Shime-Daiko

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Shime Daiko; image used by permission from taikos.com
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Shime Daiko; image used by permission from taikos.com

The shime-daiko is a small Japanese drum. The word "shime-daiko" comes from a larger word "tsukeshime-daiko"(付締め太鼓) often shortened to simply, "shime-daiko" or "shime." It has a short but wide body that is taught with hide on both its upper and bottom side. The hide is first stretched on metal hoops, then stretched over the body. Similar to the tsuzumi and to African talking drums, both drum heads are bound together with cords so that the drum heads are bound by each other. Like the larger taiko drums, the shime-daiko is played with sticks called "bachi," while it's suspended on a stand. Being very taut, the shime-daiko has a higher pitch than that of normal taiko. Shime-daiko are used in various Japanese music ensembles, from nagauta (長唄), hayashi (囃子), taiko, to folk music, or min'you ensembles