How to buy a Djembe
Where to buy a Djembe

People frequently ask us how to find a good Djembe and also where to get a Djembe. The first thing we tell them - do not buy the first drum that you encounter!

Take some time to try out a few different drums to decide what you like and what sounds good. Finding 'your drum' is a very personal experience. If you go to a local music store and purchase whatever they have in stock frequently results with you owning a drum that will not make you happy in 2 or 3 months.

AzDrumAndDance has numerous Djembes that they "loan" out to new drummers at Friday night class. We strongly suggest that you try several different drums to determine what works for you before you buy. The sizes of the drum heads vary between about 12" across up to 14" for a large drum. Heights also vary from about 21" up to 28". The "skirt" or the distance from the playing surface to the metal ring varies, many people prefer to have the skirt to be 2" or 3" so that those players do not hit their thumbs on the metal rings.

The thickness of the skin will have an impact on the sounds you can get out of the drum as will the size of the "head" and the shape of the body and the particular wood from which it is carved (Lingue, Dugura, Jala, Kasia, Balenbo, Benbe, etc.). All of these things need to be tested out by you, the drummer, so that you will know what sounds best for you as you learn to drum. The weight of the drum may also be important, if you will be standing to play for long periods of time.

Plan to spend somewhere from $250 to $450 for a nice Djembe. If you think this is expensive, keep in mind that a djembe is a professional instrument, not something to 'just pound on' and compare the price of a nice drum to the price of other instruments. The value of your djembe will never decrease and, if properly cared for, should last you forever. Those djembes that cost less than $250 are usually either a "smokin' deal" or ones that need some serious rework to get them sounding good. As you drum with experienced instructors and/or Master drummers you will find that they always have drums carved in West Africa. One would have to assume that the drums carved or constructed in the USA do not have the sound or resonance of the traditional West African Djembes. Experienced players of traditional West African rhythms avoid US made Djembes, especially the synthetic types.

Once you have decided the size of drum, height, head circumference and shape of the bowl you can start to research where to get the right drums for you. Things such as carvings on the drum, color of the skin, hair on the edge of the skin etc., are all 'cosmetic' and should not impact your basic decision. You want to get the best sounding drum, do not be swayed by the visual stuff.

At some point your drum head will break, so you can get it re-headed with a skin more to your liking at a later date. Or you can add decorations if you are inclined to "personalize" your drum.

This is a cut-away side view of how your drum skin should be attached to your drum:

The definition of the edges of the rim has a dramatic impact on the sound or the "voice" of the drum. Before the skin is attached, the size of the metal rings may need to be adjusted. You want metal rings that fit snugly around the circumference of the body, so the skin is held tightly in place (but bear in mind, that the skin still needs to fit in between body and ring. Don't fit the ring too tight). This avoids the need to be continually pulling 'diamonds' to keep your instrument in tune.

(Find a selection of Djembe manufacturers/traders on our Link pages.)

And furthermore....

No matter what drum you buy - the djembe will NOT have the sounds "built in". You need to spend some time with an experienced teacher to learn proper technique to make the sounds. As Mamady Keita told us "If you have not learned to make the basic sounds (tones, slaps and basses) on the djembe, you are not making music - you are just making noise".

Many people think drumming and rhythm is something that is naturally inside us and we just need to allow it to flow out. This is true. However, this is not true for playing traditional West African music!

To learn to drum in the West African tradition requires an awful lot of work and practice. West African rhythms are probably the most complex, rich and beautiful rhythmic structures that exist on this planet. They have been developed, passed down by the generations and preserved by masters over many centuries. Trying to understand the structure and spirit of this music requires a tremendous amount learning and dedication. Do not believe anybody who tries to sell to you the idea of learning West African traditional rhythms by simply "letting it out". Thinking that one can recreate a centuries old traditional evolution of an entire people is not only impossible, it is also an insult to this ancient, rich and magnificent culture.

Once you begin to appreciate the beauty of this music and you decide to pursue the path of learning, it will open up emotions, it will change your perspectives on life, it can introduce you to a community of wonderful people and will improve and enhance your life in innumerable ways. This is a long path and you may never fully reach the goal but the journey is beatiful and rewarding.