HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN GOURD FRICTION DRUM (CUICA) PDF Tutorial

In Brazilian samba and other popular music, you may have heard the distinctive growling sound of the cuica, a friction drum with deep roots in West and Central Africa. Unlike most hand drums, which are struck, the cuica is played by rubbing a bamboo stick attached to the drumhead with a damp cloth. The resulting sound is reminiscent of that produced by big cats such as lions and leopards, thus the drum's designation in parts of Africa of “lion drum” or “leopard drum.”

The cuica traditionally has a base made of wood or metal. In this tutorial, however, you'll be guided, step by step, through the process of crafting the instrument using a gourd as the base. This includes the following:

• Cleaning and preparing the gourd
• Removing the seeds and pulp
• Treating the interior and exterior
• Fashioning the bamboo playing stick
• Preparing and mounting the goatskin on the gourd

Also included in the tutorial are curated lists of suppliers of the following:

• gourds
• goatskin
• cordage
• bamboo

Perfect for percussionists, DIY enthusiasts, arts & crafts facilitators, and homeschoolers, this comprehensive PDF equips you to build a fully functional cuica while at the same time acquiring an additional skill.

You will get a PDF (891KB) file