How to Play Djembe Drums

The djembe drum comes from West Africa and its primary purpose is to have everyone gather around the musician to listen and have a good time. It is shaped like a goblet with holes on either end. The top is covered with animal skin and the bottom is left open. Some are adorned with rope and beads covering the cup portion of the drum.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Learn a bit of rhythm. With any type of percussion instrument, it may be easier if you have some rhythm in you. This drum especially is rhythmic because the musician usually plays from the soul.

2. Tap the top of the drum with your hands or fingers. You can make different sounds depending on where you hit the drum. For deeper sounds, hit the middle of the drum and for higher pitched sounds, hit or tap the rim.

3. Muffle the sounds you create from the top of the drum by sliding your free hand in and out of the bottom of the drum.

4. Turn the drum on its side and use the wooden base of the drum to also create sounds.

5. Invite friends and family to listen and continue the djembe drum tradition.

Tips & Warnings

• Try practicing first with instrumental music to build rhythm techniques. Also, play with the drum as if it were a toy; hit it in different spots to see what type of strike produces which type of sound. Djembe drums are usually handcrafted which makes each one unique and each can vary slightly in pitch.