Where is the djembe used

Djembes for Sale on Reverb The history of the djembe drum dates back to its creation in 13th-century West Africa. What is a Djembe? A djembe or, jembe is a skin-covered, rope-tuned goblet drum that is traditionally played using your bare hands. The shell of the djembe is carved of wood and the drumhead is made of untreated animal rawhide—goatskin is most commonly used. What is the Size of a Djembe Drum? The diameter size of a djembe drum usually falls between 12 and 15 inches, and the djembe drums usually weigh between 11 and 29 pounds.

The weight of a djembe drum will be determined by its size and the wood chosen for its shell. What Brands Make Djembe Drums? Reverb Gives Your purchases help youth music programs get the gear they need to make music. The djembe played with both hands has three basic sounds: the fundamental ' pe ': the drum is struck on the side of the membrane with the fingers held tight together; the ' pa ' beat: the drum is struck on the edge of the membrane.

This strike is much lighter than with the fundamental. The membrane is struck with a hollow palm; the bass note ' pou : the drum is struck at the centre of the membrane with a flat palm to maximize the contact with the membrane. This produces a deep sound. The djembe is played as a solo instrument and in combination with other drums such as the djun djun. We feel strongly that for a djembe to be a djembe it should come from the seeding countries of origin: Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast.

These five countries have the trees the djembe is made from and they sound like a djembe. No drum made in the Western World will have that sound or that spirit. You will hear and feel the difference, we promise you. If your heart and ears are open. Please support African artisans and buy traditional djembe drums where much of the money will go back to pay the carvers. Thank you. And may the spirits that pass through the djembe speak to the spirt in you to help you on your way in life, love and happiness.

Contents by Alan Tauber as learned over 35 years of studying the Mande music, drumming, dance, songs and being a visiting member of the Guinean culture. If you use this info, and wish to state its source, it is through Alan Tauber from his many masters of the Mandeng Music over a 35 year period. There is much more to know and learn. Just because it is written doesn't make it so. Just because someone says it, doesn't make it real. Many people contact me and ask where did you get this?

So, when you have been deeply involved in this music and culture for as long as I have, you make strong and loving connections with those people.

If you care, you open your ears, and you listen to every word and think about the implications and history. I tend to record a lot and then listen to the recordings. I don't ask a lot of questions as I feel it is not my place. I just listen on a 'need to know' basis. Thanks to Kim Atkinson, CA for his support of this work and his wish for the source to be credited. DrumConnection ph: Actual Reviews - I just bought my djembe from Alan yesterday so I'm really excited to play it again after the rain stops.

I like to play outside. I researched many places all across the US and tried Amazon and djembe makers in Pakistan. I found out that the sound of the djembe is 'boingy' if it wasn't carved in Africa.

My first 2 were from Pakistan though Amazon and another company didn't want to tell me that! Anyway, huge difference to get a dry, solid African sounding djembe. Thank you! I had my djembe re-headed with a goat skin by DrumConnection and it never sounded anything like this! I can't stop playing it. I didn't know so much of the value of a djembe was in how it was made with all the ropes and tensioning and a super high quality skin, tuned perfectly.

I really can't stop playing my 'new' djembe : Just to add that I wasn't a very good player before but now I play so much and so easily, I am so happy with this! Thanks Alan! I was so impressed with the prompt delivery of a beautiful djembe to on of my teachers of spiritual mindfulness; he LOVED it!

They selected the best djembe they had and shipped it to me in 2 days. It was a huge hit with my teacher. They also supplied us with all the care of the djembe tip sheet and how to tune the djembe video, which is very helpful. Good communication and perfect follow-thru. I recently purchased a djembe drum from DrumConnection and am now taking lessons with him. He was so incredibly helpful and knowledgeable about the drums and taught me things I never knew I never knew about buying a drum.

His classes are fun and engaging and he goes above and beyond the call of duty in helping us to learn and know about the history and origins of this sort of drumming, It has been in great addition to life particularly during Covid. Excellent and knowledgeable instructors, classes that balance learning rhythms and technique accurately and having fun playing together, great people and community!

Alan Tauber is an experienced teacher and drummer who has learned from the best players and djembe masters on the planet, and is happy to share his knowledge with students. I recommend Alan and DrumConnection highly! I later studied conga with Alan and one of his top notch teachers. The material was challenging but so satisfying. We also own a beautiful djembe we got from Alan. I highly recommend him as a teacher.

Learning the Drum at The Drum Connection is the best and most genuine experience around. I highly recommend The Drum Connection to anyone who is interested in learning how to play the African drum and all it has to offer. I bought an insanely beautiful, well-crafted, high quality djembe off Alan a couple months ago.

It took me about two hours to finalize my decision but he never once rushed me. Felt like I was just chilling with an old pal. Made me laugh a lot! Throughout the class he makes sure everyone is on the same page.. Thank you Alan for all you do and provide. I have taken lots of classes with Drum Connection teachers and Alan Tauber. His classes are always fun and I have learned a lot about playing Djembe and the traditions and melodies surrounding the instrument.

In addition to his own classes, I have taken classes and workshops with other teachers he brings in occasionally - they are always great. And just as important, his students are always supportive of one another - the general feeling is that everyone was a beginner once and everyone helps each other if they can.

I was welcomed with open arms, and having only touched a drum once before, had no idea what to do. I walked in off the street and immediately John Tracy sat with me and taught me a simple rhythm. I ended up taking a series of lessons with Alan Tauber, and joining a number of drum circles. I loved being welcomed into the community.. The gentle and experienced people there are enthusiastically committed to teaching all levels of drumming.

He shares his warm heart, patience, and talents with all students. Coming in as a novice, it could have been intimidating. It was the opposite! Warm and welcoming!

Alan has such patience and skill in helping me get to the next stage in drumming! Such a blast doing outdoor classes! And always enjoyed the camaraderie with my fellow students. I went for my first drumming class yesterday. Alan and Nancy met me with a big smile and created such a loving and caring atmosphere making me feel really comfortable and accepted. I have no musical experience and was really worried of how the class would flow. They were just amazing.

I don't have enough words to express how magical the class was. I can't wait to go back and I have been telling all my friends about drumming. It's the best therapy for your mind and soul!!! Alan is very knowledgeable about African drumming and he has reached deeply into the whole Boston area spreading his passion through many communities. I recommend his classes and drum circles. This is a great class taught by remarkable drummer and gifted teacher, Alan Tauber!

You will feel supported and uplifted at the same time as you learn to play the hand drums with others who learn and play along with you! A very, very special experience awaits all who take this class. You will not be disappointed. If I could, I would give this class as a gift to everyone I know!

From hand percussion to events and travel, Drum Connection has reached thousands? Has depth of knowledge about drumming and is passionate about sharing it with others. A typical djembe ensemble contains one soloist, one or two accompanying djembe and one to three dundun players. It is almost always accompanied by dancers and clapping. The bass drums, or dundun, are usually played with sticks and provide the core structure of the rhythm.

There are 3 types of bass drum that range in size and pitch. They are the doundounba or dundun , the sangban and the kenkeni. The djembe accompanists each play different rhythms alongside the bass drum to complete the basic song. The soloist introduces the song, accents the beats, controls the tempo and plays solo pieces over the rhythm provided. Women sing and clap hands, while moving in and out of the circle and showing off their skill as dancers.

The djembe master or soloist leads the pace of the dance. He or she increases the tempo when good dancers enter the circle. Traditionally, musicians play a single song for most occasions, usually lasting a few hours. Traditionally, two or three metal plates, called sekeseke or segesege in Mali, or kesekese in Guinea are attached to the edge of the djembe.

They resonate in sympathy when the drum is played and accent the notes of the drum or kora harp with a jingling sound that adds to the 'voice of the drum'. In the s the world tours of Les Ballet Africains led by Fodeba Keita increased the djembe's popularity outside of Africa. Around that time, Nigerian percussionist Babatunde Olatunji released Drums of Passion , an album of African drumming songs.

Critics have widely acknowledged Drums of Passion to be the first African drumming album. Even though it did not feature the djembe, it did much to establish the genre.