Drum Circle

X8 Drums has an ongoing production of free djembe lessons and instructional videos as a complimentary resource for all hand percussionists.

Use the djembe rhythm video and audio tracks below to practice your hand drumming skills before your next performance. All djembe music samples are free, courtesy of X8 Drums. Bookmark this page.

TRACK 1: Sounds from a Drum Circle.
Play along and find your own rhythm to add to this session or mimic one of the patterns in the circle. Either way, you'll have new grooves to play at your next performance. Each track below is performed by pro djembe player and instructor, Raphael Torn.

The instruments included in this drum circle track are:
1. 13" Pro Djembe, Waring Ridge (foundation rhythm)	2. 10" Ruby Pro Djembe & 10" Matahari Pro Djembe (played together, one with left hand and one with right)
3. Cowbell / 4. Shakere	5. 13" Pro Djembe, Ruby (lead line)

TRACK 3: Sounds from drum circle without the Lead Line
After listening to Track 1, create your own lead line by playing along with the same groove, minus the recorded lead line.



TRACK 4: Djembe Solo
Join this track to create rhythm patterns to support a drum solo. The drum in this track is a Ruby Pro 13" Djembe.

Djembe Buying Guide

1. Introduction to Djembes
2. Djembe Wood Source & Lathing [Video]
3. Djembe Shell Carving & Painting [Video]
4. Compare Brands of Djembes
5. Which Size Djembe is Right for Me?
6. Key Tuned vs. Rope Tuned Djembe
7. Djembe Drum: Wood vs. Synthetic
8. How to Play the Djembe [Video]
9. Earth Friendly Djembe
10. A Note About African Djembes
11. Djembe Rhythm Samples and Exercises [Video]
12. Djembe Rope. Why Quality Matters.
13. Taking Care of your Djembe
14. History of Djembe Drums
15. How to Tune a Djembe [Video]