For information about the djembe, visit http://www.djembedirect.com .
ABOUT THE
DJEMBE
This page contains information about the Irie Tones djembe. Although
we don't claim that it is exhaustive, we hope it gives you a solid basic
understanding of your instrument. If you need clarification or have something
you feel would be useful to add, please contact us. We'd be happy to help!
Irie
Tones Djembe Features
Colors
- Stained - Light brown stain applied to even out
the wood tones and bring out the relief carvings. This drum is often
preferred by those who like the 'redwood' look.
- Natural - Transparent shea butter enhances that
natural beauty of the wood grain and helps protect the drum. For those
who prefer the 'untouched' look of natural wood grain and color, this
option is ideal.
- Black - Permanent, opaque 'ebony' stain applied before
carving to highlight the artwork. The color won't rub off on your clothes
or hands, and makes for a very stunning, hand-carved drum.
Carvings
- Villages - Each deep-carved ‘village’
djembe features a dancing elephant, tress and bushes, and huts –
all around the base of the drum. Around the belly is a flowing geometric
pattern, common to all of our djembes.
-
Symbols - Each deep-carved ‘symbols’
djembe features two traditional African adinkra symbols on the base.
On one side is the Gye Nyame symbol, which is translated as god willing
or god first.
The other relief carving is the divided diamond symbol Eban, which
is literally translated as "fence". This is a symbol of
love, security, and unity.
Complementing these beautiful symbols are various geometric borders,
including the flowing pattern around the belly of the drum, which
is common to all of our djembes.
- Waves - Each deep-carved ‘waves’ djembe
features three or four rows of alternating half-circles, creating a
“wave” effect on the base of the drum. Around the belly
is a flowing geometric pattern, common to all of our djembes.
Skins
The skin on a djembe makes a major difference in the sound and playability
of the drum. A shaved goat skin head, the shape of the drum, and the
level of tension work together to produce the wide range of sounds -
from the high slaps to the deep bass - characteristic of the djembe.
The djembe is traditionally made with a shaved goat skin head, which
is what our djembes come with by default. However, Irie Tones also offers
other skin options for your djembe:
- Shaved goat skin - Mature goat skin. Cleaned and
dried without using salts. Installed on drum then allowed to dry completely
before shaving and applying tension.
- Unshaved goat skin (special order) - Same as above,
but has not been shaved. These drums can still be played, but also
make a wonderful piece of home decor!
- Shaved calf skin (special order) - Calf skin that
has been cleaned and dried without using salts. Installed on drum,
allowed to dry completely, then shaved and tightened. Calf skin djembes
have a much more mellow, warm sound than the goat skin djembe. The
slaps are not as high, but there is generally a wider variety of mid-tones
that can be drawn out. Ideal for bass-djembe parts in an West African
percussion ensemble.
Special Order Djembes
Our unshaved and calf skin djembes are available on special order.
You can place an order at any time, allowing 4 to 8 weeks for delivery.
If you are interested in getting a custom size, custom carving, or other
unique features don't hesitate to ask.
How
To Play Your Djembe
Position - The djembe is normally played in a standing
or seated position. When standing you will use a strap or a stand. If
using a strap the drum will rest between the legs or to one side; make
sure you can comfortably reach the center of the drum with your palms
without moving the shoulders. You may choose to use a djembe stand,
which will take the load off your shoulders and feet. When playing from
a seated position the djembe will rest between the legs, inclined away
from the lap slightly. This opens up the hole so as to not obstruct
the bass.
Caution - You should never play your djembe while sitting
atop the base; this may add uneven tension to the head and may strain
the wood at the neck. The djembe is traditionally played with the bare
hands only; goat skin is typically not meant to be struck with a beater.
If you must use a stick, make sure it is a padded mallet and not used
with excessive force. We don't recommend this, however, because of the
likelihood of damaging the skin.
The djembe makes three common sounds, the bass, tone, and slap:
- Bass - With a stiff wrist allow an open, relaxed
palm to hit the center of the head and bounce off. To reduce overtones
make sure the palm of the hand is hitting the center of the drum.
- Tone - With a firm hand and fingers together play
closer to the rim of the skin. The hand should make contact with the
rim of the drum at the knuckles, and the weight of the hand on the
skin should be between the 2nd and 3rd knuckles.
- Slap - With a looser hand strike the head, making
contact with the edge just below the knuckles toward the palm. The
emphasis of weight is on the end of the fingers. You don't need to
play harder to get the slap, you just need to refine the technique.
How To Care for and
Maintain Your Djembe
- Transport and Exposure - Although your drum is very
durable you should avoid exposing it to the elements (direct sunlight,
extreme heat or cold, dampness, rain, snow, etc.). Also avoid rapidly
moving the drum from one heat or humidity extreme to another. If you
need to take your djembe to a different altitude always loosen it a
bit to relieve tension and to avoid breaking the skin.
- Cleaning - Your djembe may be cleaned with a damp
cloth, but don’t apply cleansing agents or other cleaning tools.
Avoid playing with dirty hands or leaving your drum exposed to sand
or soil.
- Maintenance - Under normal circumstances your djembe
skin does not require any oils or leather treatment to keep it in shape;
the oil from your hands should be sufficient. As wood tends to dry out
over time, we recommend keeping it hydrated periodically using linseed
oil, palm oil, or coconut oil. You should not need to do this more than
once a year at most.
How To Rope Tune Your
Djembe
We import our djembes with the head already in place and tightened,
though not to the point where the skin may burst while in transport.
Given this, you may wish to custom tune it according to your preferences.
The following Mali-weave technique is a simple way of efficiently applying
tension to your rope-tuned djembe, bougarabou, ashiko, or djun djun.
Don't be intimidated! It really is quite simple and quick once you turn
a few diamonds and get the hang of it. Follow the detailed instructions
below to get started.
Warning: It is possible to break the skin on your drum by overtightening.
Once you have achieved the tone and bass you desire, don't continue
weaving. With time you may need to turn a few more diamonds as the rope
and skin stretches slightly.
FORTHCOMING...
Brief
History of the Djembe Drum
The djembe drum originally comes from the former 12th
Century Mali Empire. Today the djembe is West Africa's most popular
drum, and is a favorite among amateur and professional drummers outside
of Africa. The djembe is often played with ksink ksink, a set of 3 flat
shakers made of tin, which represent the shields worn by drummers who
played during a battle to motivate and send messages to the warriors.
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