>



Wadaiko Tokara Schools Title Picture
KidsClub | Types of Drums | What is Taiko? | About Japan | Performers | Parents and Guardians

Types of Drums and Playing Styles
Instruments | Playing Styles | Taiko Language



There are so many different types of drums and playing styles in Taiko drumming that it becomes a drum orchestra.
Here is a list of the different types of instruments used in Taiko:


NAGADO DAIKO - Long-Body Drum

Nagado drums are perhaps the most popular type of taiko used by modern groups.
Their bodies have a barrel-shaped appearance and the heads are made of cowskin.
On both sides of the drum body are handles made of a ring and plate which are called "Kanagu."

These drums come in many sizes, from 30 centimeters wide to over 350 centimeters wide - bigger than a Minivan!!





OKEDO DAIKO - Rope-tied Light Barrel Drum

Okedo is a term for drums that are tied with rope and are made with stave construction as opposed to being carved out of a single block of wood.
As with all rope-tied drums, the okedo-daiko can be tuned. (Please see "Shime-daiko" below) Their drumheads are usually stitched over
metal hoops and laced to the drum's body with tension cords, by which the tone of the drum is adjusted.

There are many types of okedo-daiko but generally, these drums have a longer body than nagado (although okedo-daiko with short bodies are becoming more popular).





SHIME DAIKO - Rope-tied Small Drum

The word "shime" comes from the verb "shimeru", meaning to bind or make tight.
Adjustments to their tone are made by pulling the rope. There are two types of rope pulling which must be done to bring the shime to the right tension.
The first is called "Tatejime" where one person puts the head, body and rope together and then tensions the rope around the drum.
The second is called "Yokojime" where usually two people tune and tighten they shime using legs, back and by hitting down with a heavy piece of wood.
Shime-daiko are drums that can be tuned, as opposed to drums in the Byou-daiko category that have a fixed drumhead and therefore a fixed tone.


Other instruments played with taiko drums




Playing Styles

Taiko Language
  • "DON" = right hand strong hit on the drum
  • "KON" = left hand strong hit
Counting before playing:
    "Ich, Ni, So Re" (eech nee soo rei) = "one, two, let's go!"






Wadaiko Tokara Japan
3598 Misajiro, Matsuo, Iida City, Nagano Prefecture 〶395-0826 Japan.  TEL: +81(0)265-59-8768