Choosing a frame drum
Not sure where to start? Small? Large? Synthetic skin or animal skin? Explore drum models and makers from around the world and get my personal input as a frame drummer that has explored quite a few!
Remo - great beginner drum that doesn't need tuning
Remo makes great affordable drums that are made of synthetic skin, which is great because you don't need to worry about himidity bringing the pitch of your drum down and making it sound bad. Even if you had 600 dollars for an expensive goat skin drum, I still think you might appreciate having a 16" Remo drum around.
What kind to get?
I recommend the 16" for fast middle-eastern rhythms and daily playing and the 22" for deep, meditation rhythms, with the mentions below!
A 16" is as small as I would personally go - they sound really nice for fast middle eastern rhythms and are comfortable to play. Smaller sizes like 14", I don't feel they really sound like drums and if you don't have good technique, they will sound even worse. I had a student who was disappointed in their drum and only after I showed her how to get the best out of it, did she see that it could sound alsmot acceptable.
A note on playing big drums daily
Larger frame drums, like the 22" are better for deep, meditative rhythms. Of course you can play fast rhythms as well, but I think it sounds better for slow rhythms. Also be careful - while you can play a durm of any size, even 24", when playing a piece, playing for your friends or recording, it can be dangerous for your shoulder to play a large drum every day in lap style (holding it on your knee). If you need to raise your shoulder a lot in order to play it, practice on a smaller one and play the big drum on special ocasions - or play it in the freehand style, where you rest the drum on the floor. You can also stand up and hold the drum on a small chair for comfort and then you can play it every day.
Meinl - sleek design, mid-range price
Meinl is another affordable choice. Their drums fall into a nice mid-range price point — usually around $100-$250 depending on the model and size — which makes them accessible without feeling "cheap." Whether they sound better than Remo or not, it's up to you to decide.
I can tell you that Liron Meyhas, a well known percussionist from Israel, plays Meinl drums (at least in some of her videos). There, you can get a feel for their potential.
Sound-wise, Meinl frame drums tend to have a clean, clear tone with a bit of brightness, and they lean more toward contemporary and fusion styles rather than super traditional vibes. They mostly use synthetic heads, so like Remo, you're not fighting humidity or temperature changes, and the tuning systems are solid if you go for the higher-end models.
What I heard is that they are very ergonomic. The frames are smooth and comfortable, and the edges are gently rounded, which makes long practice sessions easier on your hands. They’re lightweight too, so if you're playing standing up or moving around a lot, that's a big plus.
Downsides? The sound can sometimes feel a little "polite." If you're after a deep, raw, earthy tone like you'd get from a natural skin drum, Meinl might leave you wanting more.
Zelazek Drums from Poland
These are some of the best sounding drums I ever heard. Yshai Afterman also plays them in many of his videos.
They often come with deep shells, which is very important for the color of the sound, and they also have different types of wood like "bog oak" thousands of years old wood. The wood is also a big factor in sound quality, that is why Cooperman durms are also so successful.
Their website is in Polish and English but not all sections are translated.
The cheapest drum listen in Frame Drums > Lapstyle on March 5 2025 is a 476 EUR drum named "Tof Miriam 16 cali - Zohar Fresco Signature Series", but there is also a 357 EUR Bendir which is 42.5 cm. but it says "SOLD". May be available on order, I don't know.