
The deer teaches us we have more than we know and the best is yet to come.
Bear
Bear hide is thinner than most other hides and can vary tone depending on the weather. They are prone to humidity. The tone of a bearskin drum has a higher pitch.
Bear hide drums have a sacred and set apart use for bear as medicine ceremonies.
The bear stands for introspection. Looking inside yourself. The bear encourages you to feel, trust and use your instinct.
The bear is utilized for awakening and diving into the deep unconscious and waking up. The bear symbolizes awakening as they hibernate deeply each winter symbolizing death and awaken symbolizing rebirth in the spring.
The bear is renowned as a great healer, bringing harmony and balance.
Looking to dive into the mystical art of shamanic drumming for meditation? Well, my rhythm-seeking friends, the secret is in the repetition—a steady, shamanic journey drumming style that lulls your mind into a trance faster than you can say “cosmic connection.” It’s all about losing yourself in the beat, letting your hands guide you, and swaying with the rhythm like a free-spirited percussionist on a divine mission.
Drumming isn’t just an act; it’s an experience, a dance between you and the drum. The movement and repetition? That’s what unlocks the magic—inducing a trance state that connects you to realms beyond. And here’s the kicker: your free-flowing rhythm and expression can inspire others to join in. It’s human nature, really—a divine design wired into us by the source, compelling us to groove with the beat.
Every shaman is unique, and so is their drumming. So, find your own rhythm, your own style, and let the drum become your guide. Ready to explore shamanic drum benefits for mental health and discover how to use this drum for journeying? Check out this incredible video showcasing the Russian shamanic tradition—it’s like a masterclass in rhythm and transcendence!
Traditionally a shaman connects with his shamanic drum through ritual. Your drum is an extension of your body. You can sanctify it, smudge it instilling your intentions for the drum, Carry it with you everywhere and even keep it with you as you sleep.
To care for your drum when you are not using it, keep it wrapped or in a cloth or leather bag or shaman drum case.
Do not let the drum touch the ground, just like you would not set your purse on the ground because your purse is a symbol of your abundance, and placing it on the floor invites bad luck.
Putting a purse or your shaman drum on the ground has negative connotations subconsciously because it displays disrespect disregard for your abundance and wealth. Do not set your sacred drum on the ground to show respect for the gifts and journeys it allows you.
Always keep a blanket or cloth under it when you store your shaman drum.
If and when your drum wears out or breaks and is no longer useful, treat it as you would a good friend. Give it a proper burial and ceremony, just as you would a good and faithful companion.
Making your own shaman drum is an excellent way to connect with the drum and build a drum that perfectly suits you.
After all, the best shamanic drum is the one you make yourself and put your heart and essence into.
See this article on Crafting a Shamanic Drum. It will show you how to make a Handmade shaman drum in the frame drum style. A few things you need to build your own drum are:
Items you need to build your own shaman drum:
Water & large container
Scissors & sharp knife
With a little research, patience, and investment you can have a shaman drum you made yourself.
A shaman is a traveler between this physical world and the spirit world.
A shaman may be a healer or a messenger, bringing back knowledge from the other side.
The shaman uses a drum to enter a trance state to communicate with the spirits. He may seek knowledge for his own healing, or the healing of those he serves.
The shaman can bring wisdom for healing a person, a community, helping resolve conflicts and unrest in a group.
The definition of shamanism varies across the world and may have differences among different cultures and locations.
But…
There are some beliefs common to shamans around the world. Including;
-The spirit world exists and interacts with our physical world.
-Shamans are capable of reading the future and other forms of divination.
-Spirits may be beneficial or have ill intent, good or evil.
-Our spirit body can exit our physical body for a time and search for understanding in the spirit world.
-Shamanistic rituals and ceremonies, including shamanic drumming, evoke images of spirit guides, including animals. They deliver omens and messages from the spirit world.
-Shamans have the gift of being able to pass the veil into the spirit world and communicate with entities there.
-Shamanistic drumming can induce a trance state and facilitate visionary journeys.
Shamanic drumming is an ancient worldwide spiritual practice. Shamanism involves entering a trance state or altered state of consciousness to facilitate access to the spirit world to seek healing and information from the spirit side.
The shaman has several tools for entering the spirit world and one effective tool is shamanic drumming. Unlike Ayahuasca or peyote journeying, shamanic drumming is a quick way to enter a trance state sober and free from the mind-altering plant medicines used for journeying.
The drumming is rhythmic and repetitive, is a frequency range between 4 to 7 Hz. When the mind resonates and merges with this frequency range the brain waves enter a theta state, a type of lucid dream state that allows the shaman to connect with the upper and lower spirit world.
As a side note, shamanic drums are great for entering a trance state, but I recently discovered a new type of drum that is perfect for meditation and easy to play.
It’s called a handpan. Check out this list of handpans made in the USA.
Once you hear the absolutely magical sound that comes from these UFO-shaped metal orbs, you will fall in love.
When a shamanic drum is crafted, the hide skin is fixed tight on the drum frame. However, the weather, humidity, and thickness of the hide all play a part in keeping the skin tight.
Humidity causes laxness in the skin or hide, and a thinner hide is more prone to become lax and lose its voice or produce a flat sound in a humid environment. It will regain its voice once the drum is removed from the humid environment and has a chance to dry out.
Some drummers “warm-up” their drums by setting them in direct sunlight for a short period of time before playing. Just don’t leave it in the sun too long as the sun can breakdown the hide over time.
If you live in a humid environment and are worried a shamanic drum may go flat on you, why not consider a crystal singing bowl. I love to meditate using the sound of these bowls, and I prefer the larger bowls because they have a deeper sound. If you want to learn more about crystal singing bowls, here is a guide to the
best crystal singing bowls.
The Frame Drum
The Irish Bodhran
The 8 Sided or 8 Corner Drum
The Siberian Tambourine Drum
The Native American Hoop Drum
The Lapland Samis Drum
The Ceremonial Tarahumara, Grandmother or Powwow drum
The Sweat Lodge Drum
Thank you for traveling with me to the end! I hope you learned more about the best shamanic drum styles and have a better feel for the style that is right for you.
If you like these types of guides, I have more!
In addition to my guide to crystal singing bowls and my HUGE article introducing folks to the ethereal music of the handpan, here at High Vibration Station we have all kinds of articles to raise your vibe.
If you love to read, I have a great list of books that helped me through my spiritual awakening. I am still learning and plan to add to the list as I work through more books and gain a deeper understanding.
I also have an awesome guide with 7 ways to remove negative energy, and I use these methods a lot so I highly recommend you learn a few ways to shoo away bad vibes in your home or when you encounter them while you are out and about.
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“Radio Frequency” is my email list reserved for Fellow Travelers, Matrix Escapees, Psychonauts, Shamanic Journeyers, Alchemists, Interdimensionals, Inquiring Minds, & Mad Hatters; those who dare to join & explore wonderland with me.
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