Simple DIY Drum Ideas: From Den-Den Drums to Taiko Drums!
Many of you have probably seen taiko drum performances on stage at summer festivals and events.
Even without a melody, that overwhelming power and the booming sound that resonates through your body make it impossible to look away before you realize it.
This article introduces handmade drum ideas like those.
We’ve gathered a variety of ideas, from taiko drums that could actually be used for performances to children’s toys like den-den daiko (pellet drums) and balloon drums.
We hope this will be helpful for anyone thinking, “I want to make a drum by hand!”
[Easy] Handmade Drum Ideas: From Den-Den Daiko to Taiko! (1–10)
A drum made from empty bottles
Here’s an idea for making a drum using an empty bottle.
Any kind of empty bottle will work—just be sure to wash it thoroughly and let it dry.
Cut off the long, narrow part of a balloon and stretch it over the bottle’s opening.
Pull it down until it covers the rim at the bottom.
Make the drumsticks using disposable wooden chopsticks.
Attach a wooden bead or a small square of sponge to the tip where it strikes.
The sound will change depending on the size of the bottle and the material on the tip of the drumsticks, so try different combinations.
Drum made from a plastic bottle
If you’re looking for drum ideas made from recycled materials, how about a plastic bottle drum? Cut off the bottom of a plastic bottle and wrap vinyl tape around the cut edge.
Cut off the long neck of a balloon, stretch the rounded part over the bottom, and secure it with tape.
That completes the drum, so make the drumsticks by gluing a ball of aluminum foil to the end of a pair of wooden chopsticks.
You’ll have a toy drum that makes a light “pon-pon!” sound.
It looks extra cute if you draw on the sides of the bottle or decorate it with tape and stickers.
A drum made from cardboard
Why not try making a drum out of cardboard? It turns out surprisingly sturdy, and because it’s light, it’s easy to carry around.
Use a rectangular piece of corrugated cardboard for the drum’s side.
Draw evenly spaced lines and crease them, then form it into a cylinder and fold the top and bottom edges inward.
Prepare two circular cardboard pieces with holes around the rim, and attach them to the top and bottom of the drum.
Finally, thread plastic string through the holes, and you’re done! Leaving it as plain cardboard is fine, but decorating it with construction paper and the like will make it look even more like a drum.
[100-yen shop] Shime-daiko (rope-tensioned drum)
![[100-yen shop] Shime-daiko (rope-tensioned drum)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/m7TOoqg2DUc/sddefault.jpg)
Here’s an idea for making an authentic shime-daiko using only items from a 100-yen shop.
It’s a bit challenging for beginners, but if you want to keep costs low even if it takes time, give it a try.
For the drum body, cut grooves into a wooden slatted rack (sunoko), soak it in water, heat it, and form it into a circle.
Cut out the circular section of a pole planter stand, then attach a leisure sheet cut into a circle.
Punch holes along the edge, add double-sided eyelets, and stitch around the rim with thread to reinforce it.
Make two of these heads, sandwich the body between them, then thread cotton rope through and tighten.
With that, your authentic shime-daiko is complete!
den-den daiko (Japanese pellet drum)
Here’s an idea for making a den-den daiko (a traditional Japanese hand drum) using a round cheese box.
A den-den daiko is an old-fashioned children’s toy.
If you like, try making it with your child! Use the cheese box for the drum body and a pair of wooden chopsticks for the handle.
Attach the chopsticks and the strings threaded with beads (which will strike the drum) to the box.
Put on the lid, glue it in place, and your den-den daiko is complete! It’s very simple, right? You can leave the box as is, but decorating it with an animal or character face makes it extra cute and is highly recommended.
Japanese Taiko Drums Made with Buckets
This is a drum you can make using a bucket and OPP tape.
First, prepare a bucket and apply OPP tape in a radial pattern.
The key is to lay the tape so there are no gaps.
If you want a stronger, louder sound, layer the tape several times to increase durability.
For the drumsticks, wrap vinyl tape around the tip of a pair of disposable chopsticks.
Wrap it multiple times to add thickness.
If you decorate the OPP-taped surface with colorful vinyl tape, it will look cute and appealing.
Drum made from PVC pipes and a blue tarp
Let’s make a drum using PVC pipes (like those used for water supply) and a blue tarp.
It’s easy: just stretch the tarp over the PVC pipe, fit a hoop over it, and secure it.
One layer of tarp works, but using two layers will produce a sound closer to a real drum.
You can also change the pitch by altering the length of the PVC pipe, so give it a try.
It would be fun to make several with different lengths and play them together.
You can buy PVC pipes and blue tarps at home improvement stores.
Milk Can Remake Drum
Milk cans are quite sturdy, so many of you might be wondering if they can be repurposed for something.
A great idea for times like that is to remake a milk can into a drum! First, apply a decorative adhesive sheet of your choice to the side of the can.
Next, cut leather fabric into a circle—make two identical pieces.
Punch holes around the edge of each circle, insert eyelets, and attach them to the top and bottom of the can.
Thread a cord through the holes and tighten, and you’re done! It’s perfect as a baby’s toy, so give it a try if you like.
A drum made with newspaper and a desk mat
This idea takes a bit of effort, but since the body is made from newspaper, you’ll end up with a light, easy-to-carry drum.
First, prepare a trash can or flower pot similar in size to the drum you want, and start attaching cut pieces of newspaper.
For the first layer, use newspaper soaked in water; from the second layer onward, soak the paper in glue thinned with water before applying.
Once it dries, remove it from the mold, pour glue into the gaps in the newspaper, press down, and compress.
After the glue dries, attach a desk mat as the drumhead and secure it with screws to finish.
A desk mat doesn’t resonate much, so it’s perfect for practice.
If you want more resonance, try using a blue tarp or plastic shoji paper instead.
Okinawan Eisa drum! Paranku
Let’s make a paranku (Okinawan hand drum) out of cardboard! First, cut six circular pieces from the cardboard.
Hollow out the inside of five of them to make donut shapes.
Glue those five together in a stack, then attach the last solid circle on top.
Wrap the side with vinyl tape, and you’re done.
For the beater, use a cardboard tube from plastic wrap and wrap it with vinyl tape.
It’s also a good idea to decorate the paranku with construction paper or origami rather than leaving it as plain cardboard.
If you turn it into a character’s face, kids might love it!