Serenity Series Wave Bead Drum

The WBD5016 Serenity Series Wave Bead Drum is a versatile percussion instrument that can be used as an oceanic sound effect or as a powerful stand-in for a drum kit or several pieces of handheld percussion. Much depends on how it’s held, how fast it’s moved, which side is facing up, which beads are inside, and whether it’s struck or shaken. Starting with its ability to mimic nature, this drum can sound like the tranquil ebb and flow of waves lapping the shore—perfect for meditation and sound therapy—or surf crashing against the rocks, or even like a steady rainfall. To achieve these sounds, the drum is held horizontally. Gradually tilting it results in a gentler effect and tipping it quickly intensifies the experience. Users can further control the sound by letting the internal plastic and metal beads roll against either the PET head for a brighter timbre or the goatskin head for a mellower tone. Moreover, the plug on the frame makes it possible to remove some of the beads, with a higher ratio of plastic to metal resulting in a smoother wave sound. As for its percussive abilities, this single drum can sound like many being played at the same time. Holding the drum vertically and striking the heads in the center produces a resonant note reminiscent of a bass drum or tom-tom. Striking the heads near the bottom edge gives it a snare-like sizzle. Bouncing the frame or shaking it puts it squarely in shaker or cabasa territory. Using all these techniques to create a rhythm pattern feels at once familiar and unique and will surely lead to new musical ideas to explore. The combination of the beechwood frame with synthetic and goatskin heads delivers strength to ensure long-lasting performance, even under heavy use.