A frame drum is a drum that has a drumhead width greater than its depth. It is one of the most ancient musical instruments, and perhaps the first drum to be invented. It has a single drumhead that is usually made of rawhide, but man-made materials may also be used. Some frame drums have mechanical tuning, while on many others the drumhead is tacked in place. The drumhead is stretched over a round, wooden frame called a shell. The shell is traditionally constructed of rosewood, oak, ash etc. that has been bent and then scarf jointed together; though some are also made of plywood or man-made materials. Metal rings or jingles may also be attached to the frame. In many cultures larger frame drums are played mainly by men in spiritual ceremonies, while medium-size drums are played mainly by women.

Types of frame drums

• Adufe (Portugal) • Bendir (North Africa, Turkey) • Bodhrán (Ireland) • Buben (Ukraine) • Crowdy-crawn (Cornwall) • Cultrun (Chile, Argentina) • Daf (Iran, Kurdistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Middle East) • Daires (Greece) • Duff, daff, daffli (India) • Epirotiko Defi (Greece) • Dayereh (Iran, Central Asia, Balkans) • Dob (Hungary) • Doyra (Uzbekistan) • Dhyāngro (Nepal) • Ghaval (Azerbaijan) • Gumbe (Sierra Leone, Caribbean) • Kanjira (India) • Lag-na (Tibet) • Mazhar (Egypt) • Pandeiro (Brazil) • Pandereta plenera (Puerto Rico) • Pandereta (tuna, rondalla, estudiantina - Spain, Philippines and Latin America) • Pandero (España) • Pandero cuequero (Chile) • Pandero jarocho (Mexico) • Parai (India, Sri Lanka) • Patayani thappu (India) • Ramana (Thailand) • Rapa'i (Aceh, Indonesia) • Ravann (Mauritius) • Rebana (Southeast Asia) • Riddle drum (England) • Riq (Arabic world) • Sámi drum (Nordic and Russia) • Sakara drum (Nigeria) • Shamanic music • Tamborim (Brazil) • Tambourine (Europe, USA) • Tamboutsia (Cyprus) • Tamburello (Italy) see tambourine • Tammorra (Italy) • Tar (Middle East, North Africa) • Thappu (India) • Tof (Israel) • Uchiwa daiko (Japan) • Yike (Cambodia)