Taiko
Taiko are Japanese drums that come in various sizes. They are the inspiration of the video game series Taiko no Tatsujin.
In Japanese, the word taiko (太鼓) refers to any drum, but in other languages more commonly refers to wadaiko (Japanese drums), as well as kumi-daiko ensemble performances. Kumi-daiko is by far the most popularized style of taiko playing, and is generally what taiko is known as internationally.
Types of drums
There are several different instruments that are used in kumi-daiko, some much rarer than others.
Nagadō-daiko
The most recognizable taiko in Japan is the nagadō-daiko, a drum shaped like a barrel. In certain taiko groups, nagadō-daiko were actually constructed from repurposed barrels. Regardless of the origin of the body, all nagadō-daiko have animal hide stretched over them with high tension to form the drumheads. Once the hide dries, nails are hammered around the rim of the head to fasten it into place.
Shime-daiko
Another common drum seen in kumi-daiko is the shime-daiko. This drum is much smaller than nagadō-daiko, having a short height but wide head. The drumskin is stretched over the frame and bound tightly with rope cords to produce a high pitch when played, which contrasts against the deeper bass pitch of the nagadō-daiko.
Other drums
Typically, an ensemble performance will consist of multiple nagadō-daiko and at least one shime-daiko. Various other percussion instruments may be included, such as the large ō-daiko, a drum which stands vertically, and has a face roughly twice the size of a nagadō-daiko, or chappa, small hand-sized pairs of cymbals that are struck against one another. Additionally, there may be melodic instruments included, such as the shinobue, a transverse flute.
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