Drums in the Americas
Joseph H. Howard
Oak Publications
The drive to create, perform and reproduce music is common to all mankind—a drive so basic that when a man cannot find an instrument to suit him, he creates his own. I should like to dedicate this book to those who prefer drums.

This book is an organological compendium on drums found in the countries of the western hemisphere, drums indigenous to the Americas (Amerindian), those brought in and those which developed after the influx of non-indigenous people.

The aim of this book is to name, localize and describe the major drums played and seen in the Americas. The material presented is based on the information published in many varied sources: books, periodicals, booklets, interviews, travel records and personal experience. I have attempted to cover, as nearly as possible, all of the different types of drums found in the Americas. An effort has also been made to pinpoint the ethnographic origin and geographic location of the instruments.