Description
The Professional Udu Drum n.9 is a wheel-thrown red clay udu with dark green decorative bands: a vessel drum whose side opening gives a deep bass that bends in pitch, while the body answers fingertip taps with bright, dry tones.
Green Bands on a Classic Udu Shape
The n.9 shares the teardrop chamber, short neck and single round side opening of our other udus, and sets them off in dark green. A green band and a cream band with brown brush strokes circle the neck, a green shoulder band carries a row of orange vertical strokes, and a green frieze of rectangular panels wraps the body below the side opening, above a plain terracotta belly. The Udu Drum n.8 uses a similar layout in brown and black, and the Udu Drum n.7 keeps a single brick-pattern band on the neck.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Instrument | Udu — clay vessel drum |
| Body | Wheel-thrown Menemen red clay, fired |
| Openings | Round side opening and open neck |
| Tuning | Fixed pitch, set by the chamber volume and openings |
| Decoration | Dark green bands; cream neck band with brush strokes; frieze of rectangular panels |
| Maker | Ahmet Tashomcu, Menemen (Izmir) |
Playing the n.9
Seated players rest the udu on the lap or on a stand so both openings stay within reach. A flat, quick strike on the side opening, released at once, pushes air through the chamber for the low, bending bass — the sound that makes the udu part drum, part wind instrument. Fingertip taps on the shoulder and belly give short, dry accents, and a hand held over the neck opening shifts the pitch.
The pitch cannot be tuned. It depends on the volume of air inside the pot and the size of its openings, both set when the clay is shaped and fired, so every handmade udu has its own fundamental note. Ask us before ordering if you need a particular pitch and we will check the drum in stock.
Where the Udu Comes From
The udu belongs to the Igbo people of Nigeria, whose word for it means “vessel” or “pot”. The first udus were water jugs with an extra hole, played by women in ceremonies; today the instrument is heard in hand percussion, acoustic ensembles, studio recordings and ambient or meditative music.
A Potter’s Instrument from Menemen
Each n.9 is thrown by Ahmet Tashomcu, a master potter from Menemen in the province of Izmir who learned the wheel as a child. He won the world pottery championship in 2017 and 2019, is listed in Turkey’s National Inventory of Living Human Treasures, and works with the iron-rich red clay of Menemen for both the udu drums and the clay darbukas of the Tapadum range.
Who It Is For
With nothing to tune and a sound that responds to a light touch, the udu is approachable for first-time players, while experienced percussionists explore its long bass and the fine control of the side opening. See all the udu drums in our collection or read our udu drum guide for a deeper look at its history and technique.
Storage and Care
Treat the n.9 as fired pottery. Knocks and sudden temperature changes are what crack clay, so carry it with both hands under the body and never by the neck, wipe it with a soft dry cloth, and never soak it. Store it upright on a padded surface where it cannot tip over, give it time to reach room temperature before you play, and travel with it in a padded case.
