Hand drums have become extremely popular over the last few years, both for use on stage and in informal settings like drum circles. The djembe drum has proven itself to be incredibly versatile in both scenarios. A few common mistakes exist that players often make when playing this or any other type of hand drum.
The djembe drum is a very good choice for players looking for a single drum to cover many different sounds. Many different styles of djembe drums are available to appeal different player's preferences. Some drums have synthetic heads and others have natural-skin heads. Each type of head has its own challenge. Synthetic head can get tuned too tight, causing a lot of "ring" and overtones that you don't want. With a natural head, the tones tend to be more "organic" and the drum produces fewer overtones. If the head gets over-tensioned, it can be tricky to down-tune it. The easiest way to avoid this is to tune the synthetic head a bit at a time and checking the tone as you go.
Another misconception is that as the drummer you should play louder, or that the bigger drums should be played louder. This is a common problem, but it isn't very considerate. If you go to a drum circle with a few people playing djembe drums you will probably notice all of the players pounding away and the volume steadily increasing. Djembe drums are capable of being very loud, but the beauty of the djembe is that you don't have to be the loudest to be heard.
Another issue that goes hand-in-hand with this problem is that players have a tendency to speed up as they play louder. The best way to avoid these two issues is to simply use your ears. If you can't hear the players around you, then you are probably too loud. Some people find it very helpful to close their eyes for better focus; after all, the drum won't go anywhere.
The djembe is a great drum, and it is easy to play, even for a beginner. However, just because it is easy to play doesn't mean that the basics should be ignored. Many casual players have a good time just pounding away without knowing how to coax the variety of sounds that are possible out of the drum, while other players take the time to learn the basics of where the tones are located and how to bring them out of the djembe. Knowing how to create the three basic tones on the djembe drum will allow you to play it like a symphony.
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