Looking to purchase djembe drums may be intimidating, unless you're sure of what it is you want. Different drum sizes, head types, tuning mechanisms and shell composition all play a part in creating the drum's personality. Consider the drum as an extended part of yourself, as another way to communicate your feelings. This buying guide should shed some light on the subject, allowing you to find your perfect drum.
Deciding on the shell material
Djembes can be made in many varieties of shell, including both synthetic and natural materials. You need to consider what type of environment you will be playing in when you make your decision. If you choose one made from natural material, such as a body composed of wood, you should make sure that it has undergone special treatment so that your drum does not get bugs nor rot. Be careful when buying a traditionally built drum because this can be a problem in some foreign places. In most cases, the manufacturer will use a type of fiberglass to create the drum's body. These synthetic drums perform well even under adverse conditions and are very durable. There will be a slight variance in the quality of tone, it being less "earthy", however, the projection as you perform with still be satisfactory.
Choosing your drum head
Djembe drum heads are traditionally made of skin, usually goat hide. These are alright, specifically for conventional drums however extra upkeep is required. The best drum head for a dry environment is made of natural skin, which has a sound that is very rich. But if you live in a highly humid climate, you would do better to choose a drum with a synthetic head. These heads are usually constructed from Mylar or another polyester film type. The design of synthetic heads mimic the style of natural heads; also these heads are great to use at the studio. The synthetic heads are also great in almost any climate and that versatility is really what sets them apart for the casual player.
Choosing your tuning
Most manufactured drums come with some form of mechanical tuning, which essentially means that they use bolts instead of rope. This is a popular design since learning to tune the drum heads and change them is quite easy: all you have to do is unscrew the bolts and take the head off. Extra practice is involved if you choose a rope tuning method for your drum. If your tuning is like this, you need professional assistance for the first few times so you can become skilled with the tuning procedure and skin changing. You don't want to damage your drum by tuning it incorrectly! A more common method is rope tuning and if the head is natural, this makes the sound more special and authentic.
Deciding on the shell material
Djembes can be made in many varieties of shell, including both synthetic and natural materials. You need to consider what type of environment you will be playing in when you make your decision. If you choose one made from natural material, such as a body composed of wood, you should make sure that it has undergone special treatment so that your drum does not get bugs nor rot. Be careful when buying a traditionally built drum because this can be a problem in some foreign places. In most cases, the manufacturer will use a type of fiberglass to create the drum's body. These synthetic drums perform well even under adverse conditions and are very durable. There will be a slight variance in the quality of tone, it being less "earthy", however, the projection as you perform with still be satisfactory.
Choosing your drum head
Djembe drum heads are traditionally made of skin, usually goat hide. These are alright, specifically for conventional drums however extra upkeep is required. The best drum head for a dry environment is made of natural skin, which has a sound that is very rich. But if you live in a highly humid climate, you would do better to choose a drum with a synthetic head. These heads are usually constructed from Mylar or another polyester film type. The design of synthetic heads mimic the style of natural heads; also these heads are great to use at the studio. The synthetic heads are also great in almost any climate and that versatility is really what sets them apart for the casual player.
Choosing your tuning
Most manufactured drums come with some form of mechanical tuning, which essentially means that they use bolts instead of rope. This is a popular design since learning to tune the drum heads and change them is quite easy: all you have to do is unscrew the bolts and take the head off. Extra practice is involved if you choose a rope tuning method for your drum. If your tuning is like this, you need professional assistance for the first few times so you can become skilled with the tuning procedure and skin changing. You don't want to damage your drum by tuning it incorrectly! A more common method is rope tuning and if the head is natural, this makes the sound more special and authentic.
About the Author:
Are you wanting to get a djembe drum for your child or school music group? The Djembe Drum Shop boasts a good choice of childrens musical instruments and percussion instruments which are available to buy online. Visit their eshop at www.djembedrumshop.com.
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