X8 Drums Blog

When first learning to play the bongos, the different sounds and tones produced from the bongos can inspire creative patterns and fills that compliment any recording or performance. These same improvisational rhythms are used to enhance the sound of a drum circle, making the bongos a Latin-flavored compliment to the timbre of the djembe or any other percussion instruments being played. Once the basics of bongo playing have been mastered, the burgeoning Bongocero may wish to incorpora …

Rooted in mystery, bongos are thought to have originated in Africa and brought to Latin America during the slave trade, after which they became a staple in Mamba, Conga and Salsa music. Today, American-born artists have adapted the sound of the bongos into almost every genre of music, bringing a historic instrument and method of communication into the present, where it can be enjoyed by musicians, fans, drum circle participants and the random Beatnik poet.The list of famous Bongoce …

Pregnancy is an exciting and challenging time. Women are adapting to the changes in their own bodies while preparing, emotionally and physically, for a new addition to the family. Men are preparing for the future with a brand new infant in their own ways, as well. The anticipation, worry, and excitement of the arrival of a new life can lead to the wonderful discovery of the powerful effects of music during pregnancy on fathers, mothers and the baby-to-be.Music is well known for its …

Whether you are a fan of the Kerouac inspired Beat Generation of the mid-century, Salsa or other Latin-inspired music, or just like to have a fun instrument at your disposal for impromptu drum circles, the bongos may be one of the most versatile, well-known and loved drums of all times.Bongos are a set of two drums, attached in the middle with a piece of wood, making them portable and one of the easier drums to learn to play. The ease of learning bongos does not take away the complexi …

Learning to play the bongos is an exciting and fulfilling adventure. These drums might be small in size, but the music you can create with them is anything but tiny. Consisting of two drums joined in the middle, bongos are usually played by hand while being held between the knees. The hembra, or larger drum, is usually held to the right, with the smaller drum, the macho, to the left. Depending on usage though, there are stands available for mounting bongos for use when standing …

Compare the new Fiberglass Djembe Models from X8 Drums. Both djembes are made of a fiberglass drum shell that is lightweight, weatherproof and has great resonance. When comparing the models, you can choose between the traditional Rope Tuned version with a Goat Skin Head or the more modern Mechanically Tuned version with our new professional synthetic drum head.The Rope Tuned model with the goat skin head will produce warmer and lower tones than the synthetic head. This model matc …

Nestled in 40 acres of trees in the town of Wappingers Falls, New York, a spiritual and artistic oasis has grown just 65 miles north of New York City. The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors is a sanctuary of self-reflection and a place where art inspires sacred development, encourages mystic change and lends itself to the spiritual transformation of people, thought and deed across the globe. The inspiration for CoSM began as a dream of two artists living in Brooklyn, NY. The Sacred Mirrors …

Cancer touches the lives of one in three women and one in two men. Whether a person is diagnosed, or has a family member or loved one with the “C” word, the prevalence of cancer is astounding. Scott L. Swimmer, Founder and President of DrumsForCures, Inc., is one person who was touched personally by cancer. Both he and his son battled their diseases and turned to music and rhythm as a means of support through the ordeals they faced. The annual drumming benefit, drumSTRONG, is t …

Drummers are as diverse as the rhythms played and the drums and methods used to bring those sounds to life. From the novice drummer given a set of bongos to the professional stage drummer, the personalities of these individuals are all rooted in the same basic drive of keeping the beat and holding a rhythm together. This rhythm may be a personal song played alone, or a group endeavor within a drum circle that encourages improvisation. Some drummers practice their craft and a …

Whether you are a novice drummer or a drum circle leader, the place where the drum circle occurs can make the event even more fun and beneficial for the rest of the drumming participants. Drum circles are regularly thought of as impromptu gatherings around a bonfire or scheduled events inside a healing or other wellness center, but some of the most unusual places can be incredible venues for drumming, dancing and a community of percussionists to come together in the spirit of …