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. The drum is your voice; hence, it should be an extension of yourself. This buying guide should shed some light on the subject, allowing you to find your perfect drum.
Picking the material for your shell
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. Exercise care in buying a drum made the traditional way, since this is at times problematic in certain global regions. In most cases, the manufacturer will use a type of fiberglass to create the drum's body. The performance of synthetic drums are excellent even in bad situations and are extremely durable. The tonal qualities are slightly different and less "earthy" but you can still project just fine when you play.
Pickings the head for your drum
Djembe drum heads are traditionally made of skin, usually goat hide. These are fine, especially on more traditional drums but require additional upkeep. Natural skin heads have a very rich sound and in a drier environment work very well. However, if you live in a climate with higher humidity, you may want to opt for a drum that has a synthetic drum head instead. 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. Heads made of man-made materials work well in nearly any weather conditions - a versatile advantage that distinguishes them for players who aren't professionals.
Choosing your tuning
In most cases, manufactured drums are tuned mechanically, using bolts rather than rope. This is a popular design since it is very easy to understand the way to tune and put on different drum heads -- just unscrew the bolts then take off the head. Extra practice is involved if you choose a rope tuning method for your drum. If you have this type of tuning, you should find a professional to assist you the first couple of times until you feel comfortable with the procedure of tuning and changing the skin. 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.
Picking the material for your shell
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. Exercise care in buying a drum made the traditional way, since this is at times problematic in certain global regions. In most cases, the manufacturer will use a type of fiberglass to create the drum's body. The performance of synthetic drums are excellent even in bad situations and are extremely durable. The tonal qualities are slightly different and less "earthy" but you can still project just fine when you play.
Pickings the head for your drum
Djembe drum heads are traditionally made of skin, usually goat hide. These are fine, especially on more traditional drums but require additional upkeep. Natural skin heads have a very rich sound and in a drier environment work very well. However, if you live in a climate with higher humidity, you may want to opt for a drum that has a synthetic drum head instead. 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. Heads made of man-made materials work well in nearly any weather conditions - a versatile advantage that distinguishes them for players who aren't professionals.
Choosing your tuning
In most cases, manufactured drums are tuned mechanically, using bolts rather than rope. This is a popular design since it is very easy to understand the way to tune and put on different drum heads -- just unscrew the bolts then take off the head. Extra practice is involved if you choose a rope tuning method for your drum. If you have this type of tuning, you should find a professional to assist you the first couple of times until you feel comfortable with the procedure of tuning and changing the skin. 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.
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Are you wanting to buy a djembe drum for your child or school music group? The Djembe Drum Shop has a great choice of childrens musical instruments and percussion instruments which are available to order online. Pay a visit to their website at www.djembedrumshop.com.