X8 Drums Blog

Not that we would ever encourage “drum envy,” but, have you ever noticed that some djembe drums have a little more going on than the rest? We’re not talking the hand-carved djembes (although, those are pretty great) or the djembes that come directly from Mali, Senegal or Ivory Coast.We mean the djembe drums that include a bit more style and flair than the rest… the djembes that seem to know they’re the boss of all drums, the warrior-styled djembe drums that take no prisoners.The djembe drum …

Matt from X8 Drums took some time to demo and talk about the Gretsch Marquee Drum Set, a brand new offering from Gretsch. After playing a couple of songs and getting a feel for the kit at Wunder Studios in Austin, TX, Matt is confident in saying that the Gretsch Marquee Drum set is currently the best value drum kit that Gretsch offers. It has a solid sound and a professional look that any drummer will appreciate. The Gretsch Marquee Drum Set features an 8-inch tom, a 10-inch tom, a 12 …

Do you play the djembe? If you don't, you will want to! Having and playing an authentic handcrafted djembe, or introducing one to your own collection, is great fun! At X8 Drums and Percussion, hand drums are our passion! Each environmentally-friendly, handcrafted djembe drum we build is a genuine masterpiece of design and makes an exciting conversation subject! Originating in West Africa over a 1,000 years ago, the djembe is played by hand using your fingers and palms. This hand d …

Due to the delicate nature of the materials used in a Djembe, it is normal for the drum to need periodic maintenance and tuning in order to produce its best sound and keep the drum in top form. If a Djembe begins to sound dull when played, it is probably time to tighten the head. The wood and skin of a Djembe are vulnerable to various weather conditions and handling problems that can occur through regular use, storage or transportation. Tuning Djembe drums is more tha …

Like the trees in a forest or the individual crafting a djembe by hand, traditional djembe drums are beautiful in the imperfections they hold. Understanding the history and culture of the djembe drum is as important as understanding how to play it, and it is this history and culture that is reflected to this day in the sight and sound of all traditionally-made djembe drums. When it comes to buying a traditional djembe, understanding the process of creating these instruments is im …