X8 Drums Blog

Exercise can be fun, or tedious, depending on who you ask, when you ask, or even why you’re asking. Some people exercise because they are inherently physical people with abundant energy, a love of sports or because they like how it feels mid-sprint. Other people exercise because it reduces stress, helps keep weight gain at bay, or because they bought a gym membership on a whim. These same reasons (except the gym membership, of course) are also why people pick up a drum or start hammerin …

Having a teacher or mentor is important in life. Usually, when we get into music or playing an instrument, we find an artist (or 10) who we can relate to – whether it is their style of music, personal story or the clothes they wear. For drummers, much of that inspiration comes from the greats like Buddy Rich or Bonzo, or even from an inspired historical love of hand drumming and African culture. The problem that comes is that while we can be inspired by those drummers who have gone befo …

Busking is a pretty familiar sight around the globe. It can be a representation of the need to “busk a move” when the music hits, or, a way to earn a little extra cash. Some people busk because they just can’t help but feel the music, or love the adoring crowds that street performing (especially drumming!) can pull together. Whatever your reasons are for jumping into busking, there are always good and bad ways to go about it. First, if you’re going to be a street drummer or a busker, you n …

Drummers have to contend with a lot of aches and pains in the process of creating beautiful rhythm. While we may appear to have unlimited energy and a spirit of folly at times, that doesn’t mean we don’t have the same feelings as the rest of the world – especially when it comes to our bodies. Drumming is hard work, and even if we’re the drummer who sits behind a drum set, we can feel the burn in our legs, arms, neck and back. But, this isn’t about those drummers who sit… thi …

Drum circles are commonly seen on beaches and in parks: public places where the sound of djembes, didgeridoos, shakers and hand-clapping accent perfectly the dancing, chanting and joy felt by anyone willing to pitch in their “voice.” These same people who attend drum circles are unique; in a sense they are just as different as the reasons for holding these events. That’s why when there is a special call to join together in the spirit of “Seeing Deeper,” the surprise instead becom …

It seems like every week, there are more studies concluded on the benefits of music in our lives. If you take the basic, “music soothes the savage soul” adage to heart, then you already understand just how important it is to have music in our lives. So many things about the mind-body-spirit connection that is shared through music are inspirational and encouraging, and as drummers and musicians, we all experience these “groundbreaking” headlines in our own lives all the time. But, it …

As drummers, we can find amazing rhythm in the most mundane of days. The beat runs deep in our souls, and just as amazing as it is to master a technique or develop our own passion for drumming, it is even more incredible to discover another drummer with the same fire in their eyes. American Idol isn’t known for showcasing the full range of musical talents of its contestants. The show began as a talent contest for vocalists, and in the years that it has been running, more instruments ha …

Everyone loves a good cajon drum. They’re like the ninjas of the drum world, really. Sneaky little boxes that are full of rhythmic surprises for all. Cajon drums have a long-standing history in Afro-Peruvian music and are especially present in Flamenco… but, they are also pretty great in all other types of music, too. That’s how they keep up their ninja skills, they just sneak up on the beat in all their boxy glory, and as soon as you try to get a better look, they pretend to be ordinary ( …

From the dawn of time, people have been called into the life of drumming and rhythm-making, as if heeding the directives of ancestors and rock gods from around the planet, and perhaps beyond. In order to drum, however, these people have needed to make their own drums or percussion instruments, giving us all plenty of modern incarnations of drums to happily use in our own devotion to the groove within. With all of the options available to drummers and percussionists today, there are stil …

As fans of Middle Eastern music and the belly dancers who inspire the “doum-tekka-tek” in our hearts, we’ve often been asked what kind of drum is best to learn these nuanced rhythms and help keep the shimmies going long into the night. The answer? The doumbek drum. The other answer? The darbuka drum. There are never simple answers in drumming. Ever. Darbuka drums, doumbek drums and even djembe drums are all very similar instruments in terms of the construction, shape and materials …