Shaman drum music
A steady beat, a big round drum and a journey in sound. Meet the shaman drum of Mongolia and Siberia.
Quick answer
Shaman drum music is built on a large, round frame drum played with a steady, repeating beat. In Mongolian and Siberian shamanism the drum helps the shaman reach a trance, and it is often described as the shaman's horse, carrying them on a journey to the world of the spirits.
The drum
A shaman drum is a wide, round frame drum with one skin, held by a grip on the back and played with a padded drumstick. Many are painted with symbols such as the sun, the moon and animals.
The beat and the trance
The rhythm stays steady and repeats for a long time, like footsteps or hooves. Together with chanting and singing, it is used to calm the mind and to call on the spirits and the ancestors.
The eternal blue sky
Mongolian shamanism honors Tengri, the eternal blue sky, together with the earth, the spirits of nature and the ancestors. A male shaman is called a böö, a female shaman an udgan.
Shaman music today
Today shaman drums are heard on stage, in meditation music and in dark folk. Many listeners use the steady beat to relax, focus or fall asleep.
Music inspired by shamanism is not the same as a real ceremony. Real rituals belong to the shamans and the communities who keep them.
Songs built on the drum
From UYANA's debut album: the drum, the sky and the awakening.
Khengereg · The Drum
A ritual trance song built around the khengereg, the shaman's drum.
Read the lyrics and meaning of KhengeregTenger · Eternal Sky
A joyful dance song for Tenger, the eternal blue sky that people on the steppe have honored for centuries.
Read the lyrics and meaning of Tenger
Quick questions
What is shaman drum music used for?
In shamanism, to help the shaman reach a trance and call on the spirits. As music, many people use its steady beat to relax, meditate or focus.
What is Tengri?
Tengri is the eternal blue sky, honored on the Mongolian steppe for centuries.
Which UYANA song is built on the shaman drum?
Khengereg (The Drum), a ritual trance song built around the shaman's drum. Close your eyes, circle the fire and let the drum carry you away.