Shopping for a djembe drum can seem a bit overwhelming especially if you're new to the market or not sure what questions to ask. As a hand drum store owner and percussion enthusiast I'm frequently asked questions from customers regarding the best djembe to purchase for beginner players. Let's face it; there are many djembe drums in the marketplace all vying for your attention. However, the unique differences in each djembe can make a big difference in playability, sound, and overall enjoyment.

After reading the information below, you'll be able to make a clear and confident decision in selecting the best djembe drum for beginners.

Djembe Sizes
A djembe drum is goblet shaped, played with the fingers and palms, often in pairs, but sometimes in other combinations, or just singly. They are available in a range of sizes; the smallest can be just 9 inches across and are worn from a shoulder strap, while the largest are up to 15-16 inches across, from rim to rim. Heights typically range from 16" to 26" inches. The size of drum obviously affects the sound and pitch of the instrument, with the largest drums being used to play the lead, while the smaller djembe drums filling out various frequencies and tones.

Most beginner players should start out on a djembe that's sized correctly and practice sitting down. Select a chair with no arms when playing and tilt the base of the drum so it's partly resting on the floor. An average sized adult, in this situation, would typically want a djembe drum that has a 12" head and about 24" in height.

Djembe Drum Materials
Most djembe drums are made overseas (Indonesia, Africa, Thailand) and imported into this country. The close proximity to the raw materials and skilled labor necessary to manufacture djembes make them an ideal location. Traditional wooden shell djembe drums are hand carved and thus are not aesthetically perfect. It's important not to concern yourself too much with slight flaws like small hairline cracks, an uneven bowl, or a wobbly base. Again, it's a result of them being hand carved. Although most djembe drums are made overseas there are unique differences that separate them.

One of the big differences between djembes is the type of material used. Traditional djembe drum shells are carved of a solid piece of wood such as mahogany. Wood djembes will have a warmer and fuller sound than djembes made of fiberglass or PVC. Fiberglass and PVC drum shells, on the other-hand, are usually less expensive, more durable and tend to produce a thinner and twangy sound. Most players will prefer the warmth and fuller sound of wood djembes.

Another difference is the type of drumhead used. There are essentially two types of djembe drumheads. The first type is the more traditionally based animal skinhead. Typical animal skins include goatskin and cow skin. Djembe drums that use real animal skin also assist in producing a warmer and fuller tone. The second type of drumhead is a synthetic head that was created to produce the tones of skin-based heads. Synthetic heads will be a bit more durable, however tend to sound..well..synthetic.

The third major difference is the type of tuning system employed. Traditional based djembe drums are tuned using a rope system. The idea is to tighten the drumhead, when it becomes flat, by pulling the rope tighter around the head. The process of tightening with ropes is called pulling a diamond because when one rope is pulled over another it creates a diamond or these triangle shapes. The other type of tuning system is a bolt-tuned system. A bolt-tuned system uses a metal rim and metal hooks that go around the djembe drumhead. This type of system is non-traditional and is a bit of an eyesore, however can be easier to tune.

When you're a beginner, it's hard to tell if your djembe is in tune. As your technique improves, so will your ear. Your ability to tune a djembe will improve as you gain more experience. The goal of tuning is to get the drumhead to a level of tension where slaps, open tones, and bass strokes all sound good. It's important to understand that a properly tuned djembe creates a skin that is very tight. A lot of tension in needed in order to pitch the drum up correctly. Aside from this, tuning is a matter of personal taste.

How Much Should I Spend?
If the djembe is for a beginner player you don't have to buy the best. There are plenty of very good djembe drums available that sound great and won't break the bank. However, the biggest mistake one could make when purchasing a new djembe is buying the most inexpensive one. Djembe drums are musical instruments and like all musical instruments are detailed pieces of art. They cost money to make. Better materials mean higher costs. And better materials and construction generally lead to instruments that not only sound better but also are easier to play. Also, you want to purchase a djembe that the player can grow into as their skills increase. The beginning djembe player will have an easier time learning when playing a well-made djembe. The drum will sound better and make for a more enjoyable time during the learning process.

Instructional Resources:
If possible, the beginning djembe player should seek out some one-on-one training with an instructor. There's no substitute for having someone, in person, teach the new player the foundation of proper technique. Beginning djembe players just starting out need that extra reinforcement of when they are and aren't doing something properly. It helps to solidify the right way to play.

However, if there isn't a djembe instructor available locally to get that one-on-one training, check out the following instructional material to begin. Even if the djembe player has an instructor, the following instructional resources would be beneficial.

How To Play Djembe, West African Rhythms for Beginners (by: Alan Dworsky) - This 86 page playing guide comes with a CD.

Djembe Rhythms - Compliments of X8 Drums. These free online video and audio tracks will help you exercise your playing chops.

How To Tune A Djembe - Free video demonstration on tuning a rope based djembe.

When selecting the right size drums it's more important to find a drum that is the correct height more so than the diameter of the drum. However, what you'll find when shopping for djembes is that the diameter of the drumhead increases as the height increases. You could say that they have a positive correlation.

You should select a drum that stands tall enough for you when sitting down to play. The base of the drum should rest on the floor and the drumhead should rise about two or three inches from the top of your legs, in a sitting position with the drum leaning away from you. If the drum is too low you will have a difficult time striking the head because your knees and legs will be in the way. On the flip side, if the drum is too tall you will find that you'll have to lift your shoulders when striking the head and this will surely lead to fatigue much quicker. You should always be in a comfortable position and shouldn't be straining your body when playing. Your movements should be fluid and smooth.

Here is quick reference table to help you get an idea of djembe drum sizes. Please note this table is not all-inclusive as djembe drums can and do vary in size depending on the manufacturer.

DJEMBE HEIGHT	HEAD SIZE
12"	7"
16"	8"
20"	10"
24"	12"
26"	13"
28"	14"

Example of Desired Djembe Positioning for Seated Players
(Performer is 5'9" playing 24" Tall X 12" Head Duafe Djembe)


Example of Desired Djembe Positioning for Standing

Related Article: 4. Best Beginner Djembe

X8 Djembes

X8 Drums offers professional hand carved wooden shell djembe drums that are manufactured using legally certified timber that is environmentally sustainable.

Working closely with their overseas partners, X8 Drums imports the finest selection of beautifully handcrafted African djembe drums and accessories. The selection is diverse enough to appease beginners through professionals and everyone in between.

The brand takes great pride in educating consumers on how their buying decision can help to protect our world's forests, assist in preserving and maintaining a well-balanced eco-system and help support local economies.

Since X8 Drums djembes are imported directly, all middle-man costs are eliminated which means you can get an incredible djembe at wholesale prices.

View All X8 Djembes

---

Toca Djembes

Started by Kaman Music, the Toca brand is extremely well known for producing high quality African and more ethnic based djembe drums known as their Synergy line.

Toca Percussion produces both wooden djembes and more modern PVC constructed shells offering both traditionally styled and decorative instruments that look as good as they sound.

View All Toca Djembes

---

Remo Djembes

A leader in the drumming industry, Remo has been making drumheads for more than 60 years. With 77 technology patent's, Remo drumheads are the world's most recorded drumheads and perhaps the most recognized name when it comes to all things drumming. Remo's World Percussion line of djembes are made with top-quality synthetic heads and synthetic shells known as 'Acousticon'. However please note, if you're looking for more traditionally based djembe drums with wooden shells and animal skin heads this brand it not for you.

View All Remo Djembes

---

Latin Percussion Djembes

Created of kiln-dried, environmentally friendly Siam oak and animal skin drumheads, Latin Percussion djembe drums are both traditional and modern. All Latin Percussion djembes use a mechanically based tuning system coupled with traditional wooden shells and hand selected animal skin drumheads. Latin Percussion has been producing their world percussion products for 40 years and has one of the most well respected and recognized names.

View All Latin Percussion Djembes

---

Tycoon Percussion Djembes

Tycoon has been making world percussion instruments for over 20 years and is one of the few companies that own their own factory located in Bangkok, Thailand, where most world percussion instruments are made.

They produce over 40,000 sets of percussion products per year including both rope-tuned and mechanically tuned wood djembes. Tycoon Percussion Instruments are renowned for their sleek, attractive appearance and durability. They only use the highest quality of raw materials, which, coupled with their skilled and experienced laborers, combine to produce djembes of the highest quality.

Tycoon Percussion Djembes

---

Mid-East Ethnic Instruments Djembes

As the name suggests, Mid-East is one of the largest importers of ethnic based world percussion products. Their djembe drums are typically imported from India, and Pakistan and are hand-carved using a single piece of rosewood with goatskin drumheads. Their djembes come in both rope-tuning and mechanically based tuning systems.

Mid-East Ethnic Instruments Djembes

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. More coming VERY soon! 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.