DRUMMER CAFE - Community Forum

I picked up my djembe today after not playing it for a few days, and the sound is very different than it was before.  Im pretty sure the bass sounds are deeper, and the slaps and much less crackly and lower and altogether lame-er.  What happened?  I didnt even move it for like 4 or 5 days, and it probably was happening then, but I didnt realize it.  My window was open for most of the time during this 4-5 day period, could that have anything to do with it?  What happened?  I can press the skin down maybe 1/6 of an inch, is that too loose and is that was makes the sound crappy?  Its a wooden (mahogony, but I'm not sure about that) with a goatskin head.

Can someone help me out here?

thanks alot,
Aaron
 

Traditionally the Djembe is tuned so the drumhead is very taunt ... table top tight.

The drum uses a real skin drumhead, get used to the tension changing with the weather and/or humidity. The fact that you play it or let it sit makes no difference.

You need to tune the drum up, again, if you want the crispness back.

Thanks for the info Bart. 

Now how do I go about doing that?  For a person who owns a djembe, I really know nothing about them

Moist, cold air could certainly cause the goat head to detune.  Moisture in particular is bad for the head.  I had a head rip last year because I stored the drum in a closet that turned out to have a moisture problem.  If you put your drum someplace dry and room temperature, it may retune itself to some extent.

Tuning is not a difficult process, but it would be almost impossible to explain in a post.  I would recommend finding someone who knows how to do it to show you.  You can pick it up in a few minutes.  If you don't know anyone, there are also instructional videos out there.

One other thing.  Don't put heat on the drum to retune it.  Too much heat, and the head will rip.  Just keep it at a temperature that would be comfortable for you.

I have 2 congas and the heads are a fibreskin.  Anyway, I had a water pipe burst and had significant moisture issues in 2 rooms.  For whatever reason I put my congas in one of these rooms for 2 days (trying to make space) as we had the dehumidifiers and fans going.  I haven't been able to make them sound right since.

I think it ruined the heads because I can't make them sound like they used too.  Anyway, I have a djembe and my instructor told me to leave a towel on the head when not in use.  I do live in Florida mind you.  It appears they can be sensitive and I'm learning the hard way.