Help me to tune my Djembe !

[gerardo1000]

I am a beginner and I love my Djembe (a key tuned Remo). My problem is that I don't know up to what pitch to tune it ! I read some articles online and they always explain how to handle the ropes of rope-tuned djembes, but they never go into detail on how much to tight, or to loose, the head.
The most detailed description that I have read is " when a djembe is well tuned, Basses tones and slaps all have a distinctive sound...". A bit generic and, being a beginner, I am sure that if I don't make a distinctive sound between basses, slaps and tones, it could be my fault !.
Can anyone give me suggestions based on experience ? How do I understand when the head is too tight, or too loose ?

Thanks !

[the kid]

you can tune it to whatever pitch pleases your ear. why not experiment and find a good tune for yourself. mind not to tune it to tight or you are in danger of breaking the skin(membrane whatever). you probably need to tune it carefully and make sure the each key has the same tension so not too much stress is put on the skin in any one area.
i play djembes from west Africa and like to tune my drums high. it's more loud and more fun to solo and you can hear it when played with other drums. Also the sustain and release of the notes are Dependant on the tightness of the skin and the materials and proportions of the drum. so if your gonna solo it sounds muddy if the skin is too loose cos of the skin resonating too much.
if your a beginner don't worry so much about it. you need to work on technique and rhythyms. get some friends to play with or join a drum circle. look out for djembes for sale in your area. i'm sure you'll like to up grade to the real thing some day.

happy drumming

it takes a while to develop your tone, slap and bass. muscles in the hand needs to get strong to make the sound so take your time and this will develop. try practice every day and you'll hear some progress.

you can test the head by pressing down upon it with your thumbs. a highly tuned djembe has very little give. its almost like hitting a table. auch. a low tuned drum can be pushed by the fingers easily

[Waraba]

Hello--

I agree with KEANIEirishdjembe about getting in touch with experienced players. You can tap your djembe next to theirs and see how high/low you are by comparison. I do find that when attempting to play the djembe at low pitches, I hit much harder to get a sound resembling the true slap. I recommend tuning it high (in other words, getting it in tune, period, using the techniques mentioned by KEANIE. You want a ping-ping sound when you tap the rim with your finger, and an almost instantaneous decay when you strike the bass) because at the higher tension it is possible to get the true sounds with minimal effort, avoiding splintering-arthritic sensations in the fingers for days along with bruises and blisters. With proper technique and tuning you will get great sounds, pain-free, at a faster rate. When it comes out sounding great and feeling good, you're doing it right. When it hurts and it sounds bad, you're doing something wrong. It should feel easy and the only thing splitting should be your ears (earplugs help). There is no substitute for learning with more experienced players. That said, here is a substitute: at djembedirect.com they have some tutorials with the best written instructions on what you're asking about I've seen, including technique and tension.

Also, there are some instructional guides you have to pay for but that I suspect are well worth the money: Mamady Keita has a set of CD's where rhythms are broken down and traditional soloing is taught; Abdoul Doumbia has a book/cd combo that also promises to be very good.

--Waraba

[Aurawiewer]

Thank you, KEANIEirishdjembe. I thought about the sound of my drum isnt tuned to 100%, and u explained me that is not only about drum and the muscles on hands needs to improve, and the sound will be better. My english is not very good, please promise it . Ouch, my fingers hurts when im writting this comment. How long time you play without the injouries on your fingers, hands..? If you dont understand, only write, I check it.

[bubudi]

welcome aurawiewer!

when you work on developing your technique and your timing and feel of rhythms, i would suggest to play more softly at the beginning. that way you will hurt your hands less!

over time as your technique improves not only will the sound improve, but your hands will hurt less! you will also develop some calluses and this will allow you to play with more volume without drawing blood or getting blood blisters!

a few words about tuning: i say tune it up a little high, but not anywhere near as high as a solo drum. it will be easier to create good sounds that way. too low and it will be a strain to hear yourself and get good sounds. too high and you have to move your hands faster and develop calluses to cope with the tighter/harder skin surface.

best of luck!

[the kid]

Thank you, KEANIEirishdjembe

Your very welcome.

Can we understand you?
Yes. Where you from?

Ouch, my fingers hurts when im writting this comment

Thats the spirit.

Look after your hands do. After drumming you can use some oil on your hands and arms like coconut oil / almond or Caratee(shea butter). I always apply tea tree oil too. Its good for healing and disinfectant. put oiled hands into very hot salty water and gently clean/message. Then apply small more oil with tea tree or geranium if feeling funky

making clean sounds and playing with the correct technique is the most important thing.So its good to consult a teacher about proper technique and so forth.

How long time you play without the injouries on your fingers, hands..?

It feels like its never ending but Probably after 2 years things get better. But its different if you playing 2 hours a week or 20 hours a week. If you like to play and want to play better aim to practice a s much as possible. It'll pay off.

[Aurawiewer]

bubudi

I will play softly, because I live in a flat in the middle of the block of flats. Two days ago, I ´ve played the drum at 8PM and yesterday my neighbour played the piano at 8AM. ( my drum is louder ) )

Yesterday evening I´ve found a drum group in my neighbourhood/estate which teach playing the djembe, but the clasess started three months ago and I must wait..

thanks

KEANIEirishdjembe

I am from one small country named Slovakia.

Its the border to Ukrajine. Have you heard about my country? Probably no I think.

Oil? Of course, my friend is masseuse, she give me an advice for this. THanks!

First I bought the drum for the natural techniques of healing ( shamanism, shamanic. not voodoo! ) but I love the sound of the drum and it existence that I decided to play it not only for healing but also for fun, and cheer.

I train every day for 30 minutes. I found some notes for drumming for beginners and adviced. Here you are http://www.paulnas.eu/wap/ I think it is good. I really want to play this http://www.paulnas.eu/wap/sounou.html its very nice:).

If I found somethink new I´ll write. See u

[Garvin]

Awesome map! I believe many of us have indeed heard of Slovakia. Your English is much better than my Slavic. This is a very good forum for information specific to djembe. Keep practicing, and listen to some good recordings if possible.

Do you have any videos, or recordings that you use for practice?

[the kid]

I hear theres great landscape and unspoilt forests around Slovkia. I'd like to visit there some time. I have too many friends in czech to visit so i have to go there soon. prop next summer do.

Any ways welcome to the forum. Loads of useful info here on West african music and plenty of knowalable people who happily share there experiences and knowledge

I really want to play ..sounou

We are going to participate in an online study group to learn and study new rhythyms. Sounou will possibly be one of the rhythyms we'll be covering. You can still vote for sounou and maybe we'll end up doing that. I want to learn this now too. Nice to learn more Malian style as already the guinean stuff is more popular. You must have 10 posts to participate in the study group. So get some new posts goin. tell us more about the djembe community there or what ever. Ever see a reindeer? or a beAR?

[Aurawiewer]

Garvin

You speak slovac? ( hovoríš slovensky) ? ( ak máš záujem a chuť kľudne mi dačo po slovensky napíš )
Only the records that I found at youtube, nothing else.


KEANIEirishdjembe

I love Slovakia. Its really nice country:). The forests in the middle of our country are the best. High and Low Tatras are amazing too. Am not sure, u are from UK or USA? ( tell mi poland, and i will laugh as loud as possible:D )

Vote for Sunu? Of course! Reindeer? No but my ( sisters husband ) from Canada 100% yes. He is Hunter:D. Bears are in Slovakia really everywhere.. yes !:D.

Where are u two from? ( I dont need a map because I have geography lesson tomorow.. ouch.. )
How long u play the djembe?

[the kid]

Where are u two from?

Am not sure, u are from UK or USA? ( tell mi poland)

Happily i'm from none of these places

There is a hint in my name, like the irish bit.
So yea i'm from Ireland the land of saints and scholars

Ireland is great. If you like rain you'll love it here. i live on the west coast. It's very like california except instead of sun we have rain. Of course we have lovely coast line and cool mountains and some unique eco systems and such which you won't find any where else in the world.

And there is like 20,000 megalithic sites here like grand stone circles and burial tombs and all that. So thats nice we have actually have history and the remains of an ancient civilisation. That was pre celtic too. thats were i draw my roots. The pagans. Go on the druids.

[Aurawiewer]

Im here for a second. I have my first djembe lesson with teacher tomorow.. and my mum go play the djembe with me!:D she like it.

I love rain, fog and lightening and when is white sky its the best. So good. I write tomorow how was the lesson. We start at 7PM . Be with me in your mind bye

[Aurawiewer]

Wow it was fantastic!! We were ten people and we were drumming all the time the african rhytms. It was amazing. I was in a small shamanic trance and i was drumming like an robot. clean mind, the nice feelings in the body. I love djembe

I learned some new tunes and the opened tones and i dont remeber what other.. I have got energy for five. Im gonna jump and jump !

[michi]

I learned some new tunes and the opened tones and i dont remeber what other.. I have got energy for five. Im gonna jump and jump

Another destroyed life in the making...

Cheers,

Michi.

[the kid]

Or rather destroyed hands in the making. Generally djembe is very good for you