Abstract: A drum skin tightener includes a generally triangular bracket for mounting on the body of a drum near one end thereof, flanges on the body defining sockets for releasably and pivotally receiving lugs on the top end of a lever. A bolt extending through a slot in the conventional skin retaining rim engages a pin extending transversely of the lever in the bracket, so that rotation of the lever in the bracket either secures the drum skin on the body or permits removal thereof from the body. Such an arrangement permits replacement of a drum skin without changing the tension on the retaining rim by the bolts.