Hand Drums
Everything published on Viyolens under Hand Drums — reviews, buying advice and how-tos written for players and producers in the UK.
Bongo Drumming for Beginners: A Complete Guide
A calm, step-by-step start for anyone new to bongo drumming: posture, your first three tones, building the martillo, and a routine that actually sticks.
Tabla Explained: Features, Types and Tips
Two small drums, a language built from spoken syllables, and centuries of refined technique — the tabla is one of the world's most expressive percussion instruments.
Congas Drums: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Not all congas are built the same way, and the differences matter. This buyer's guide covers what to check, what to prioritise and where the best value sits.
The Complete Guide to Box Drum Instrument
A box drum instrument, or cajón, is a versatile percussion instrument that combines accessibility with authentic musical capability. Discover how this hand drum works and why musicians love it.
The Complete Guide to Type Of Drum
Different drum types span cultures and centuries, from orchestral timpani to world music traditions. Understanding their construction, technique, and cultural context enriches musical appreciation.
Common Congas Mistakes to Avoid
Congas are mechanically simple, which is exactly why small errors get away with themselves for so long before someone notices.
Congas for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Congas look a little intimidating at first, but it's a genuinely welcoming instrument to begin on. Let's take it gently, one step at a time.
Common Djembe Mistakes to Avoid
The most common beginner mistakes on djembe: tight grip, inconsistent hand position, poor posture, rushing patterns, irregular practice, and how to recognise and correct each one.
Common Congas Drums Mistakes to Avoid
Most early problems with congas drums trace back to a small number of repeating errors. Identify and fix them early and the technique develops far more quickly.
Djembe for Beginners: A Complete Guide
A complete beginner's guide to djembe: what you need, how to hold it, learning the three basic tones, simple first patterns, practice tips, and resources for continued learning.
Common Bongo Drumming Mistakes to Avoid
The most common bongo drumming mistakes are habits, not talent problems. Here is what to catch early, and the simple fix for each one.
Bongo Drumming: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Wood or fibreglass, natural hide or synthetic heads, budget or professional: here is the plain-spoken guide to buying the right pair of bongos.
Djembe: A Complete Buyer's Guide
A practical buying guide for djembes: what to look for in materials, construction and tone, budget ranges, brand recommendations, and how to avoid regrettable purchases.
Djembe Explained: Features, Types and Tips
The djembe is a West African goblet drum prized for its warm tone and three distinct sounds: bass, tone and slap. Learn its construction, playing techniques, cultural roots and how to select one.
Congas: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Buying your first set of congas isn't complicated once you strip away the jargon. Here's the honest version of what to check.
A Guide to Percussion Box Drum Cajon
The cajon percussion box drum is a versatile hand-struck instrument with roots in Peru. Learn about its tones, playing technique and why musicians across genres love this authentic percussion box drum...
Congas Drums for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Congas drums require a different approach from any stick-based instrument. This complete guide walks beginners through setup, technique, practice and what to listen to.
Congas Explained: Features, Types and Tips
Tall drums, one head each, played by hand — but there's real craft and a deep tradition behind that simplicity. Here's how congas actually work.
Everything You Need to Know About Bongo Drumming
From eastern Cuba to salsa clubs and bedroom studios, here is everything worth knowing about bongo drumming: history, anatomy, the martillo pattern and basic technique.
The Best Congas for the Money
There's no single best conga — only the best one for the music you're playing and the conditions you're playing it in.
Udu Drum: A Complete Guide
The udu drum is a resonant, hand-played clay vessel from West Africa. This guide covers playing techniques, selecting your first udu drum, and integrating this warm-toned instrument into world music a...
Everything You Need to Know About Congas Drums
Congas drums have a specific origin, a precise construction and a technique that takes real time to develop. Here's everything you need to know about the instrument.
Hand Drums is filed under
All topics
Bongo Drumming
Bongo drumming adds hand-played rhythm, syncopation and lively percussion to studio, live and learning environments.
Congas
Congas bring hand-played rhythm, warmth and projection to Latin, pop and educational settings, with options for every le...
2 topics
Congas Drums
Congas drums deliver warm, hand-played Latin percussion for live, studio and rehearsal settings.
Djembe
Djembes offer a lively hand-played sound with strong bass and sharp tones, suited to lessons, sessions and performance.
Drum in a Box
Drum in a box products give bass players simple rhythm backing for practice, rehearsal and quick songwriting.
Tabla
Pair of hand drums known for intricate rhythms, tonal detail and expressive playing.
3 topics
Type of Drum
Explore a type of drum for rhythm, texture and performance, from acoustic percussion to electronic drum voices and kits.
Udu Drum
Udus are clay hand percussion instruments with deep bass, airy textures and a distinctive world-music character.
