What are djembe drums for?
What is the djembe drum used for? Musicians use the djembe as the instrument of dance at marriages, baptisms, funerals, circumcisions and excisions. They also play songs during the ploughing, sowing and harvest, during courtship rituals and even to settle disputes among the men of the village.
How would you describe a djembe?
The djembe is one of West Africa’s best known instruments. This goblet-shaped drum is traditionally carved from a single piece of African hardwood and topped with an animal skin as a drumhead. In western understanding, the drum belongs to the membranophone class of instruments in the percussion family.
What is a djembe and how is it played?
Djembe players use three basic sounds to get an array of different rhythms and feels — bass, tone, and slap, which have low, medium, and high pitches respectively. You get the different sounds by hitting the drum in different places and with different parts of your hands.
Why is the djembe useful for communicating?
Traditionally, drums were used as a form of long-distance communication between tribes based far apart, and for storytelling and entertainment. The djembe’s primary purpose was for storytelling musicians to pass on important religious, historical and cultural messages, often across multiple generations.
What do djembe drums sound like?
Sounds of the djembe There are three main sounds that can be played on a djembe: bass, tone and slap. The bass sound (low-pitched) is achieved by striking the drum in the middle of the skin with a heavy hand.
What are the parts of the djembe drum?
A traditional hand-made djembe is made up of 4 parts:
- A wood shell, usually hand carved.
- 3 metal rings (2 large, 1 small)
- 3 lengths of rope.
- A drum skin.
What are the parts of a djembe?
How do you play djembe drums for beginners?
How to Play the Djembe: 3 Fundamental Tones
- Slap: Slap sounds make the highest-pitched sounds on the djembe. Hit the edge of the drum with a slight curvature in your fingers.
- Bass: Bass sounds are the lowest pitches on the djembe. Hit the center of the drum with a heavy, flat palm.
- Tone: Tone sounds are medium-pitched.
What is the history of the djembe drum?
The djembe drum is said to have been invented in the 12th Century by the Mandinke tribe in what is now Mali, in West Africa. It has been played by West Africans for generations forming an integral part of ritualistic life in Mali, Guinea, Senegal and other neighbouring West African countries.
What is one fact about the djembe?
The djembe drum is most commonly associated with the Madinka people of West Africa. The djembe specifically originates out of Mali as far back as the 12th century. 4. 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.”
What is a djembe drum and how to play?
Practice daily. Practice is the only way to master any instrument.
How to pick a djembe drum?
• 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″). • A slightly round bearing edge that may be very sharp or curved for more comfort. • 22 -28 or more loops on the top and bottom rings. • Symmetry – It should look even and feel good to you.
How to choose your djembe drum?
choosing the right size djembe As with most hand-held instruments, the size of the drummer should determine the size of the drum. Bigger is not always better! Hand size, height, and strength of the drummer, as well as intended use of the drum, should be the important factors in your decision about the correct size of djembe for you.
What are the parts of a djembe drum called?
Unformatted text preview: Parts of the Djembe Bowl Head/Skin Rope Shell Waist Base Foot Head/Skin-‐ The surface that is played Rope-‐ Provides tension to the head Shell-‐ The main body of the drum Bowl-‐ The upper/larger section of the shell Base-‐ The lower/smaller section of the shell Waist-‐ The middle/skinny portion of the drum that separates the bowl and base Foot
