I wanted something to serve as the "backbone" of our fledgling family drum circle...to keep everyone in rhythm as we learned to "solo" and to experiment on our respective instruments.  This gets the job done.  Sturdy...nice and loud...quality beaters.  We haven't gotten much sound out of it at all by using our hands and I probably would not recommend that - get a djembe instead if that is your intent.  Not really two distinctly different sounds (such as a bass and a tone or a bass and a "slap", if you're familiar with those terms) by striking different places on the drum...but a very nice instrument that we have enjoyed.