X8 Drums Blog

I found my Remo Adinkra key-tuned 12" Djembe at a garage sale for $40 around three years ago, and bought it on a whim thinking I could play along with my husband on his ukulele. Well, living in Austin it's not surprising that we have a few friends who are musicians and we started jamming with them and learning a few songs. Also, while poking around on the internet one day, I found a girl called The Djembabe - Melanie Howe - and she is an awesome percussionist and an inspiration to me. …

For me, drumming came into my life at a time when I needed it most. I had always played music and loved the spirit of creating music together as a community. And I missed that in my life. My experience with djembe was limited, I had played in some drum circles casually, yet didn't fully have the knowledge of the djembe that I wanted to have. At this time, I was introduced to a local instructor who was just beginning group classes and so I jumped right in. I fell in love immediately, as I …

I played conga in a duo in college and in the years after, I sure missed playing drums. Now, I love to sing karaoke and bought a rope tuned African djembe drum to play when everyone sings. (People really love it, it's so different). Recently my wife found a drum circle nearby & we loved it so much we have now attended three times. I got her a hand drum she uses with a padded, wood burned drum stick she made herself. During karaoke parties we host at home, I use two full size congas t …

Habits can be good or bad, beneficial or destructive, and all have one thing in common: they’re a rhythm in our lives. When confronted with a bad habit, the overwhelming nature of breaking it can be enough to just keep on with the unhealthy behavior. From smoking to nail-biting to self-doubt, the bad habits only get worse if they aren’t changed. However, by swapping these bad habits for the pursuit of drumming, not only can a person be healthy again, but, can even begin to outshine the habits th …

Recently a friend talked me into going to a drumming workshop with her. The first thing I noticed when we walked in to a room of about 30 people was the age range of the participants. I’ve attended many classes and taken a variety of workshops through the years, but I’ve never taken a class with people who were forty years younger… and forty years older… than me. I soon understood that with drumming, the age of the drummer doesn’t matter…and apparently neither does gender, color or sexual …

It’s that spooky time of the year, again, where everyone searches the Internet for the perfect costume. In the drumming community, most think that being a drummer is enough character to last the whole year, but, sometimes, even a drummer has to bust out a new rhythm, right? As a service to the drumming community, and world at large, it is time to reflect on our favorite drummers, percussion innuendo and get ready for Halloween, as only drummers can do.2013 X8 Drums’ Halloween Costume Ideas: Craz …

The drums and percussion of Brazil are the foundation for the amazing sound that is best heard in Samba music. It is this influence of sound, however, that has transcended the borders of Brazil, and has made its way into a variety of genres today. These instruments are alive and well, allowing for tantalizing nuances in tone and timbre when it comes to rhythm in music.The similarities in Brazilian drums and percussion and those found in a standard drum set are many. Bass drum sounds can best be …

For the beginner drummer, a cymbal may seem like an afterthought when it comes to picking the right drum set, snare, bass or toms, but these instruments may have some of the most impact in the entire sound of a rig. Cymbal manufacturers are constantly updating the methods for creating cymbals, as well as the materials used in the alloys. So, whether you are just starting out drumming, or, finally taking the cymbal plunge, knowing thedifferences in cymbals can help define and refine your own soun …

Meditation is often advised for people who are experiencing problems with stress, anxiety and other conditions. Quieting the mind, however, is never an easy process, especially for those just beginning to explore meditation, which is why many people choose to use guided meditations, music or drumming in order to train the mind into a state of relaxation and meditation.When using drumming to quiet the mind for meditation, there are several ways that the rhythms can be applied, depending on the s …

Expressing gratitude for the blessings in life can be an uplifting experience for everyone who is involved. As we head toward the end of another year, and look to the holiday season that is filled with family, friends, food and more, it is a natural time of year to take the time to express a heartfelt thank you to those who have meant so much.Whether at work, school or with friends and family, one fun way to get the ball rolling, so to speak, with expressing gratitude is with rhythm activities. …