Learn how to tune your djembe
Has your djembe lost the great tone it came with? Do you need to get ready for festivals and drum circles? Tune up your drum and get ready to play!
Step One: Unlace & remove slack
The first thing you need to do is unlace the horizontal rows of rope. After removing horizontal rows, your drum will look like thisStarting at knot near head of drum, pull out the slack (loose rope) all the way around.
Make several circuits around drum. First use little pressure. Add more torque each time you go around. The last pull should be very tight.
To check for even tension on ropes strum each rope around drum. If the first half is high-pitched and the second half lower, then pull from half-way to the end.
Use this knot to hold tension you pull out of verticals and to hold the first row.
Move directly to first pair of ropes and lace a diamond knot.
Step Two: How to make a diamond knot
Go over 2 vertical ropes.Make a 180° turn & bring the rope up through the middle.
Make a second 180° turn & lace rope under the pair.
Pull out slack.
With drumhead facing away from you, pull back on rope until it flips and locks.
Move on to the next pair.
If you have no more space for diamond knots, either start a new row or take out existing horizontal rows and start from the beginning.
Learn to play djembe!
How to Play Djembe (Book/CD set)
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 07/11/2009) 
Mel Bay presents First Lessons Djembe
Amazon Price: $11.66 (as of 07/11/2009)
Have Fun Playing Hand Drums Djembe, Steps 1 & 2 (The Ultimate Beginner Series)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
Step Three: Adding more diamonds
When pulled, the ropes will look like thisContinue adding more diamond twists all the way around.
The last knot of the first row will have 3 up & down ropes rather than 2 because of the loop knot. Count the last 2 as 1 because they start as the same rope near the head of the drum.
Take end of rope and lace it under the first knot of row. Pull slack through.
Step Four: Finishing a row
Make a 180° turn and push end of rope under the rope as it starts the first knot of the row you just completed.Pull out slack, give a tug, and move on to the next row.
Great djembe music
Fondo
Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 07/11/2009)
Throw Down Your Heart, Tales from the Acoustic Planet, Vol. 3: Africa Sessions
Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 07/11/2009)
Seya
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 07/11/2009)
Step Five: How to start new rows to keep them straight
Move up to the left and lace your first knot. Then immediately lace the next diamond knot so they are side-by-side.Pull out slack and push knots down to desired height for the row.
Flip and lock both knots by pulling them at the same time.
Continue lacing knots around drum.
Buy a djembe
Tall Carved Jembe Drum
Amazon Price: $24.99 (as of 07/11/2009)
Have Fun Playing Hand Drums Djembe, Steps 1 & 2 (The Ultimate Beginner Series)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
Remo Djembe Drum - Key Tuned (12 Inch, Earth Finish)
Amazon Price: $179.00 (as of 07/11/2009)
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by morgandrums
Morgan is a professional drum-maker. He has been making djembes, ashikos and more since 1991.
Visit MorganDrums.com to see our drums or contact us ab... (more)
Visit MorganDrums.com to see our drums or contact us ab... (more)
