The book drum (pinyin: shū gǔ) is one of the traditional Han Chinese musical instruments. Popular all over the country, it is specially used for the accompaniment of various drum books such as the rap music "Dagushu" in northern China. When playing, the book drum is placed on a drum stand, and the drum stand is made of six thin bamboos tied with ropes. The drum surface is slightly lower than the elbow, or the book drum is supported on a small wooden frame. The rapper holds a book board or pear flower slice in his left hand, and a single arrow in his right hand strikes the drum surface.
The drum frame is made of wood, in the shape of an oblate shape, covered with cowhide or sheepskin on both sides, and the edges of the leather surface are fixed with drum nails. Sizes vary, the larger drum face diameter is 30 cm and the drum frame height is 8 cm; the small drum head diameter is 22 cm and the drum frame height is 6 cm. Guchu, also known as Gujianzi, is made of bamboo and is 24 cm long.
Book drums, the smaller ones in the drum. The drum body is produced in a flat round shape, and the drum frame is made of hard wood and covered with cowhide on both sides. The drum body is painted with vermilion lacquer. The diameter of the drum surface is 22-30 cm, and the drum height is 8-8.5 cm. The pronunciation is small and low, but very loud. It is dedicated to the accompaniment of various drum books such as the northern rap music "Drum Book". When playing, strike with a bamboo drum and arrow. The book drum is placed on the braided rope of the bamboo drum stand with a height of about 90 cm. The rapper performs with a board or a pear flower in the left hand and a drum and arrow in the right.