How to Tune Your Drum

Figure 2After removing horizontal rows, your drum will look like this

Starting at knot near head of drum, pull out slack all the way around.

Make several circuits around drum. First use little pressure. Add more torque each time you go around. The last pull should be very tight.

To check for even tension on ropes strum each rope around drum. If the first half is high-pitched and the second half lower, then pull from half-way to the end.

Use this knot to hold tension you pull out of verticals and to hold the first row.

Move directly to first pair ropes and lace a diamond knot.


step 1How to make a Diamond Knot

Go over 2 vertical ropes.

Make a 180° turn & bring the rope up through the middle.

Make a second 180° turn & lace rope under the pair.

Pull out slack.

With drumhead facing away from you, pull back on rope until it flips and locks.

Move on to next pair.

If you have no more space for diamond knots, either start a new row or take out existing horizontal rows and start from the beginning.

Figure 3

When pulled, the ropes will look like this

Continue adding more diamond twists all the way around.

The last knot of the first row will have 3 up & down ropes rather than 2 because of the loop knot. Count the last 2 as 1 because they start as the same rope near the head of the drum.

Take end of rope and lace it under the first knot of row. Pull slack through.


Figure 4Make a 180° turn and push end of rope under the rope as it starts the first knot of the row you just completed.

Pull out slack, give a tug, and move on to the next row.


Figure 5How to start new rows to keep them straight

Move up to the left and lace your first knot. Then immediately lace the next diamond knot so they are side-by-side.

Pull out slack and push knots down to desired height for the row.

Flip and lock both knots by pulling them at the same time.

Continue lacing knots around drum.


ashiko by Morgan Drums