Your Essential Djembe Drum Buying Guide
Shopping for djembe drums can be daunting, if you don’t know what you need. Different drum sizes, head types, tuning mechanisms and shell composition all play a part in creating the drum’s personality. The drum speaks for you; so, it should represent your personality. By studying the buying guide, you will learn a lot about the subject, ensuring that you pick the perfect drum to suit your needs.
Choosing your shell material
Djembe drums can be made in many varieties of shell, including both synthetic and natural materials. You need to consider what type of environment you will be playing in when you make your decision. If you go with a natural material, usually a wood body, you need to make sure you get one that has been specially treated so the drum doesn’t rot or get bugs. Use caution when purchasing a traditionally made drum, as this can sometimes be a problem in some parts of the world. Most major manufacturers use a form of fiberglass to form the body of the drum. These man-made drums are quite sturdy; they play well and hold up admirably despite poor conditions. 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.
Pickings the head for your drum
According to custom, the head of a djembe drum consists of animal skin, typically from a goat. These are alright, specifically for conventional drums however extra upkeep is required. Natural skin heads have a very rich sound and in a drier environment work very well. But, if the weather is very humid where you live, you probably should choose a man-made drum head. Most synthetic heads are made of Mylar, or other types of polyester films. Synthetic heads are designed to mimic the feel of a natural head; these heads are also wonderful for studio work. Heads made of man-made materials work well in nearly any weather conditions – a versatile advantage that distinguishes them for players who aren’t professionals.
Choosing your tuning
Most manufactured drums come with some form of mechanical tuning, which essentially means that they use bolts instead of rope. This is a popular design since learning to tune the drum heads and change them is quite easy: all you have to do is unscrew the bolts and take the head off. 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. Tune your percussion instrument properly to avoid harming a drum. Rope tuning is the more traditional method and when combined with a natural head, gives you a unique and authentic body to the sound.
October 10, 2011
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Posted by Jam Man
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