Drummer Cafe Community Forum

Hi,

I'm new to the forum, I thought I'd finally get to know some people with musical knowledge. I just got a Djembe for Christmas, it's key tuned and the head is goat skin. I've been playing the bongos for a few years now, but I'm really still a beginner and this is my first crack at a djembe. I'm not really sure how high it should be tuned as I've only played one a couple of times before, that's my first question. My big question though, is about the ring. It does have a ring to it that I'd like to minimize. I've heard of putting weatherstriping on the inside somewhere, but is that the best thing to do?

Di

The Djembe is traditionally tuned with the drumhead very tight; table-top tight. The ring you are hearing is part of the sound; it's what gives the projection of the instrument. If it's a problem, I would suggest trying to tune out the ring and/or reduce the tension, lowering the pitch.

I would never suggest using weatherstripe on the drum. It will leave a residue if you should need to remove it. If you need to reduce the resonance or ring and tuning doesn't work, try using some MoonGel (http://service.bfast.com/bfast/click?bfmid=5607334&siteid=40906838&bfpid=443323&bfmtype=gear) on the top of the head, near the edge.

Key tuned djembes seem to have more of a ring problem than the traditional rope tuned variety.  You can muffle the head.  I like to  put a small piece of cloth close to the edge taped on one end only, so it can bounce on  the head.

On a traditional djembe, you tune very tight, so tight the head "chokes", reducing the ring.  You could try this, but of course there is a risk of splitting the head, and it may not work on a key tuned drum.

Also, be sure your head is goat.  Some key tuned drums have Mylar heads that look a lot like natural head.  Muffling is the only way to kill the ring on a plastic head.

I've been experiencing same tihing with my LP Aspire djembe too. I though it was a technique issue, but now I'm interested on your point. Why the difference? If the only difference is the tuning mechanism, why rope-tuned djembes choke better?

I don't know why key tuned djembes have more of a ring problem.  Perhaps the ropes putting pressure on the drum shell has something to do with it.  It's really too bad.  Key tuning would be a lot more convenient, but key tuned djembes just seem to ring some, especially those with plastic heads.

Quick fix: try a Moongel on the head. I've done it and it will reduce ringing / higher overtones to a certain degree. For $6 it's worth a shot. You can also just throw a strip of gaffer's tape across the head as a quick test to see if it makes enough of a difference for you.

Moongels: http://www.rtom.com/moongel.htm (http://www.rtom.com/moongel.htm)

Gaffer's tape: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaffer_tape (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaffer_tape)

I have found that when you are playing alone that sometimes the ring can be a little annoying. But when you play with other instruments, guitars and stuff not other drums, that the ring just adds to the sound and projection, like Bart said. Moongel is great as it is easy to put on and off depending on the sound you want for the situation, it just picks up dirt. You can wash them though.

All is lost without the ring. Adjust your tuning to make the ring more pleasing to your ears. Also try different techniques of striking the drum. I sometimes find the ring a bit much for certain musical textures, so I will use 1 hand to slightly muffle the drum for, let's say, a verse. Then you still have full dynamic range to 'take it to the bridge'! ;)