Folk instruments

Hand Percussion

Hand percussion means the drums and rhythm instruments you play with your hands, a tipper or a beater: no kit, no stand, nothing to plug in. Here you will find Irish bodhrans, frame drums from 10 to 22 inches, kalimba thumb pianos, bones and spoons for Irish sessions, the ocean-sounding rain drum and the medieval tabor.

The drums have natural goatskin or calfskin heads, and most players find a steady rhythm in the first session. Tippers and gig bags are in Bodhran Tippers and Gig Bags.

Know before you buy

The full picture.

Everything you need to choose, buy, and start playing.

What makes it different

Describe what sets this instrument apart: tonewoods, construction, playability, or the tradition it comes from. This is your chance to earn the sale before the customer adds to cart.

Choosing yours

Help customers narrow down the right option. Cover differences in size, scale length, wood choice, or tuning. If there's a beginner-friendly model, call it out here. The goal is to remove doubt and make the decision feel easy.

Playing it

Give new players a confident starting point: how to tune, a recommended first technique, or a link to a beginner resource. Even a single paragraph here reduces buyer hesitation and returns.

Built by hand. Played for life.

A closer look at the craftsmanship behind every Roosebeck instrument.

Browse our full collection of handcrafted folk instruments. Each one is built with care using solid tonewoods such as rosewood, walnut, mulberry, and spruce, finished by hand in our workshop.

Built to last

Solid tonewoods and proven designs, refined across more than five decades of luthier experience.

Beginner-friendly to professional

Models for first-time players and serious musicians, with clear specs so you know what you're getting. Quality instruments at an affordable price.

Set up to play

Each instrument is checked at the bench so it arrives ready to tune up and play.

More from the workshop

Browse other instrument collections.

Multiple collections. One workshop. Fifty years of craft.

Renaissance & Baroque Guitar

Renaissance & Baroque Guitar

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Mountain Dulcimers

Mountain Dulcimers

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All Celtic Harps

All Celtic Harps

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Baroq-ulele Ukuleles

Baroq-ulele Ukuleles

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Balalaikas

Balalaikas

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Bodhrans

Bodhrans

Browse collection
Lutes

Lutes

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Ouds

Ouds

Browse collection
Specialty Dulcimers

Specialty Dulcimers

Browse collection
Tenor Lute-kuleles

Tenor Lute-kuleles

Browse collection
Wind & Ceremonial

Wind & Ceremonial

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Lyre Harps & Specialty Harps

Lyre Harps & Specialty Harps

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Native American Style Flutes

Native American Style Flutes

Browse collection