Drum and drumhead structure

A drum structure comprising a generally cylindrical body section having mounted on at least one end thereof a drumhead comprising a generally circular drumhead membrane of durable flexible stretch-resistant material having a center circular portion of a predetermined average thickness comprising an area which is struck by drumsticks during normal play of the drum and an outer ring-like portion which extends appreciably over the surface of the drumhead membrane surrounding said area, said ring-like portion formed of flexible stretch resistant material together with said drumhead membrane providing an outer portion having a greater average thickness than the average thickness of said center portion and said outer portion forming with said center portion a continuous unitary drumhead membrane structure;

• whereby a large momentary increase in the pitch of the drum is effected when said center portion of the drumhead membrane is struck a sharp blow with a drum stick and simultaneously decreasing the decay time in which the drumhead membrane returns to rest after being struck a sharp blow compared with a uniformly thick drumhead membrane of said predetermined average thickness.