What materials are used to make a djembe?

What materials are used to make a djembe?

The djembe has a body (or shell) carved of hardwood and a drumhead made of untreated (not limed) rawhide, most commonly made from goatskin.

What is the top of djembe made of?

The head of the drum is traditionally made from goat skin, providing the djembe with piercing high-pitched tone and slap sounds (struck by the hand near the edge of the drum) owing to the thinness of goat skin (compared to antelope or calf-skin).

What materials are used to make African drums?

Animal skins are used to make the percussive surface of the drums. Goat and cow skins are used most frequently. A thin skin creates a more open sound, and thick skins are going to create a more full, bass sound. Synthetic skin can be used, but for the most part, African artisans avoid it.

Why is the Wood important on the djembe?

The harder the wood, the stronger the reflection. The softer, the more sound energy is absorbed. This does not only effect the volume of a drum, but also the entire sound quality. Each tonewood has its own characteristics that a professional drum maker uses to create a specific sound.

What is the djembe also called?

The djembe drum is also known as the “Devil Drum” because it was traditionally made from hollow-out trees called Dimba, also known as “Devil Wood.”

How many types of djembe are there?

three different types
There are three different types of djembe drum: 1) in which the base ends in a swallow’s tail and the drum shell is round and vertical, 2) in which the base ends in a swallow’s tail and the drum shell is funnel-shaped with a large diameter, and 3) in which the base is cylindrical and fairly narrow.

How can you tell a good djembe?

A perfect djembe should have 3/16″ (4mm-5mm) rope that is round and not frayed. The djembe should be between 22.5″ to 25″ tall (we like 24.5″).

Why does my djembe ring?

If the head is too loose there is usually an excessive amount of overtone (a higher pitch that accompanies the lower-pitched bass or tone), or “ringing”. When one side or section of the djembe head is tighter than another, different pitches are created, leaving the sound flat or muted.

What makes African drums unique?

Sabar. One thing that makes the sabar unique to African drumming is that it’s played by hand AND by stick. The player holds a long, thin stick (galan) in one hand for producing the high notes and also strikes the skin with the empty hand. Like most African hand drums, the sabar is not a solo instrument.

What are the three spirits of the djembe?

Africans say that the drum contains three spirits. The belief is that the djembe drum contains the spirit of the tree from which it was made, the spirit of the animal whose skin is played, and the spirit of the carver or the one who cut the tree and the people who assemble the drum.

What size djembe is for me?

For those that are over 6′ tall or for players that like a bigger drum for louder sound and deeper bass, you’ll want to step up to the 13-14″ djembe size. This size drum stands 25-26″ tall….Which Size Djembe is Right for Me?

DJEMBE HEIGHT	HEAD SIZE
15-16″	8-9″
20″	10″
24″	12″
25-26″	13-14″

Should I oil my djembe?

NEVER put any product (oil or cream) on the head no matter who tells you to. Just say NO! The skin has fibers that are stretched tight and any emollient may weaken those fibers. The skin on most djembes is GOAT skin and it is thin.

What kind of wood is djembe drum made out of?

The rings, skin and rope usually are made of traditional wood. Djembe drum receives the status as one of the flexible drums in the world. It can generate different kinds of sounds. Check facts about clarinet here. The sound produced by Djembe drum is very loud.

What do you need to skin a djembe?

If you are reskinning a djembe you may have some of these materials already. We’ll be starting with our shell, rings, rope for top and bottom ring loops, cloth for wrapping the rings, rope for the main vertical, and a hairless whole hide African goat skin ( available here ).

What to do with the bottom of a djembe?

When you make it around the ring, use a tiny amount of glue on the last inch to glue it down. Or you can tape the end, or even tie a small knot and then cover it up with a loop of rope in the next step. Both of the top rings and the bottom ring should be wrapped to prevent slippage, rust, and to improve the look of the finished djembe.

How big is the average djembe drum ring?

On average, it has the weight about 11 to 29 lb or 5 to 13 kilograms. The weight of the medium Djembe drum reaches 20 lb or 9 kilogram. The rings, skin and rope usually are made of traditional wood. Djembe drum receives the status as one of the flexible drums in the world.