A djembe drum is in the hand drum group of drums, and, contrary to other kinds of drums, the djembe drum is played strictly with a person's hands instead of using a mallet or drumsticks. The djembe has a lot of history associated with it, which is part of its appeal. A music group that has a djembe adds a new aspect that accentuates the music's beat. This article answers some of the questions which may be asked before buying a djembe drum.
What is the definition of a Djembe drum?
Traditional Djembe drums are goblet shaped, carved from a single log and covered with goat skin as the drumhead. A contemporary style might be fiberglass and its cover would be a synthetic material. Whether you are a beginner or more advanced, you can achieve impressive results from either type.
Which area originated the Djembe?
Such drums mostly came from Mali in Western Africa. This kind of drum originated with and is important to the Mandika community. Legend has it that these drums traditionally contain the spirits of three beings. There are three spirits, first from the tree, second from the hide of the animal whose hide is on it, and the third spirit is from the maker.
The way the Mandika tells it, the original djembe was a gift to them from djinn, and it was believed to be a mythological being or even a genie. This being supposedly showed them how to make the drum and gave them knowledge of its use. This has allowed them to find a spiritual significance in it.
What are the kinds of sounds that are connected with
What is the definition of a Djembe drum?
Traditional Djembe drums are goblet shaped, carved from a single log and covered with goat skin as the drumhead. A contemporary style might be fiberglass and its cover would be a synthetic material. Whether you are a beginner or more advanced, you can achieve impressive results from either type.
Which area originated the Djembe?
Such drums mostly came from Mali in Western Africa. This kind of drum originated with and is important to the Mandika community. Legend has it that these drums traditionally contain the spirits of three beings. There are three spirits, first from the tree, second from the hide of the animal whose hide is on it, and the third spirit is from the maker.
The way the Mandika tells it, the original djembe was a gift to them from djinn, and it was believed to be a mythological being or even a genie. This being supposedly showed them how to make the drum and gave them knowledge of its use. This has allowed them to find a spiritual significance in it.
What are the kinds of sounds that are connected with
a Djembe?
Just three easy movements of the hand will let you make a lot of music on this kind of drum. These are the base, tone and slap. The base is caused by striking the ball of the hand on the center of the head. This makes a deeper, rounder sound. The tone is created by hitting the edge of the drum with the base of the fingers when they are very relaxed. The sound produced is higher and somewhat dull. The slap and the tone are made with the same movement, but with the former the fingers bounce off the head and make a ringing sound that is sharper. The drum can have many uses when mixing up movements creating other tones.
Is it possible to tune these drums?
It is known that the tighter these drums are the better it is. The best way to fix a drum that sounds flat is to tighten up the loose supporting stings until the drum sounds clear. Remember,stringing a goat skin head drum might be quite a challenge because of the large number of strings involved.
Drums of this type are easy to use and work well with other instruments. The versatility of the djembe makes it a good choice for anyone who is willing to give it a try.
About the Author:
Just three easy movements of the hand will let you make a lot of music on this kind of drum. These are the base, tone and slap. The base is caused by striking the ball of the hand on the center of the head. This makes a deeper, rounder sound. The tone is created by hitting the edge of the drum with the base of the fingers when they are very relaxed. The sound produced is higher and somewhat dull. The slap and the tone are made with the same movement, but with the former the fingers bounce off the head and make a ringing sound that is sharper. The drum can have many uses when mixing up movements creating other tones.
Is it possible to tune these drums?
It is known that the tighter these drums are the better it is. The best way to fix a drum that sounds flat is to tighten up the loose supporting stings until the drum sounds clear. Remember,stringing a goat skin head drum might be quite a challenge because of the large number of strings involved.
Drums of this type are easy to use and work well with other instruments. The versatility of the djembe makes it a good choice for anyone who is willing to give it a try.
About the Author:
Looking to purchase percussion packs for school music lessons or drumming groups? Then make sure you visit the Djembe Drum Shop to view their various packs and to buy online - www.djembedrumshop.com.