Djembe Drums - How To Play Djembe

If you've spent any time at all wandering around African trinket type shops, then you've likely come across a djembe drum.  Chances are pretty good, you couldn't resist the temptation to try playing one.  I know there's is shop like that in our area called Sea Jewels, and they carry them.  We often visit there because they carry all kinds of hand made jewelery, and my daughters like that.  I'm usually drawn to the drums, and will often tap out a few rhythms while entertaining the customers, or embarrassing my kids.  It all depends on your view point.  I do have a drumming background, so the attraction is an honest one.

I always have a habit of drumming on just about any flat surface I come in contact with.  It's not a nervous condition (as some who live with me would have you believe), it's just a question, of having rhythm in me that needs to get out.  A djembe drum, is perfect for just such a release.  They can be pretty small, and don't take up a lot of space.  You also don't need drumsticks, so it's pretty simple to get started.  I could of course take some djembe lessons, but I think it's pretty simple to get started.  Once you understand, that playing on different areas of the drum create different sounds, it's pretty simple for an already accomplished drummer.  You can also create different sounds, by using the different areas of your hand.

The center of the drum creates a more bassy sound, and the further you go to the edge of the drum skin, the higher pitched the sounds become.  Additionally, the softer fleshy area of your palm, will create a more muffled sound, while the bonier, and less padded areas of your fingers will result in a sharper sound.  I think you can see, how the combination of drum skin location, and hand placement can result in a wide variety of interesting sounds.  If you've ever listened to an accomplished djembe drummer perform you'd be amazed at the the different tones and nuances they can create.

The djembe drum owes it very versatile range of voices to its shape.  It is shaped very much like an hourglass, with the skinny center section extend a little longer than an hourglass would.  I'm sure, that the original intention of the first djembe drum designer was to create an instrument that is easy to hold and play by one person.  The hourglass shape certainly accomplishes that, by allowing the skinny section to be held between the knees or thighs.  This leaves the hands free for playing, and allows the sound to resonate freely from the bottom of the drum.

Coincidentally, that shape also helps the drum to create the deep warm resonate bass sounds that anchor most music.  While I'm no physics major, that curvy shape, creates what is known as a Helmholtz resonator.

The history and legend of the djembe drum goes back over a thousand years, and can be somewhat clouded.  The drum traces it's origins to the group of blacksmiths western Africa, known as the Numu.  Many other classes and ancestral peoples today play the Djembe. 

The original crafted drums, were created from hollow hardwood treas.  The type of wood tree used, will have an influence on the specific sound of each drum.  Dimba, acajou, and khadi are just a few of the different types of wood that may be used in their construction.  Be wary, of purchasing djembe drums made out of softwoods.  While they are cheaper to create, and the materials are less expensive the sounds and tones are no where near the same.  Additionally, you should inspect the inside of any djembe before purchasing one.  There should be a spiral channel carved along the inside of the drum, which again contributes to a richer sounding drum.  Even the type of goat skin used for the drum can affect the sound.  Drums made from African goats are said to sound different, and be more durable.