Here are a few tips for differentiating drum membrane materials:

- Look closely at the texture and pattern of the drumhead. Cow skin tends to have more visible pores, wrinkles and hair follicles compared to goat or deer skin.

- Feel the thickness and stiffness of the drumhead. Goat and deer skin is thinner and more pliable than cow hide. Calfskin is very thin and supple.

- Check the tone and resonance. Calfskin and deer tend to produce a sharper, brighter tone while cowskin has a mellower, bassier tone. Goatskin is somewhat in between.

- Look for branding marks. Many commercially made drumheads will be stamped or printed with the animal type. This is especially common with synthetic drumheads.

- Ask the manufacturer. If buying a new drum, the packaging or documentation may indicate what type of skin is used. For vintage drums, the maker may be able to identify the skin source.

- Consider the region. In Africa, goatskin is very common while in Europe and America cowhide is more prevalent. Deer and calf are rarer worldwide.

The only way to know for certain is to be told by the maker of the drum or to have the animal source verified. But with some careful inspection and listening, you can make an educated guess in many cases. The sound and feel of the drumhead are the best indicators.

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