Djembe

The djembe is a West-African percussion instrument that's played with open palms or fingers either sitting down or standing. The sound of a wooden djembe is warm, while modern fibreglass djembes have a tighter and louder sound. You can change the sound and response of a djembe depending on how you strike it.

What Kind of Drum is a Djembe?

The djembe is seen as a vase-drum and is part of the membranophonic family of instruments. A membranophone is an instrument that produces sound by striking and vibrating a stretched skin. Originally, the djembe was used as a long-distance communication tool between villages in West-Africa, since its unique sound can be heard from kilometres away. Traditional djembes are made by hand by hollowing out a tree trunk (usually indigenous mahogany) before stretching goathide across the top to serve as the batter head. The batter head of most djembes is secured and tuned with ropes.

Different Djembe Models

You can get two main types of djembe. The first type sticks to the traditional West-African design while the second is a more Western take. Both come with their own advantages and disadvantages.

Traditional African Djembes

Wooden djembes are usually made by hand using the same techniques as the original djembe, whether in factories in the West or crafted by the African tribes that invented them. The principle has remained the same for centuries: a tree trunk is hollowed out before a goathide batter head is stretched across the top.

Western-Designed Djembes

To speed up production, these djembes are machine made. This removes some of the tradition of a djembe, but does make them cheaper. A machine-made djembe can be made of wood or fibreglass.

Djembe Stands & Other Accessories

To make playing your djembe a bit more comfortable, it can be a good idea to pick up a few accessories. So a comfy seat is a must, and so is a djembe gig bag for safely and easily carrying your djembe between rehearsal and gigs. A djembe stand can also be useful, since they're designed to keep your djembe stable, leaving your hands free to play. And while they're not essential, you can also get stands and shoulder straps so you can play the djembe standing up.

Tuning-Up a Djembe

Unlike most instruments, when you tune a djembe you're not really tuning the pitch but the sound. A djembe has three basic sounds: the slap, tone and bass, which are largely shaped by the body, the batter head, and they way it's struck. Most djembes are rope-tuned, so you can adjust the sound of the slap, tone and bass by tightening the rope to increase the tension of the skin and tune up the sound.

Djembe Rhythms: Slap, Tone & Bass

The basic slap, tone and bass sounds of the djembe are produced by specific strikes. Strike between the centre and edge of the batter head with your open palm to play the bass. Hit the edge with your fingers to play the tone, and to play the slap, strike the edge with just your fingertips. Playing the slap is a bit painful at first but you get used to it.

Frequently Asked Questions About Djembes

How does the djembe work?

A djembe is played by striking a skin (usually goathide) stretched across a hollow body, which acoustically amplifies the sound, projecting it out.

Where does the djembe come from?

The djembe is originally from West-Africa where villages would use it to communicate across long distances.

How much does a djembe cost?

The cost of a djembe will depend on how it's made. Handmade djembes are generally more expensive than machine-made djembes. You can pick up a djembe for around £20, but the price can also rise into the hundreds.

How do you play the djembe?

The djembe is played by striking the skin with a flat, open palm, your fingers, or your fingertips either the middle or at the edge of the skin. These different strikes produce a slap, tone or bass.

How are djembes made?

Traditionally, the djembe is made by hand by hollowing out a tree trunk before stretching goathide across the top. These days, djembes are also machine-made, sometimes using fibreglass, but the basic shape remains the same.