How to Play the Flam Tap

Once you know how to play the flam on the djembe drum, you can add to your drum playing repertoire by playing the flam tap. The flam tap is very similar to the flam, and has only one added beat. As the name suggests, this last beat will be a tap, and is played rather quickly. Read on to learn how to play the flam tap.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Hold your hands in the same position as you would the flam. One hand will be held slightly higher above the drum. It is for you to decide with which of the hands you will start.

2. Bring down the first hand, and strike the drum.

3. Strike the drum with the second hand in a syncopated fashion so that it sounds like "ta-TA".

4. Use the last hand to tap the drum again. The sound will now be: "ta-TA-ta, ta-TA-ta, ta-TA-ta."

5. Remember to reverse your hands when playing the flam tap. Just as with the flam, the starting hand will be the second hand to strike the drum when you play the next flam tap. This pattern will continue to alternate as you proceed.

6. Practice the flam tap slowly until the pattern becomes familiar to you.

7. Add speed to the flam tap, making it sound more smooth.

8. Experiment by striking different portions of the drum. You will find that striking near the edge of the drum will make a higher, tauter sound, while striking the middle of the drum will produce a deeper, more resonant tone.

Resources

• Vic Firth includes the flam tap as a fundamental.
• Aaron Moon demonstrates how to play the flam tap.