Jeli dunun

[rachelnguyen]

Offlist, e2c mentioned jeli dununs and I didn't know the name. But when I understood what it was, I realized it was the drum that most of the street dun dun players in Bamako were using while I was there. They had it hanging on a strap from their shoulders and played with a stick in one hand and a bell (ngang ngang?) in the other.

Well, it turned out that my teacher had one kicking around, so I asked him if I could buy it, and he agreed.

I am excited to share that I am now the proud owner of a delightfully well-loved Jeli dunun. This one is made from a piece of galvanized steel. ( I think it was once a drainage pipe.) It has specially processed goatskin heads that have been sewn on, and a beautiful woven Malian cotton shoulder strap. Because it is galvanized steel, it is actually quite light, which makes it perfect to wear.

Today I got my first lesson. Sidy taught me the accompaniment and one of the solos for Dansa. For me, this is a good place to start since I am so familiar with the djembe parts for Dansa.

I am very excited about this new turn of events. Yes, I am back in kindergarten. But, man, kindergarten is fun. And LOUD!

Here's a photo. This isn't the right stick, but it's what I am using in the mean time until I get one.

[bubudi]

that looks sweet! i love the solos for dansa that are played on the jelidunun. the instrument is also known as the khassonke dunun, as the instrument originated in khasso. the bell is called nanga.

[e2c]

Rachel: I"m glad you went for it! (Put me down for the next one he makes, OK?)

Am very, very interested in hearing about what Sidy will be teaching you - no pressure (;)), but updates would be welcome...

Enjoy your drum!

[bops]

Yeah, looks really nice. I'd like to build one (I have the perfect shell), but I need to learn how to treat the goatskins before heading.

How big is that one? Looks like it could be a dunun or konkoni.

[rachelnguyen]

Hey guys,

For some reason I didn't get emails letting me know y'all had posted. Sorry about the delay in replying.

I don't think my teacher built this drum. I am pretty sure he got it in Mali.

Bops, all I know about how the skins are treated is that they are pulled across the end of a pipe... I assume on the flesh side. Sidy didn't really get into detail, but it sounds like they are sort of tanned. (I used to do it with skins when I was a kid. Grew up on a farm. I would nail bottle caps to a wooden block and then use them to scrape the flesh side of a skin that had been stretched and dried.)

This skin isn't soft like a fully tanned one would be, but it is pretty white.

The head is a bit oval, but at it's widest it is about 18". The drum is 24" long. I'll post more detailed photos here when I get time to.

Bubudi, I am digging the little solo phrase he taught me last week. I have been practicing... And you know, I think it is really going to help my djembe playing too. Sidy said that in Mali it is most common to learn dun dun first... then djembe. I did it bass ackwards, LOL. But it's all good. You guys know I am a sucker for well loved (read 'beat up') drums. The fact that this beauty is crafted from a galvanized pipe makes it all the more lovely in my eyes. Nothing goes to waste.

Ellen, when you want a Jeli dundun, I can certainly ask Sidy if he can get one for you. He has a pretty wide network and I am sure he could come up with one.

Love,
Rachel

[bubudi]

those jelidunun solos will give you phrases that mark certain dance steps, which will be very useful on the djembe as well! i know what you mean about dunun made from recycled materials. i made my first dununba from a recycled engine oil drum. before i headed it up trad style i spent a lot of time painting it with a nice simple design. it both looked and sounded great, but i was a bit biased that drum had history to me, just like the one you got from sidi.

[e2c]

Rachel, my experience with playing duns has been exactly like what you're describing. Being in the "back line" has enabled me to hear (and absorb) the way the djembe parts fit in with the melodies the duns are playing. Playing bass djembe has worked out much the same for me, partly because I'm playing low-tuned cow/calf and am able to distinguish between what the drummers with goatskins are playing, because I can actually *hear* them. (As opposed to being caught up in a muddle of sound.) As for doing it "bass ackwards," I think that's just us Americans - the djembes are the drums that take the big, dramatic solos, after all. [:winking icon:]

Have also found that I love the sound of good cow/calfskin, probably over and above goat (on djembe, at least), but I like the *feel* of goat. am also dealing with some hand injuries (repetitive stress stuff) that make cow impractical for a "normal" (i.e., not bass) djembe.

if anyone has suggestions on way to work around that, i'd be more than happy to hear them!

Also - thanks so much for the offer, Rachel! I have to watch my $ at the moment (big, unexpected car repair bill last week + some vet expenses), but am going to be trying to salt some $ away for future purchases. Is there any way to get notification on shipments that Sidy receives?

[rachelnguyen]

Hey, Bubudi, how 'bout posting a picture of your first dun dun? I am going to build one myself some day!

And e, yeah, I can understand what you mean about being able to hear through the muddle. My goatskin is tuned pretty high, so sometimes it is really a challenge for me to hear the dun duns. I am pretty sure my new cowskin is going to be a screamer too, LOL. But I am looking forward to playing the Jeli dunun with a group. I think it will be a wonderful, and very different, experience.

I don't think Sidy has any more drums coming from Mali this year... but if you wanted a Jeli dunun, he might be able to dig one up from some of his peeps here in the states. Or we could pick one up for you next time we are in Mali. (Better if you come with us, LOL. Then you can pick one out for yourself. I have a great picture of a drainpipe dun dun hanging in a tree at the market in Bamako.)

Love,
Rachel

[e2c]

Rachel, I bet you'd really enjoy taking some time to step back and hang with the dun players. I had real trouble hearing the duns myself until I actually went back there and started playing sangban and kenkeni parts. The difference in the sound (lower, warmer) really allows you to hear what's going on with the djembe accompaniments and solos. I often find it frustrating to be playing djembe in a group class, because of the sheer intensity - and sameness - of the sound that comes from the djembes. (Really small classes are a totally different thing; I'm fine on djembe there.)

I guess it's also got a lot to do with the way I learn things - once I'm comfortable with a part on the duns, I can listen more closely to the djembe stuff. The fact that I'm not under any kind of pressure to repeat a whole bunch of new (to me) phrases makes it easier for me to absorb them. And I also just love being right in the middle of the duns - the *sound* (rich, warm, deep) is somehow very satisfying to me. (Have done a lot of pickup rhythm section work over the years, which probably accounts for that. I love sitting close to bass players and working with them to fill out the sound.)

Any chance you might be able to post that pic you're talking about? And again, thanks so much - I'll give you a holler when I'm ready to get that drum!

[Onetreedrums]

Nice discussion about jeli dunun and konkoni. I have built up several jeli dunun and konkoni after learning how in Bamako and then along with Male Fainke here in the states. I currently have two jeli dunun finished and offered for sale as well as one konkoni ...

http://onetreedrums.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2

As you can see from Rachel's pictures in this post, the jeli dunun is assembled and sewn in the same way a tama (talking drum) is in Mali. In comparison to a cow skin dunun, the jeli dunun is much more susceptible to changes in temperature and needs more regular tuning, but it doesn't take long to tune. The tuning is done by slightly tensioning the verticals (not forcefully like for a djembe) without pulling diamonds afterward. Ideally, the tuning for both sides should be the same. Fine tuning can be done be tapping your stick on the rings.

The skin is treated like Rachel mentioned. The key is to stretch and soften the skin through a variety of methods. In Mali, they turn a metal chair over exposing the round, hollow legs pointing to the sky. Then the shaved, wet goat skin is draped over one of the legs and the entire underside of the skin is scrapped repeatedly until the skin turns very white and become very soft and supple. You can also use a stone. Hold the stone in your hand and scrap/pull the underside of the goat skin. You should also stretch the skin between rounds of scrapping. The constant manipulation of the skin in this preparation allows the skin to dry a little bit which is OK and there is no need to resoak it before you sew it on. Once the skin is super soft and the scrapping has whitened the skin it is ready to be sewn on.

Hope this helps ...

[bops]

Nate,

Great information, thanks! I'll let you know how it goes.

Paddy

[bubudi]

sorry rachel, that dununba is long gone and i don't have any pictures of it.

[Onetreedrums]

I forgot to add in my previous post that I have a metal konkoni that has a goat skin sewn on that is not treated as Rachel and I have described previously. The builder of this konkoni mentioned that they used a used goat skin. I haven't clarified what this meant exactly, but I assumed that it was a skin previously used on a djembe and had been stretched and broken in as a result. Either way, it sounds awesome and is certainly a good use of an old skin. Bops, good luck on building your own jeli dunun.

[bops]

I forgot to add in my previous post that I have a metal konkoni that has a goat skin sewn on that is not treated as Rachel and I have described previously. The builder of this konkoni mentioned that they used a used goat skin. I haven't clarified what this meant exactly, but I assumed that it was a skin previously used on a djembe and had been stretched and broken in as a result. Either way, it sounds awesome and is certainly a good use of an old skin. Bops, good luck on building your own jeli dunun.

Great suggestion, thanks again Nate! It just so happens that I've got a used goat skin (still on its hoops), looking for a new home. I'll hopefully post some pics soon...too many unfinished projects...

[Dugafola]

Rachel, I bet you'd really enjoy taking some time to step back and hang with the dun players. I had real trouble hearing the duns myself until I actually went back there and started playing sangban and kenkeni parts. The difference in the sound (lower, warmer) really allows you to hear what's going on with the djembe accompaniments and solos. I often find it frustrating to be playing djembe in a group class, because of the sheer intensity - and sameness - of the sound that comes from the djembes. (Really small classes are a totally different thing; I'm fine on djembe there.)

I guess it's also got a lot to do with the way I learn things - once I'm comfortable with a part on the duns, I can listen more closely to the djembe stuff. The fact that I'm not under any kind of pressure to repeat a whole bunch of new (to me) phrases makes it easier for me to absorb them. And I also just love being right in the middle of the duns - the *sound* (rich, warm, deep) is somehow very satisfying to me. (Have done a lot of pickup rhythm section work over the years, which probably accounts for that. I love sitting close to bass players and working with them to fill out the sound.)

Any chance you might be able to post that pic you're talking about? And again, thanks so much - I'll give you a holler when I'm ready to get that drum!

learning and playing the dunun is the best way to learn this music IMO. i received this advice early on in my studying and still try to pass it on to new players that are serious about getting better not just for djembe and solo, but for overall musicality and feeling of their playing on both duns and jembe.

the best jenbe drummers i know are also the best dunun players i know.