Djembe basics

[hand drummer]

Recall while going thru the djembe basic from past lessons thought this could be good to share with fellow drummers whom they are interested to take up hand drumming as an past time hobby.

My opinion and considering the fact that djembe drumming is rather simple, believe any individual after laying their hands on the djembe, they can pick-up one or two rhythm to begin with the djembe. To be honest, after picking up djembe drumming for also 2 years, this has been my favourite past time hobby. I enjoy every moment in djembe drumming. either alone or with a few friends drumming together to form a drum circle session.

My favourite spot is always along the East Coast Park facing the seafront. I love the natural Chi "Energy" in the open especially my feet is resting on the ground touching the Earth - the soil and to be able to sit next/near to the living plants. This enble me to receive the lovely sea breeze. Not forgetting having the open sky above my head. WOW what a lovely evening into druming.

Djembe basic is easy and fast to pick-up after having acquiring the 3 basic strokes - the Tone, the Bass and the Slap.

The open tone stroke has a high pitched ringing tone. It is played with the fingers straight and best close together to prevent injury for a beginner. Hitting the periphery of the drum and allow your finger to bounce back motion. Leaving the bases of the fingers come into contact with the edge of the djembe drum. To have a good open tone, remember not to rest or lay your hand on the drum (important not to mute the tone).

The Bass is considered a deep resonant sound - lowest note. The hand is best slightly cupped and strikes at the centre of the drum frimly before bouncing back again.

The Slap - consider the most difficult to master of the 3 wtrokes. The Slap is short, sharp and loud. The hand movement is very similar to a slap on a person's face. The heel of the hand impacts against the edge of the drum as the fingertips grasp the skin, bringing your fingers towards the edge as if you were try to pull the skin up. It takes a sometime to pecfect the Salp stroke.

With the 3 basic stroke one can easily produce many basic rhythm that can produce infinite number of sounds.

One of the very basic exercise that I always practice alone is the Tone, Slap and Base. Starting with my left hand than follow by my right hand - repeating same stroke/sequence.

Next possible basic rhythm - Base / Base (right/left hand), follow by Slap/Slap (R/L hand), Slap/Slap (R/L hand).

You can keep going by create many steady tempo using left/hand hand on the 3 basic strokes. Watch and listen to the sound and try your best to lay your hand on the drum to that produces the sweetest tone. You need to develop a relationship with your djembe in-order to know your drum to bring out the sound of the djembe.

The djembe is considered a female drum and the male drum is called the Ashiko. I look forward to others fellow djembe drummers to come forward and contirbute / add more materials into this post.

Happy Drumming....Dun/Dun..Ta/Ta...Dun/Dun.

Cheers........Hand drummers

[RudimentalDrummer]

Wow thanks for sharing - I didn't know till now..got female & male drums, very interesting really. I am afraid to play hand drums already - it huts my hands once - and I cannot drum for a week cause it's swollen - maybe I didn't know the Techniques..maybe...Hahahaha !

[hand drummer]

Yes - Rudimental drummer. My hand hurts too. Especially my first finger started at the wrong note. Not to worry Passion conquer all. After some time it should be OK.

Reckon in Kit drumming it is rather too difficult for me to learn and master with so many things to do and to co-ordinate at the same time. Especially at a later stage into 4 ways independent.

I choose the easier one - into Hand Drumming, only one drum using both hands to practice and to develop the perfection in strokes / technique and into acuracy. Believe having more regular practise with time, the speed will come at a later stage.

What I enjoy most is having one drum to communicate with others into a community drumming event in Unity. To some it is rather noisy but its Fun having to be able to meet so many friends around you in the circle Drum and percussion ensemble. People wishes to dance may also do so at the centre of the drum ensemble.

The rhythm of the drums and the sound of other percussion instruments can penetrate thru all ages, sexes, races and cultures with the co-operation and collaboration to glue all participants together into sharing our rhythmical spirit along with other people.

Happy Drumming - Dun/Dun/Dun.....Ta/Ta
Cheers..........Hand drummer

[lepak]

Tabla how?

[hand drummer]

Tabla how?

I love the Tabla rhythm but find it too difficult to acquire the finger technique. My fingers are too stiff to play the tabla. There is a good teacher from "Temple of Fine Arts" - located Chinatown, teaches tabla. Last Saturday nite, the musical group from the Temple of Fine Arts presented a performance
at the Espanade Floyer. Suggest check it out at the web - if interested to know more about them.

[hand drummer]

Hello Lepak, just to share with you further - if you are keen to learn the Punjabi Dhol, you can join the next starter class at the Dhol Federation school. I like the Dhol because it is very explosive, loud, with strong progressive beat and good punch. The sound of the Dhol can over power many other drums. If you like heavy stuff the Dhol is the drum for you. Need to know more suggest look out the website for Dhol drumming. I look forward to hear fm you and also to join me in Dhol drumming. I am one of the few China man learning the Dhol basic.

[Trish80]

I find djembe playing addictive once you're hooked to it. Few months ago, I was just trying out playing the djembe with my manicure and now, I've been faithfully playing it every week without fail and of course that means no more manicure for me. You'll be surprised that more females are interested in djembe these days, I know that as most of my classmates are female. Have fun with it!!

[RudimentalDrummer]

Welcome to Soft Trish80, I see this is your 1st post and Yes you are right - There are so many Females in The Drum Circle these days .... guess this is a trend also in the Western countries - where they feel that it's good for health...especially in such a stressful society these days.

[nkf31]

what's a good djembe to buy?

[RudimentalDrummer]

Bro hand drummer - that Djembe - I reserved from you liao har?.......It's mine (cannot sell to other people har)...That's a Good Djembe - Custom-Made.....thanks..

Bro nkf31: hand drummer got alot of Djembe.