X8 Drums Blog

The beat of a drum, the steady pounding of a rhythm as it carries the listener through a song, or encourages other drummers to beat out a complimentary cadence can be an amazing way to wind down, find inner peace or just have fun. With the day to day obligations that are faced by people, it can, ironically, be hard to find the time or motivation to get into the drumming groove. As a service to the public, we present five fun and relatively unconventional ways to include d …

Regardless of how gently you treat your ‘babies’, sooner or later every hand-drum player will reach a point where the skin (or head) of his/her instrument needs to be changed or replaced.The bongo and conga are no strangers to this rule and will face wear and tear, breakage or other accidents that will demand a new skin or head. Today there is a wide variety available in the market that can be delivered to your doorstep. The aim of this article is to acquaint you the process of re …

Francisco Aguabella is a true Master Drummer. The title is used in the African Tradition to identify people who have dedicated their whole lives to the Drum. Not only must the Master Drummer know the cultural and ceremonious beats of their ethnic group but the neighboring groups as well. The Master Drummer must have the beats and the songs buried deep inside of them where they will never leave. This is Francisco Aguabella; and he is the Master.Francisco Aguabella was born into mu …

There are hardly words to describe the sound of the Marimba. This instrument brings to life a unique sound that is reflective of the person playing it, as well as the origins of the instrument itself. Normally considered a type of xylophone in the West, the Marimba has a much more diverse sound palette, particularly when played by a master like Joel Laviolette.Joel began his journey with Zimbabwean percussion after hearing a mbira play, and was inspired to immerse himself into the music, people …

Now that you have invested in the full, beautiful sound of a wooden drum you need to know how to take care of it so that it stays beautiful for years to come. Here are a few simple pointers to keep your drum in top condition.First, store your drum inside. This might go without saying, but I will say it anyway. Extreme temperatures and conditions can dry out your drum and create cracks or warp the shell. And I would recommend storing your drum in a specially designed bag or case. …

Bucket drumming is drumming that utilizes objects such as plastic buckets to create rhythm. It’s common to see people banging away on multiple-sized (and shaped) plastic buckets in many metropolitan cities. No trip to New York City would be quite complete without these awe-inspiring, rhythmic street performances.Buckets can be played in a variety of ways, with mallets, sticks, the hands or other repurposed objects. Different plastic buckets can be used that vary in size or are made of different …

Drums have long been connected with a history or spiritual and religious ceremony. They have also been used by many tribal communities for communication and celebration. However, when people think about such ancient events, men get the credit for these drumming ceremonies. The truth is, many of these ceremonies centered on goddess religions and were celebrated by women through the art of drumming.The ancient Romans and the ancient Egyptians both had high priestesses that held high religious powe …

Historically, drumming has long been an important part of Native American culture. In many tribes, drums were even considered sacred and embodied a life force of their own. Frame drums, it was thought by some, maintained the life of the materials of their creation including the plant that went into the making of the frame and the animal who gave its life for the skin of the drum. Because of these beliefs, frame drums are still treated with respect and reverence for the lives that went into their …

When I first came to Colorado I met a woman who played a Djembe drum. She invited me to a performance of her drum group, "The Front Range Orchestra." The beat and rhythms left me feeling exhilarated and energized.Because I have Rheumatoid arthritis in my hands, I thought I'd never be able to play or take classes. The Drum instructor invited me to try a djembe class. He provided the drums until I decided if I wanted to buy one. Much to my surprise, I was able to play without pain. I practiced reg …

I've wanted a drum kit as long as I can remember. My Dad was a professionally trained percussionist. He specialized in snare but did it all. I had no idea how good he really was until much later in my life. I heard him play at an outdoor Community Band concert and was amazed. I believe my quote was, "DAMN, Dad's REALLY GOOD!" He tried to give us lessons as kids. My attention wouldn't stay with it. If I could go back in time I would love to have learned from him.My first drum was a small Djembe. …