Read this article to learn of the history and structure of the drum. A drum is a membranophone, or an instrument that is played by beating on a stretched membrane. While most people may think that a sound is produced in the body of the drum, sound is actually produced by the membrane and its vibration. Sound can be changed by the amount of tension in the membrane, or by how tightly it is stretched over the body of the drum. The oldest drums were probably hollowed sections of tree trunks, with a piece of animal skin over the top.
Gourds are other hollow vegetables and fruits are also prime candidates for early drums.
Today, drums can be made of everything from plastic to basic metal, and some even exist in iron, bronze and steel. Ancient drums have been discovered in almost every part of the world. Drums first appeared, however, in excavation from the Neolithic Era. Egyptian tombs have yielded small drums used for ceremonies. Several caves in Peru contain wall markings depicting drums in various aspects of societal life.