Among the membranophones, the water drum, or “Maya drum,” stands out because of its U-shaped form and its presence in the archaeological, sculptural, and pictographic record of the Maya area, which reveals its importance within ritual contexts from the Classic period (250-900 CE).
From a formal standpoint, the Maya drum is characterized by its curved U-shaped or horseshoe-shaped structure, generally made of ceramic. One end was covered with a stretched animal-skin membrane, while water was placed in the other in order to tune the instrument and produce variations in sound; this cavity may also have served as an air regulator when the drum was empty. Percussion and tuning were carried out with the palm of the hand, alternately covering and uncovering the opening to obtain different modulations.
A plate in the Dresden Codex depicts the use of the Maya drum in an agricultural ceremony that includes the sacrificial decapitation of the maize god. The scene shows four figures playing different instruments, identified as the four pahuahtuns, bearers of the sky and deities associated with winds and rains. This illustrates the importance of music and dance for the proper performance of the ritual, in this case, obtaining the sacred grain.