My kingdom for a ........

[masoth]

drum!!!!
My intent is to build a knee drum. Now, that's my name for the instrument because I know no better.
What it will look like (a bit) is the top part of a stool - it's played whilst held between the knees - it's basically round - it's made of wood, and therein lies my question: what type should I use for reasonable resonance?
I expext and accept some trial and error but would like a fair chance of first-up success.
All ideas will be gratefully accepted.

soth:D

[ozwinner]

Read here. (http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=djembe+drum&spell=1)

Have fun, its a cool sounding drum.

Al :)

[masoth]

Thanks Al. You gave me much to read, an all is relative to what I hope to do, but my real query is 'what wood should I use'?
My plan (which, BTW I thought was original) is to glue together many different timbers, carving out the inside to find an acceptable tone, but leaving ridges on the outer, and make separate bowl, leg, and foot. I plan to use a commercial drumskin and retaining ring. Then I expect to decorate the finished drum using pyrograph pens.
So my question is probably: Should I aim at soft or hard woods, and what about grain, etc.?:cool:

soth