Maintenance
The following tips will help you maintain the condition of your wadaiko.
- Avoid moisture.
- Store the wadaiko in a well-ventilated location, and keep the heads off of the ground.
- If the wadaiko becomes wet (i.e. by rain), immediately dry off, and then let dry in the shade.
- Avoid direct sunlight.
- Avoid beating the heads at the center.
- Better sound is achieved by hitting the heads off-center.
- Continuos beating of one spot will lead to faster wearing and tearing of the heads.
- Try to use both heads equally.
- Do no use frayed bachi drumsticks, as they will damage the leather.
- Avoid stroking the heads with the bachi as you beat.
- Avoid beating the rims with a hard bachi.
*Kodaiko (small drums) are particularly vulnerable to concentrated-beating and stroke-beating.
Prolonged beating of a single spot or with stroking style will lead to heating of the leather, causing it to wear and/or tear.