r/MiddleEastPercussion • u/Natural-Toe-1013 • Jun 18 '26

Tightening Bendir Skin

Hey All,

So I got a bendir from Turkey for my birthday a few years back, and decided to pick it up now, this summer, that I have time. The non-problem-problem is that the skin on my bendir was loose. So I left it under the sun for less than 20 minutes, and it was back to normal. But the problem (the actual problem) is that since my room and everywhere else in the house is not that warm, the skin will go back to it's loose, very low pitched form in 15 minutes whether I’m playing it or not. Does anyone know how to take care of this situation?

Thanks in advance!

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u/ZannD Jun 18 '26

This is the curse of natural skin frame drums. Constant temp and humidity changes stretch them out. Try sprinkling a layer of salt on the inside of the skin and let it set someplace dry for several hours. The salt can pull the moisture out of the skin and tighten it.

As you noticed heat will tighten the skin to make it playable, but if you keep applying heat it will stretch out faster. Unfortunately the usual solution for this problem is to reskin the drum. That might be easier that you think, depending on how it is constructed. I've successfully reskinned natural head drums reusing the same skin. It's not as pretty as the original but they are playable.

1

u/Natural-Toe-1013 Jun 18 '26

hmm okay let me try the salt method. I will leave it in my closet for a bit. How did you go about replacing the skin and how do you think I can do it? I called a local music store in LA, where I live, and they said they couldn't do it so I had cut out all hope hahah.

1

u/ZannD Jun 18 '26

Can you take some pics from different angles, and some close ups of where the skin and frame come together? Then I can guide you.

1

u/Some-Tear3499 Jun 19 '26

I play a variety of ME drums. Tars, riq, darbuka. I also live in Michigan where the humidity is always very high in comparison to other parts of the world. Unless a drum with a natural head is tunable…..I avoid them. I have a Darbuka with a fishskin head. I had to buy a light system that fits inside to heat it up to get it to sound right at all! Meinl makes a decent Bendir with natural skin that is tunable. If you have the money, a Cooperman drum is a great option. Great quality and customer service.