How to Play a Tribal Wave Djembe Hand Drum
The djembe is a traditional African drum, shaped like a goblet or hourglass. Today the djembe is played as a solo instrument and as an accompaniment in bands. Djembes, including those made by Tribal Wave, are played with the hands and can produce three basic sounds: the bass, the slap, and the tone. In this article you'll learn how to play these three sounds on the djembe.
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Instructions
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Sit on an armless chair or stool and tilt the drum toward you. Position you hands over the drumhead so that your elbows are about 6 to 8 inches away from your torso. Your hands should be at a 90-degree angle to each other. Keep your back straight and your shoulders loose. Take a few deep breaths before you start playing and remember to breathe deeply as you play.
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Hit the center of the drum with your palm and fingers to create the bass sound, the lowest sound of the djembe. Strike the center of the drum with your fingers, while your palm hits the rim of the drumhead. Keep your thumb loosely tucked against your hand. Let your hand rebound, or bounce, off the drumhead.
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Hit the center of the drum with the heel and palm of your hand for a tone. Keep your fingers and thumb together and your hand soft and flexible. Let your hand fall so that just your fingers hit the center of the drum and the base of your hand strikes the rim of the drum. As with the bass, let your fingers rebound off the drumhead after they hit.
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Loosen your fingers and spread them apart about ½ inch. Slap your hand down on the drum so that your fingertips hit the head of the drum like a whip---one at a time, but very fast, with your little finger hitting first and your wrist rocking across so that your index finger is the last to hit. Raise your hands quickly from the slap to let the drum vibrate.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep your shoulders straight and your arms loose.
Resources
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