eardrum
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« on: February 09, 2006, 12:09 PM » |
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Howdy!
My wonderful wife got me a beautiful 12inch Kangaba Djembe for Christmas. I've never played hand percussion, just drum set. She also got the Gibraltar Djembe stand. I'm incorporating it into my drum set and have a couple of questions that I thought you folks might be able to help with.
1. Playing with sticks. I believe the head is goatskin and was wondering if you think it will be a huge problem to play with sticks. I'm not a heavy hitter and when I would use the Djembe it would be for lighter fills and rhythms. I would assume that eventually I'll have to change the head but I'm sure I'll have to take it to a pro to get it done and don't want to do this often ($$$).
2. What's the normal cost for re-stringing, retuning or replacing the head?
3. I've seen a few reviews on the stand (Gibraltar GDS) which aren't positive. Got a special deal so we can't return it. Anyone think I'm putting the Djembe at risk using this stand?
4. I didn't notice this the first few weeks but there are several feet of chord that must have been wrapped tightly around the narrow part of the drum. It came loose but it doesn't look light the rest of the chords maitaining head tension are loose. I assume that this is just extra slack and nothing to worry about - or am I wrong?
Thanks for your help with this.
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marker
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« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2006, 07:33 PM » |
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First off, the extra cord is for tuning the drum. It's nearly impossible to describe the tuning process, you need someone to show you or a video to show you. Once you get the idea, it's not hard.
Djembes should be tuned very tight, almost tabletop tight. Otherwise, it won't sound good. Once tuned, keep it out of very hot enviroments. You could split the head. If you do split the head, figure 50-75 bucks to have someone else replace it.
Goatskin is not really a good material for stick use. Playing the head with a stick is something that should be done with caution. People who use sticks on African drums a lot usually use cowhide for the head material. So, yes, you could break the head with a drumstick.
I don't know anything about the Gibralter djembe stand. Djembes are pretty tough drums, and it would be difficult to seriously damage the shell with any of the stands I have seen. LP makes a "universal basket stand" that works well for djembes, if you don't like the Gibralter. It's about 40-50 bucks.
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congaron
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Midwest church percussionist and gigging guy
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« Reply #2 on: February 11, 2006, 09:14 PM » |
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My daughter has a gibralter stand. There is little danger of damaging the drum. even if it did fall off, a djembe is a very tough customer. I have used a conga basket stand to hold her smaller djembe right at the same height my cangas are when seated. It could go higher, so a basket stand might work for you, if the drum dimensions work. Try one out at the store to see. I concur..no sticks. And a google will take you to a few djembe tuning places. Not too hard after the first time...it's involved and repetitious enough to stay with you once you've done it.
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Playing many homemade instruments, and a Schalloch/Sonor conga/bongo set-up. Maximum music....minimum investment. Ask me about the Homemade chimes with the reversible front row, and the chime rack welded from an old bed frame.
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JW Drums
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« Reply #3 on: February 15, 2006, 09:25 AM » |
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I would agree with the others, sticks on a djembe are not a good idea. I have seen some use the Hot Rods or Vic Firth Blades. These may be less risky, but as marker stated, djembes are usually tuned really tight and that may not even be a good idea.
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Eat. Sleep. Drum. Repeat
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Bataboom
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« Reply #4 on: March 03, 2006, 12:34 PM » |
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First I like to say Hi Ron whats up buddy, eardrum if you never plan on seriously using the djembe as a hand drum and your more into trap drums I would suggest getting rid of it and buy you a small tom in its place that you could play with stick.
I would never touch a djembe with a stick the head is far to tight and thin for that, and yeah the extra rope is for the purpose if tightening it in a method called the Mali Weave hard to explain yes, but there are sites that give you images and instructions that can teach you the proccess.
I use a stand with the djembe I play at church, cant harm the drum unless it falls off.
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congaron
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« Reply #5 on: March 03, 2006, 12:53 PM » |
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Right back at you, Randy! My daughter and I have done some experimenting with felt mallets and very light strikes. Give an interesting effect if you have the touch to not destroy the head. Also, she has used brushes from time to time. Mostly just good old hand drumming, though...pretty hard to beat.
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Playing many homemade instruments, and a Schalloch/Sonor conga/bongo set-up. Maximum music....minimum investment. Ask me about the Homemade chimes with the reversible front row, and the chime rack welded from an old bed frame.
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junglelord
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« Reply #6 on: March 08, 2006, 01:41 PM » |
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I use the butt end, with very little force. Benny Greb (Sonor) used sticks on his hand drums, so i thought why not, but I choose to use the butt end figuring wider strikeing surface, less force per square inch... they add a real nice colour to a kit when set up on the side....tribal all the way....but this does require a stick approach. so far i see no wear on the heads.  |
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Bongobob
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« Reply #7 on: April 05, 2006, 07:58 AM » |
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I have a couple different djembes and I have used the remo with the kit. You can hit these with sticks as the head is synthetic. You can get some different sounds out of it depending on using mallets, hot rods... I don't use sticks on the goatskin as was said before it is to thin. So I suggest if you are going to use it in your kit and intend to use stick & hands go get a remo.
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djembefola
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« Reply #8 on: October 10, 2006, 05:15 AM » |
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If you're really into the idea of hitting a djembe with a stick you could reskin it with calf or antelope skin. It's thicker and would take the bashing better. I would be careful though. A light stick is better than a drum stick. The sabar, a senegalise djembe shapped drum is played with a stick and the hand...  |
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