The djembe is a chalice-shaped drum native to West Africa. It is traditionally carved from a single trunk and is covered with a stretched skin membrane. Generally, it measures about 60 cm in length, but it can also be smaller. The drums used by children are small in size for convenience. Thanks to this article, you will be able to learn the basics of the djembe percussion technique.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Heating
Step 1. Do some warm-up and some meditation exercises before starting
It is best to prepare yourself this way before touching the drum.
- Go for a stroll or jog on the spot.
- Before starting to play, practice yoga or tai chi to reach a state of psychophysical grounding.
- Playing percussion is both a physical and a mental exercise, so it's important to be prepared.
Step 2. Check that your djembe is clean and that the skin is properly taut
- If the skin is too loose or too tight, the drum will not be able to play the right sound.
- You can "tune" the drum by tightening or loosening the strings on the sides of the instrument.
- To facilitate the operation, it is advisable to wear gloves or use a cable puller.
- Get a friend to help you when you tune the drum.
Step 3. Get into the correct position
You can play the drum while standing, holding it under your arm.
Step 4. Place the drum under your arm, using the inside of your elbow to hold it in place
- Some djembe players use a strap that goes over their shoulders and holds the instrument between their knees.
- To play correctly, adjust the strap so that the drum forms a 90 ° angle with your arms. Keep your forearms straight from the fingers to the elbow.
- Get into a comfortable posture and hold the drum tightly as firmly as possible as you play.
Step 5. Sit on a stool or chair
The djembe can also be played while seated.
- Tilt the drum slightly outward, then place your arms 6 to 8 inches from your torso.
- Your hands should rest comfortably on the skin of the drum, forming a 90 ° angle. The forearms must form a straight line from the fingers to the elbow.
- To find the right height to hold the drum, you may need to try out different chairs or stools. You can also buy a height-adjustable stool.
Step 6. Ask a friend to play with you
The friend can use a conga or simply hit a table or any hard surface.
- To start, until you get used to the djembe playing technique, set a slow tempo.
- Cupped one hand, or both, depending on the position of the drum.
- Play a rhythm in time. Repeat this rhythm over and over until it becomes familiar to you.
- Change pace, keeping the same tempo.
Part 2 of 2: Mastering the Djembe Percussion Technique
Step 1. Learn to play the roll
Most of the musical rhythms of the djembe are based on this technique.
- This means that if you play all the notes in the bar, your left hand will alternate with the right.
- In a time of 4/4 (4 movements per beat), it means that the "beat" accents are played with the right hand, while the "upbeat" accents are played with the left.
Step 2. Make the drum ring
The type of hit used affects the way the drum sounds.
- A strike can be open (let your hand bounce off the drum, freely) or closed (press your hand hard on the drum, so you don't let it bounce off).
- An open strike is when you let your hand bounce off the drum, freely.
- A closed strike is when you press your hand hard on the drum, so as not to let it bounce off.
- Open strikes make the instrument resonate more, while closed strikes make it resonate less.
Step 3. Learn to play different tones
There are three basic sounds you can play by playing the djembe: a bass sound, an open sound, and slap.
- The low sound is achieved by hitting the area near the center of the drum with the palm. As soon as your palm hits the drum, let your hand bounce off, as if you were jumping off a trampoline.
- The open sound is obtained by tapping the rim area of the drum with your fingers.
- Slap is achieved by holding the base of the palm resting on the center of the drum and striking the edge of the edge with the fingers. As soon as your fingers hit the drum, they must bounce off like a whip.
- Slap is the hardest to make - practice trying to make it as sharp as possible.
Step 4. Hit the drum with more or less force
This will result in a change in volume.
- Put the emphasis on some lines and take the emphasis off others.
- The variation of the accents will produce a real melody.
- Experiment with different intensity levels, playing different tones and using different rhythms as a basis.
Advice
- It may be helpful to tap your foot lightly to the rhythm.
- Start with simple rhythms and slow tempos.
- Play in a quiet place so you can hear yourself better.
- Keep a steady pace and try to stick with it.
- He plays the djembe together with musicians who play other percussion or other African instruments. If you play with others, it is easier to follow the beat.
