tuning a djembe

[jahunter]

i know how to do the diamond knots but ive come to a point that no website i found has covered... and that is the second row of diamond knots... it still sounds to deep... i tried to keep going onto the 2nd row but it either fell right into the 1st row or if i skipped a rope to really start a 2nd row, the top ring looked like it was going to snap... so i undid it and just left the 1st row done... what do i do?

[michi]

Check out this document. It has a good explanation of how to cleanly step up to the second row.

Cheers,

Michi.

[jahunter]

thank you so much

[Dugafola]

i'd add that you should try to minimize the vertical distance in b/w your lock stitch and mali weave knots. partly for aesthetics, but also so you have room if you need to add more rows of knots later on.

if you are worried about the ring dropping on a side, space out your 2nd row of knots evenly around the drum. i usually make sure that both ends of the spine and sides have knots at least and depending on how heavy/thick your spine is, you may need more knots on the sides of the spine for a balanced sound. that's why i normally stay away from skins with heavy spines.

re: drums that are "out of tune" with itself. it's good practice, but i don't think it really matters. have you seen some of the drums that are played in the village? if i have to flip the drum and hit it from the backside, i'll either load it up with more diamonds or bang the shit out of it with a mallet for a quick fix.

[Bliquid]

I would suggest maybe undoing all of the diamonds and re-tightening each vertical rope around the drum. use a rope puller (sell somewhere online) and vice grips to lock each rope as it goes thru the top loop, moving vice grips along as you tighten around the drum. This prevents the rope from slipping back. The drums i skin sound pretty cranked without even weaving the diamonds. Up to you it may be too much work, but if its still loose after two rows of diamonds than maybe u need to look into it. peace
-Andy @ Athens Djembe Company

[Djembe-nerd]

if you are worried about the ring dropping on a side, space out your 2nd row of knots evenly around the drum. i usually make sure that both ends of the spine and sides have knots at least and depending on how heavy/thick your spine is, you may need more knots on the sides of the spine for a balanced sound. that's why i normally stay away from skins with heavy spines.

Nice advice Duga,

how do you do calf skin or cow skin where the spine does not seems so obvious but the thickness is not so consistent

[DjSato]

i'd add that you should try to minimize the vertical distance in b/w your lock stitch and mali weave knots.

Indeed, I've had to undo rows of diamonds because I didn't pull them as close as possible (you eventually run out of space as you keep tuning it up). I'm guessing this can't be good for the skin either. Any thoughts on this?

-Sato