Name: Liriodendron tulipifera (yellow poplar, American whitewood, tulip poplar, tulip tree, canary wood, canoe wood, and saddletree). Not a true poplar.

Growing Region: Canada and the eastern United States.

Availability: Readily available.

Weight/Hardness/Density: Poplar weighs 2.7 pounds per board foot, maple weighs 3.4 pounds per board foot, Red Oak 3.75 pounds per board foot, and cherry 3.3 pounds per board foot. Poplar scores 540 on the Janka scale. Maple scores 1450, red oak 1290 and cherry 950. The Janka scale is a measure of how much force is required to drive a .44” steel ball ½ of its depth into the wood.

Cost: ½ the cost of maple.

Habitat concerns: Poplar releases winged seeds, which are eaten by many animals including rabbit, squirrel, rodents and a variety of birds. Hummingbirds, bees, and insects pollinate the tree by visiting the flowers. These large trees also provide cover for deer, birds and small mammals.

Comments: The name “tulip tree” comes from the tulip shape of the leaves. The tree can reach heights of 150 feet with a trunk width of 3 feet.

Timbre/Tonal Color: Poplar has a lower fundamental pitch and a longer note than our maple comparison drum. The longer, lower note acts like a wash, similar to a cymbal wash, especially when played beyond 2 and 4. Not a dry drum. Smooth sounding.

Dynamic Range : Consistent in its character sound from pp (very soft) to ff (very loud).

Tonal Range : Very vocal drum. Poplar has several different regions on the head producing fairly distinct sounds. The sweet spot is smaller than the maple comparison drum.

Tuning Range: We were surprised to find that the poplar had the same tuning range as the maple drum. It took the same loose tuning and the same tight head tension before choking.

Resonance/Decay: The low frequencies have a longer decay time than the maple drum. The longer fundamental note exaggerates the lower note, enhancing it.

Cross Stick: Lower in pitch. Poplar has twice the real estate of maple for a good cross stick sound.

Volume: Both the drum sound and the cross stick sound are slightly louder than our maple drum.

Sensitivity: Equal to maple.

Comments: “Love it! Vintage vibe. Fun to play, and it plays well.” (Robert).

By Greg Gaylord & Robert “RB” Bowler.

Photo credit Frankie Frost