How to Cut Drum Lace

Cut the lace once you've laced the head onto the drum shell.

The heads on traditional African hand drums are held on with lace. The tension of the lace determines the tension of the head, which in turn determines the tone of the drum. Naturally, the length of the lace influences how tight or slack the head is. Over time, the lace becomes stretched, loses tension and requires replacement. When re-lacing a drum, it’s preferable to cut the lace after you’ve threaded it onto the drum. This way you can get it to the correct tension and make a secure knot without worrying about running out of length.

Things You'll Need

• Replacement lace
• Pocket knife

Instructions

1. Pick open the ball-knot at the end of the lace. The knot is always located just above or below the horizontal length of lace at the base of the drum.

2. Feed the previously knotted part under the horizontal length of rope. The lace will automatically begin to slacken, as it was only held in place by the knot.

3. Unravel the lace from around the side of the drum. The lace is fastened in vertical loops called diamonds. The diamonds are looped under the horizontal rope and into holes in the perimeter of the drum head.

4. Brace the drum head with your weaker hand as you prepare to remove the last section of lace. This prevents it flying off when the final bit of tension is relieved.

5. Place the old lace to one side. Remove the head and soak it in warm water for 30 minutes.

6. Cut a new piece of lace. The length is irrelevant at this stage as you trim it to size once fitted. But it must at least as long as the previous lace to guarantee it will reach around the entire drum when looped in the diamond formation.

7. Remove the head from the water and shake it dry. Place it on top of the drum. It’s important to wet the drum as this makes it more pliable. As it dries out, it stretches.

8. Feed the lace through the nearest hole in the head. Pull it down and past the horizontal rope. Feed it under the rope, back up and through the next hole along. Pull the rope down and then wrap it across the existing loop. This creates the diamond shape.

9. Pull it as tight as you can. Then feed it through the next hole.

10. Create a second loop, pull the lace across this loop, tighten it and repeat until every hole in the side of the drum is laced.

11. 

    Tighten the slack as you loop the lace.

    Cut the lace so there is approximately 3 inches of excess length. Pull this length as tight as you can and feed it around the final loop.

12. Make a ball-knot in the end of the lace and the excess lace between the tip and the knot. The tension of the head increases as it dries out. This will pull the lace tighter, causing the knot to slide up to the rope. The rope will prevent the knot from moving any further.

Tips & Warnings

• Singe the very tip of the lace to prevent it from fraying.

References

• Kingy Mensah: How To Replace Your Djembe Rope
• Hawk Dancing: How to Rehead an African Djembe Drum