Who We Are?
Since 1951, we are continuing age old Native drum making traditions
At the foot of The Sangre de Cristo Mountains, in venerable, five-story adobe dwellings, is where the Taos Drum originated. In the workshops of Taos Drums, Native craftsmen from Taos Pueblo continue the age-old tradition of drum making. Every drum is handcrafted from natural materials and renewable resources within a year. Drum frames are created from wood native to Northern New Mexico such as cottonwood, aspen, or pine.
All trees are harvested sustainably. We are conscientious about environmental standards.
Drum heads are made from cow, deer, elk, or goat hides that have been cleaned thoroughly and scraped to maintain the highest level of sound, appearance, and durability.
After soaking the rawhide to make it pliable, the hide is hand-scalloped, stretched, and secured with rawhide lacing to the frame. Every completed drum has its distinct voice. The type of wood, the depth and diameter of the frame, the thickness and tightness of the hide, the thickness
If you are in the Taos area, look for the giant teepees on the Taos Drums grounds located five miles south of Taos Plaza on Highway 68. You are welcome to stop by for a free tour of our drum-making workshop and visit our showroom. You will find the world’s largest selections of Indian drums along with a diverse display of rawhide furnishings, primitive folk art, ethnic crafts, jewelry, and the region’s best selection of Zapotec rugs.