Doumbeks are ethnic drums from Africa. The heads are normally natural animal skins and the bodies are made from either wood or clay. The bodies are decorated and unique. The sizes can vary depending on the tone desired. The larger doumbeks have a deeper reverbrating tone and the smaller ones have sharp high-pitched, fast-decaying tones.

               Drumhead
          ====================
          =|                |=
          =|= x = x = x = x=|=   x  tacks
            \              /     =  skin
             \            /
              \          /
               |        |
               |        |
               |        |
               |        |
              /          \
              ------------

If the doumbek is made from clay, the tacks are replaced with strings that hold the head tight against the upper part of the drum.