Topic: Different tones on one djembe- tuning problems?

[TheSpindoctor]

I recently picked up a remo 12 inch key tuned djembe.  I like the tone of it and love the easy tunability (compared to my last rope tuned). 

The problem is that the djembe seems to have different tones in some spots.  You can really only tell on the slaps.  It seems like one spot on rim would resonate to one tone (for the sake of this example lets say its a C) and a spot 3 inches away sounds at least a half step lower.  Why is this?  I thought the difference in tone was happening right above a lug, so it must be that that lug is off tuned, so I could just adjust that one.  That didnt work so I'm tryin to get some help from some of you guys.

I hope you get what I'm sayin and thanks for anything.
-Aaron

[Bart Elliott]

This applies to all membranophones.

When you tune a drum, and notice that one point of the drum is out of tune, you don't necessarily need to adjust that point on the drum.

Using your example, if one spot sounds low compared to other points on the drum, try increasing the tension (tighten) the lug directly across from the problem spot.

The points directly across and on either side of the "problem" spot are where you'll need to adjust to fix the "problem" spot. I know it seems that you need to adjust right where you are hearing the problem, but that's not how membranes react and vibrate.

Something you can do to help you with this is to tap where the "problem" is, then check directly across and on either side. Compare all these points then adjust accordingly.

Make changes slowly, taking where the problem spot is ... and hear the change take place as you increase/decrease tension.

[drumrjohnr]

Sorry for a late response I hope it's still useful.

While lug balance will make a modest difference in the resonances excited when striking different spots on a drumhead the greater difference will be from exciting different resonances mostly related to the proximity to the drum edge or drumhead midpoint.

If you visualize a pattern of imaginary circles drawn on the drum head spaced from the midpoint to the edge.  Hitting anywhere on a given circle should excite roughly the same resonance pattern. This will vary slightly from lug to lug if head is not well cleared, but not as much as say exciting different resonances, like the lowest one at dead center, or a much higher one near the rim edge.

The resonances are pretty low and simple near the center of the drum head, but as you get closer to the rim edge more energy goes into higher frequency overtones.

JR

[A.Drummer88]

Cant top what these guys have said, but
tuning in diagonals is the best method I find to get a balanced tone.
However, with my hand percussion sometimes its nice for it to have different
sounding sections on the head - especially if you only have 1 drum.

[Bart Elliott]

tuning in diagonals is the best method I find to get a balanced tone.

Yeah, not recommended on any skin drumhead. Tuning diagonally on a synthetic drumhead is recommended because of how thin the mylar drumhead is. The physical properties of calf-skin and the like beg that you tune around the drum from lug to lug in order to get a good seat and consistent tuning. If you've not done it this way, you should try it. 

[elpol]

the Remo Mondo-style heads are pre-tensioned to begin with - if there were any inconsistencies "pre-tuned" into the head, it makes it more challenging to tune those out of these instruments. Not impossible, just more challenging.

Personally, I have yet to meet one of these mondo-headed drums that were absolutely uniform and perfect in it's "pre-tuned" state, prior to adding any additional tension or fiddling with individual tension rods. (I haven't met them all, I'm sure there's some more uniformly tuned mondo-heads out there  )