Drum Circle

The following review was submitted by an X8 Drums customer. While we feel the information is helpful, it does not solely represent the views and opinions of all staff members.

Hi X8 Drums,

I thought I'd give you some unsolicited Cajon feedback. You guys are certainly the experts, so I likely will not be telling you anything you don't already know, but here's a novice's view in case it is of any value.

I'm pretty particular about my musical investments (as you already found out!), so I wanted to just be sure I had picked the right Cajon. I got a hold of an LP Soul Cajon, as I was really interested in that one as well and needed to do my due diligence. Bottom line, I stuck with the Toca for several reasons. Here's a brief comparison "review", in no particular order of importance.

Appearance: The finish on the Toca Bordeaux Cajon in my estimation is much nicer than the LP Soul Cajon. The LP was a bit "rougher" in feel, and the paint job just didn't do it for me. The edges where they had taped off the front for the black had a bit of paint bleed, and the LP sticker on the front cheapened the look. Considering the price, I expected a much better look and finish.

Comfort/Seating: The Toca's padded top really helps. Also, the larger surface of the Toca is better for finding a good position to play, and is much better when tilting backward. The angled back of the LP makes that more difficult. Also, I found the Toca to be a bit "softer" on the hands/fingers. I felt like it was easier to get the sounds I wanted without punishing my knuckles. I full recognize that may be a novice user issue, however.

Bass: This is where the LP has the Toca beat. The bass on the LP is much closer (in my mind) to an actual kick drum sound, and is deep and resonant. Every one I showed them to heard that right away, with and without mics.

Snare: Each instrument has a different sound here. I feel like I can get a more of a conga sound from the Toca, while the LP was more of a snare. Just depends on what you want. The LP was definitely crisper, and I probably like the string sound a bit better than the snare sound on the Toca.

Flexibility: This is where the Toca took the lead. While I liked the string sound on the LP, I didn't like the fact that I could not disengage them. The ability to turn off the snares on the Toca was a big plus for me. I don't want every song to sound the same, and taking the snares out of the picture opens up a whole new set of sounds for the Toca, and will allow me to play it on more songs in a gig.

Summing it up, the Toca looks and flexibility made the difference. And frankly, no one will notice any sound differences since they will only hear the Toca! And as you well know, when you add a mic and some good reverbs, the differences diminish greatly.

Thanks again for all of your help.

Sincerely,

Todd J

Labels: cajon, cajon.drum, cajons, latin.percussion, LP, Review, toca, toca.percussion

Meinl cymbals just introduced a 10" Candela series percussion hihat along with an applicable Low Hat designed specifically for cajon players.

This extremely thin pair can be played with hands or lighter sticks and responds instantly. Perfect for cajon players who need a warm and soft sounding hihat which mounts comfortably within reach of the player.

Listen to this hihat:

The Meinl Drum Gear Low Hat can be mounted down to a minimum height of 27" (69 cm), perfect height for seated players.



To see more detail and buy:
Meinl Candela Percussion Hihat for Cajon Players
Meinl Drum Gear Low Hat

Labels: cajon, cajon.drum, cajons, cymbals, meinl

Meinl Cajon Headliner Series is constructed with a wooden (Siam Oak) body and various premium wooden frontplates. In this video, the frontplate is made from hand-selected Mahogany wood.

On the bottom of the drum, there are four rubber foot stoppers for dependable stability during performances.

Inside the drum there are adjustable wires to manage your buzz or "sizzle effect". You'll also find an Allen wrench tucked in the beam of the drum that runs along the middle of the backside of the playing surface. You can pop the Allen wrench out to Adjust your drum, then put it back for safe keeping during play and transit. The placement for the Allen wrench is such that it will not disrupt the sound of your Meinl cajon.

Once you have the Allen wrench out, play the drum a little to sample the sound. You'll then have a sense of the adjustments that need to be made to achieve optimal tones.

Tune your cajon at the bottom of the drum. Flip it over and use the Allen wrench to tighten or loosen the screws between the two front rubber stoppers. Just a quarter turn is all you need to make a noticeable difference, so take it slow and test the sound between each adjustment.

Once you are done, place the drum back on the floor and play some patterns. You might find that the tuning is good, but the slaps are not quite where you want them.

To get more or less slap our of the drum, you will use a screwdriver to tighten or loosen the top edge of the frontplate. The more space you create between the frontplate and the resonating body, the more response you'll get.

When working with the frontplate adjustments, always loosen the outside screws first. Do not adjust the middle screw.

Once your drum is in tune and the slap is optimal, you are ready to play.

And that is the introduction to the Meinl Headliner Series Cajon.

Labels: cajon, cajon.drum, cajons, meinl, Performers

Welcome! Today we are introducing the Trejon.

The reason they call it the Trejon is because the drum has three surfaces that you can play. It's a significant advancement in the development of cajons by Meinl Percussion.



Let's discuss the various parts of this cajon drum:

• The large frontplate in the middle of the drum will deliver your deepest tone.
• On your left-hand side, the small frontplate produces a brighter tone.
• On your right-hand side, you will find the snare drum.
  

On the side of the drum is a knob to adjust the snare. Turn it up for full snare effects or turn it all the way off for to create an additional tom.

Further adjustments for controlled sounds can be made by loosening or tightening the screws on the three frontplates. Each one can be adjusted separately, offering endless range for the player.

This is really an amazing cajon drum that is out on the market now and you gotta love it.

Watch the video above for a demonstration of three basic notes that you can play on the Trejon.

And of course, like all high-end Meinl Cajons, you have your own padded drummer's throne on top of the drum.

The Meinl Trejon is an amazing asset for any serious drummer. Use it for more range at acoustic gigs or mic it for electric shows to spice up the backline.

Labels: cajon, cajon.drum, cajons, Jimmy Lopez, meinl, Performers

The flamenco is a time honored musical and dance genre that originated in Spain. Flamenco developed in Andalusia due to the interaction between Arabic, Andalusian, Sephardic and Gypsy cultures in the area in the 19th century, although forms of the music and dance were noted earlier. Flamenco music is characterized by intricate guitar playing and flamenco dancing refers to the corresponding dance, performed with easy to hear footwork.

Flamenco emerged from a complicated cross section of musical and cultural norms in the area. The dance was originally performed only by the gypsies in their communities, but musical members of the surrounding areas eventually joined in, adding their own flavor.

Flamenco music changed greatly in the late eighteenth century, when musicians changed instruments. Though flamenco was originally played on a classical five string guitar, flamenco enthusiasts adopted the six string guitar, which is now one of the most characteristic aspects of the genre. The added string allowed further diversification among players and styles. Most traditional flamenco guitars are made of Spanish spruce or cypress, and are smaller than normal guitars. This provides for a sharper sound while playing.

About a century after the addition of the sixth string to the guitar, flamenco music reached what is known as "the golden age." Cafes cantantes became popular between 1870 and 1910, allowing flamenco artists to hold ticketed concerts. This also paved the way for the popularization of flamenco dancing who performed at these concerts.

Professional singers and dancers, like Silverio Franconetti, Enrique el Mellizo and El Loco Mateo, began to build their reputations during this era, and their music is still often played in modern music.

The years after the Golden Age of flamenco are often known as the Etapa Teatreal, or the theatrical period. Flamenco music become commercial and was considered decadent. Flamenco music was played in larger arenas, which caused incredible popularity, but decreased the artistic integrity of the musicians.

The flamenco is an incredibly emotional dance. There are few choreographed dances, as the performers are meant to feel the rhythm, in a manner similar to jazz. Dancers also use their feet as percussive instruments, creating the rhythm. Flamenco musicians also improvise while playing, rather than pay attention to the beat of the rhythm.

In today’s version of the flamenco, artists are heavily influenced by other cultures. Many flamenco songs are derived from Arabic music from Yemen. Modern forms of the flamenco borrow greatly from Latin American and Cuban musical forms. This is called the rumba, and cajons are often played during performances of the genre. A cajon is a percussive instrument used to mark the beat. This hand drum acts as a stool for the player, who sits on top while slapping the frontplate of the cajon. The drum is equipped with guitar strings or snare strings that rest against the frontplate, giving the acoustic drum a range of sounds. The cajon is often used to define the compas, or the rhythm of the music and the division of the musical accentuations.

Labels: cajon, cajon.drum, cajons, flamenco.music

Welcome to X8 Drums!

X8 Drums is a premier online store for all things hand drums. Specializing in pristine quality djembe drums that are manufactured using legally certified timber that is environmentally sustainable, our staff is well trained at helping artists and hand drum enthusiasts fill their needs with the right gear.

We're truly independent, serve a niche market, and are focused on matching up our customer's needs with the right product. Providing a hassle free online experience complete with accurate information, knowledgeable staff, great selection, and full transparency are at the heart of what we're about.

Check out the customer feedback page to find out what to expect when you are a part of X8 Drums.

In addition to offering the entire line of top hand drum manufacturers; X8Drums.com features a Drum Circle blog on topics such as hand drum news, djembe video lessons, how-to articles, drum circle events, and instrument care. The site also offers a hand drum artist directory as well as expert advice on its extensive offering of hand drums.

Spend some time with us, bookmark the site and join our monthly newsletter to keep in touch with the latest news in the X8 community. (subscribe to the newsletter on the bottom left-hand side of this page and get a coupon!) We're a think-tank full of ideas working to provide you with exceptional educational content and the best quality instruments.




About the X8 Logo
Our logo tells all... The "X" (as in the way the brain is wired) and "8" (Infinity symbol) are deeply compelling and significant symbols that summarize the Cosmic Nature and Purpose of Drums and how they can harmonize and elevate the human nervous system.
Many thanks to Baba Issa for the interpretation.

The dancing icon is just a dude enjoying the beat of the drum. Sorry, no deep meaning for him. Although we're open to suggestions. :-)

Thanks for visiting and enjoy the drums!

Some of our most popular content:
Djembe Buying Guide
How to Tune a Djembe
Best Beginner Djembe
Free Djembe Rhythm Video Lessons
Virtual Drum Circle
How to Adjust a Cajon

 

 

Labels: about.x8.drums, cajon, cajon.drum, cajons, world.percussion, x8.drums

The cajon is believed to have originated in Peru when the African slaves, brought to Peru from Angola, began using fruit crates as percussion instruments. Displaced from their homeland, the African slaves substituted cod shipping crates for their native drums.

In Cuba, small dresser drawers were used for the same purpose. The instrument was refined and became an important part of Cuban and Peruvian music. Early usage of the Peruvian cajon was to accompany Tondero and Zamacueca (old version of Marinera) dances. Tapping knuckles on wooden tables may be considered a predecessor to the cajon.

Three quarter inch pine or other white wood was generally used for five sides of the box. A thin sheet of plywood was nailed on as the sixth side and acted as the head or striking surface. The top edges were often left unattached and could be slapped against the box. A sound hole was cut in the side opposing the head. The player sat on the box striking the head between his legs. The modern cajon drum has several screws at the top for adjusting percussive timbre and may sport rubber feet. Some versions may also have several vertically stretched cords pressed against the tapa for a buzz like effect or tone.

Today, the cajon is heard extensively in Andean, Cuban, and Flamenco music. It's steadily gaining popularity in all types of contemporary music and has become a favorite for "unplugged" sessions and is often used to accompany the acoustic guitar.

Labels: cajon, cajon.drum, cajons, cuban.music, flamenco.music, percussion.instrument, peruvian.music