All You Need To Know About Tunable Frame Drums

If you are searching for the ideal instrument to step into the magical universe of the world’s oldest drum, then frame drum it is. Welcome aboard. 

One of the most important things to consider when buying a frame drum is the tuning system. Today, there are many different tunable frame drums, thanks to technology. Thus, it can be overwhelming to learn about all the different systems and choose the best one.

That is why we have prepared this ultimate guide to help you choose the best instrument possible for you.

Just a reminder; Mainly used in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, frame drums are the oldest and most common hand drums in the world. That is why there are many different versions of frame drums with different sizes, playing styles, and designs. In Turkey specifically, the frame drum is called bendir 💡

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So, we will classify them according to their tuning systems and show you what each system brings. Let’s start!

Types Of Tunable Frame Drums

Air Tuning Frame drums

One of the newest tuning systems for frame drums is the Pneumatic Pitch Control or Air Tuning System. Like the name suggests, this system tunes the drum head to the desired pitch with air pressure.

So, how does it work? Well, these drums come with an inner tube inserted between the shell and the skin. With a regular bicycle pump, you can press air inside the tube, which creates tension all over the drum skin, adjusting the pitch of the drum head.

As the tension increases with more air inside, pumping increases the pitch to a higher frequency, while releasing air decreases the pitch, resulting in a more bassy sound.

This simple technology is an elegant solution to drum head tuning with a quick and precise process.

External Tuning Frame drums

Another tuning system is the external or exterior tuning system which is done by adjusting the tension rods found in the sides of the drum head. Usually, frame drums with an external tuning system come with a drum key to tighten or loosen the tension rods.

Ideally, when tuning your frame drum, you should tune every rod equally by making quarter-turns on each before moving on to the next one. Do not make big turns on one rod and move to the other instead, go one by one with minor adjustments to equally distribute the tension on the drum head.

You must be aware that these kinds of frame drums are heavier and less comfortable due to the tuning ring around the drum head. That is why they are the less preferred options among other tuning systems.

Although it is not a frame drum tuned in the video, the process and system are the same.

Internal Tuning

The most common tuning system in frame drums is the internal tuning system. These frame drums have screws on the inside part of the frame, which controls the tension of the drum head.

Different frame drum makers use different gear for the internal tuning system. Regular screws are the most common, but there are also drums with hex-head screws, which can be adjusted with an Allen wrench. For the regular screws, you only need a screwdriver of the correct size.

Just like with the external tuning, you should adjust a screw with quarter-turns and move on to the next one until you complete the circle. When done, check the tuning with tasks on the edges of the drum head circle. If it is not in the pitch you desire, make another round of turning the screws.

Non-Tunable Frame drums

The traditional frame drums feature animal skin drum heads glued to the wooden frame, which does not allow for any tuning adjustment. However, we can fine-tune these instruments by slightly increasing or decreasing the tension on the drum head in traditional ways.

To increase the tension and have a slightly higher pitch, we should apply heat to the edges of the drum head. You can use any heat source like a hairdryer or a lighter for the process, but you should be careful not to apply too much heat, which would damage the skin. 

So what do we do to decrease the tension? Yes, we make the drum head colder. For that, we can splash slightly cold, but not too much that it is freezing, water to the drum head. Then, we can check the pitch and re-apply any of the techniques.

How To Choose A Tunable Frame Drum?

If you will be playing with other instruments and the tuning is important for you, I suggest you go with an air-tuned pneumatic frame drum as it is the easiest to control. Otherwise, you can purchase a frame drum with internal tuning, which is also relatively easy when you get used to the process.

So, now you know all the ups and downs of each tuning system of frame drums to choose the best one for yourself. Suppose you are a beginner; we recommend you to purchase a frame drum with an internal or air tuning system. If you are mainly playing solo, you can also choose a non-tunable instrument. 

You must also note that every diameter has a limited tuning range in which it performs the best. For example, a standard 22” frame drum can be tuned between A to D notes while performing best in the B to C range. For more information on the sizes and ranges, you can check this link.

Daniel Karni

Multi-instrumentalist, oud lover and an expert in Arabic & Turkish musical instruments. Founder of Ethnic Musical, working with luthiers across Turkey, Armenia, and beyond since 2009 to make fine handmade Turkish & Arabic musical instruments.