goat skin vs other skins

[Bryan]

I have three drums to re-head, 2 djembes and a custom drum made from my uncle. For my Djembes I was thinking of trying something new on at least one of them. I enjoy playing lead djembe in a local circle so I want something that really barks. Should I get a cow skin? I've always used goat so what are the ups and downs? Thanks in advance for your input! Cheers, Bryan

[Djembe-nerd]

There are no ups and downs , just preferences. Both have different character, the only problem with cow skin is a litlle tough on the hands. Some poeple get used to it and some don't.

There is also other alternatives like horse and deer, but I think that the use has been very minimal.

Any skin with right thickness proportion to the shell done right and with proper tuning will really Bark cow and goat will just bark differently.

[michi]

If you want a skin that barks, you can't go past dog

A (thinnish) cow skin can really scream but, as Djembe-nerd said, cow skins are tough on the hands. Deer is softer, but doesn't quite get the attack of cow.

But, if volume is what you are after, any kind of skin that is pulled tight will be loud. It's more a matter of technique than the skin. Experiment and see what happens. That's one of the joyful things about playing djembe: there is always one more thing to try...

Cheers,

Michi.

[Rhythm House Drums]

Did this video a while ago but does show the characteristic differences. I don't think one is better than the other, it just depends on your preference. You'll be able to get a good calf skin tighter than a goatskin, but it will be harder on your hands. If you like the traditional sound, I'd stay with goat. If you like more melodic tones, thin cow/calf is good.

It's really an experiment until you find a thickness that you like. I know some people that prefer thinner goatskins on their djembes, and some people hate it.

[Rhythm House Drums]

I wonder what kangaroo skins sound like michi?? I'm guessing similar to deer. Ever tried it or know anyone that has?

[michi]

Padman, one of my early teachers, used to play kangaroo. It sounded good; a little warmer than goat, but not as warm as deer. I'd say that kangaroo and horse are very similar in sound.

One advantage of kangaroo is that it holds it's tension very well and it is extremely hard-wearing. Kangaroo skin is popular for top-quality motorcycle clothing, for example, because it resists abrasion better most leathers. On a djembe, kangaroo skin tends to last a long time.

Despite lots of kangaroos being slaughtered in Australia each year, I haven't come across kangaroo skin for drums all that much. I know it can be found, but I don't have any contact for kangaroo skin. Yet another thing to put on the list of things to try...

Michi.

[Mikeleza]

I've seen it said a few times that goat skins were used more and more because of their ability to put out more volume which comes in handy in outdoor playing situations. Cow skins have more tone and are more suitable in doors.... That's what I have heard but I am no expert Bryan.

Michi, when I first started playing djembe about 10 years ago there was a lot of people around Perth playing kangaroo skin drums on djembes but it has phased out now.

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 don't see any kangaroo skins around here any more, every one seems to have gone with the traditional sound and the djembe scene in Perth is not half as big as it was back then.

Mike

[gr3vans]

I know a guy who plays a white cow skin inside out. It's one of my favorite sounding djembes that I've ever heard (and one of my favorite folas).
IMOHO if you want to stand out in a 'circle' you should work on you technique and learn a lot about how to tune your drum. A lot of people think that really tight is the only way to be heard, but really it's your focus of energy and being precise that differentiate your sound from others. If you're seriously considering cow skin I would look at your hands and ask yourself "am I tough enough for this?" and if the answer is yes and you really want to have a cow skin solo djembe get ready to crank that fucker. Don't worry the skin wont break, but your hands might. Try playing your granite counter top for an hour and see how you feel before you decide.

[Bryan]

Awesome guys, thanks! I'll give it try on one of the Djembes. This site is truely great, thanks for putting this together. @gR3vans-Thanks for the warning, I play congas so the hands should be weathered enough...Bass Tone and slap on everyone!! I'll post a video once I get the drums together...cheers! Bryan

[Dugafola]

Awesome guys, thanks! I'll give it try on one of the Djembes. This site is truely great, thanks for putting this together. @gR3vans-Thanks for the warning, I play congas so the hands should be weathered enough...Bass Tone and slap on everyone!! I'll post a video once I get the drums together...cheers! Bryan

congas wont' be the same as a cow/calf skin djembe...at least one tuned for solo. you're pretty much going to have to play that thing at 100% power for a while as well. african djembefolas have told me on 2 different occasions that cow/calf doesn't hurt any more than a thick goat as long as you commit 100%. it's when you're doing 70-80% where you'll start to feel it hit back.

and to reiterate what some other folks said, your drum can stand out in your circle if it's tuned properly and if you play it well. "tuned" doesn't mean cranked, it just has to hit at frequency that has some space in relation to the other drums in your circle.

good luck and post pictures.

[Bryan]

Right on, I've been through the ol crank the skin till I break it, never pans out to push it too far. Although, I do invision a cow skin to be a bit thicker, and harder to break. We shall see!!

[Bryan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4h70x1S8H0

was putting some clicks in this one the other day, I heard a sizzling sound and pop, there goes skin!

[Dugafola]

sounds good.

my ivory coast is probably my favorite drum right now.

[Djembe-nerd]

you're pretty much going to have to play that thing at 100% power for a while as well. african djembefolas have told me on 2 different occasions that cow/calf doesn't hurt any more than a thick goat as long as you commit 100%. it's when you're doing 70-80% where you'll start to feel it hit back.

I am not getting this one, what will change in the hit when you apply 80% force or 100% force.

"tuned" doesn't mean cranked

+1 for that, too much crank chokes the skin, the tonal quality goes away.

Try playing your granite counter top for an hour and see how you feel before you decide.

I did my Ivory coast djembe with a medium cow, and when craked, it was exactly like a wooden table top (no give away at the center when you press with your thumb) .

Had to sell it cos my hands just didn't want to play it anymore. Sold it to a djembefola who loves it.

[e2c]

Cow needs to be broken in... (imo, anyway). It doesn't bite back as much once it gets to a stage where it's broken in properly, and it should have a full, extremely warm sound at that point. (similar to a conga in some respects.) Interesting side note: bodhran players are all about getting their skins "played in." I'd like to experiment with that, both on frame drums and either djembe or bougarabou.

but then, I prefer lower-tuned drums and love playing duns... would love to have a nice-feeling white cow skin to work with for a while.

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