goat skin vs other skins

[michi]

Contrary to what you say Michi, my memory and experience with kangaroo skins was that they didn't hold tune well because they are far to stretchy and tend to break easily under a lot of tension. Generally, they were ok unless you really cranked them and then they were just frustrating. It's funny that we have quite the opposite opinion, makes me wonder if I am mistaken! Maybe the difference is the way that they are cured?

I honestly don't know. I wasn't speaking from first-hand experience but relating what I remember Padman's djembe sounded like back in 2004. I remember a conversation with him where he told me that he prefers kangaroo because it lasts much longer and holds tension better. His drum was sky-high at the time and he told me that he hadn't cranked it in months.

I only fitted a kangaroo skin to one of my drums once (a skin I got from Padman at the time), but that one broke while it was drying, before I ever got as far as the dry pull. He moved to Sydney shortly thereafter, so I lost my only contact for kangaroo skin, and I haven't come across another one since.

I'd certainly give it another shot though. Padman's drum definitely sounded good!

Cheers,

Michi.

[Bryan]

[
Famoudou Knoate tends to use lower-tuned drums and I really love his sound - a lot of higher-tuned drums actually sound shirll to me, but I think my ears might be "tuned" a little differently. [/quote]


That is the reason I want to try something new, less ping and more pop, a warmer less shrill sound is exactly what I want

[teb]

First off I have to say how happy I am finding this site. I found the video comparing heads so good. You have to hear it to understand the difference. I am working on my third shell and wondering what kind of skin to use. The other two I have done have been medium weight goat skin. After hearing the differences I am think maybe a heavy goat skin.

[Bas]

So i got a cow skin i think, cause that djembe sound like a conga! I dont think that i have to play with more energy on this then on other djembe's because its sound is so different then of other djembe's, that u can easily hear it. below the sound of the other average pitched djembe

Then i have this djembe of which i asked the guy who tied it for me to make it as low as possible... its quite low but dont really like the sound, and only way is to go up now.

And now for my main djembe i want a high pitched sound. it was fine untill someone with a big ring on his finger smashed my skin and now its torn. so for my main djembe i want high pitched sound so i guess this should be a very thin skin or has it more got to do with tools they use?? because at first when i got my main djembe with new skin it was quite low. after 4 to 6 months i went back to my djembe "skinner" and he had like some tool to pull the ropes. he made all the ropes more loose and then he pulled them very tight with a thing i could describe like a crowbar. I could here the wood of my djembe make sound. like when u put tension on wood. sort of cracking sound
After that my sound was very satisfying and how do you say..... : springy??? anyways it sounded again like when i first got that djembe. and the sound is perfect for solo's and catching attention

So i like to know what skin to use and maybe little pointers to recapture that sound. its very jumpy and spring like sound.

Thanks in advance

[Trog]

Bas, Cow skin does not make a djembe sound like a conga as far as I know. Maybe the drum it is on is a bougarabou?

As far as having a high sounding drum, any thickness skin should work (most use a medium or thick goat). The way to get the drum high pitched is to have the vertical ropes real tight and then doing a weave to tighten the skin further to get the sound you want. Make sure the skin has dried totally before these tightening s or the skin may just stretch or break.
http://djembefola.com/board/technical-advice/pulling-stand-t1303.html
The home made pulling stand is worth making if you plan on reskining drums.

[Bas]

Ok Thanks man, is bougarabou an other skin then djembe??

[bkidd]

Cow skins are typically used on a Bougarabou.

-Brian