A Guide To Buying The Perfect Djembe Drum

Shopping for djembe drums can be daunting, if you don’t know what you need. A different size, tuning mechanism, head type or even shell composition can affect the personality of a drum. The drum is your voice; hence, it should be an extension of yourself. By studying the buying guide, you will learn a lot about the subject, ensuring that you pick the perfect drum to suit your needs.

Picking the Material for Your Shell

In making the djembe, a wide variety of shells can be used to create an instrument that is man-made or authentically natural. When deciding what to buy, take into account the environment in which you intend to play the drum. 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. Use caution when purchasing a traditionally made drum, as this can sometimes be a problem in some parts of the world. The drum’s body is generally manufactured out of a type of fiberglass 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.

Picking the Head for Your Drum

Traditionally, a djembe drum head is made out of some type of skin, normally 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. A synthetic head is designed to reproduce the tone and feel of its natural counterpart; additionally, it sounds great when used in 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 drums that are manufactured use mechanical tuning, meaning that not rope, but bolts are used. 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. In terms of a drum tuned with rope, additional practice is required. With this tuning type, you should consult a professional that will help you tune the skin and change it a couple times to help you become comfortable with it. It is important to tune your drum correctly so as not to damage it. A more common method is rope tuning and if the head is natural, this makes the sound more special and authentic.