If you are in the market to buy a new djembe and need a little advice, here are some things to keep in mind. If you are an experienced player, and know something about this topic (which I am sure many of you do), please feel free to add to this, or correct if necessary.
First, quality is important. Buy one that is made of one piece of carved wood, not multiple pieces fit together.
Of course, you want your drum to have depth, and sound great! A good indicator of this is how it has been strung. The knots around the head are one way to tell if it is higher quality. The more knots around the head, the better. Also, hand crafted drums are always better than mass produced! A good brand that we like is Remo. But there are many less commercialized makers of djembes that make fine, hand crafted instruments.
Second, how does the head fit on the rim? When you look across is it level? The rim should be fairly level all the way around. This will help the head from tearing and breaking in the future. Also, strange sounds like buzzing, or other abnormal, unnatural sounds can result from uneven tensioning from the rim.
Of course, this all relates to the drum's sound. How does yours sound? Bass notes should carry, and be drawn out. Higher notes should be sharp and loud. Try hitting in the center and see how it carries. Then hit your edge for a higher note and see if it pops loud and sharp. Large drums aren't the only drums with large bass sound. You can find smaller djembes with good bass and other tone.
Find one that seems to suit your needs in terms of size, sound, and even look! Djembes can be magnificent pieces of art, and be a personal as anything else to the player. Find one that really says YOU.
This is meant to be informative, and not SPAM, but we do have hand crafted drums, which apply to many of the aspects discussed in this article in our store. There are many places to look for quality djembes. Just make sure you keep in mind some of these tips before you buy. ~Peace~
