How To Tie Djembe Knots

Step By Step Instructions And Video

Are you trying to figure out how to tie djembe knots? Just watch how Mensah does it, the friendly drum builder in Ghana. He'll show you step by step:

Step 1 Thightly wrap the bottom iron ring with a strip of cotton cloth to protect the rope from rust and cuts.	Step 2 Use white glue to finish.	Step 3 Repeat the same thing with the crown ring.
Step 4 Measure the rope by wrapping it around your arm about 7 times. Don't cut it from the spool yet, just mark it with a knot.	Step 5 Start with the crown ring. Hold the mark and place the measured rope over the ring into the middle. Pull it out from under the ring and over the rope.	Step 6 Now, place the rope under the ring into the middle.
Step 7 Pull it out over the ring and through the loop.	Step 8 Tighten the rope. The first knot is finished. Let's try that again...	Step 9 Place the rope over the ring and pull it through the loop.
Step 10 Place the rope under the ring and pull it through the loop.	Step 11 Voilà! Continue like this all around the ring, leaving no more than 1 inch of space between the knots. Now, you can cut the rope and tie the ends together or fuse them with a lighter.	Step 12 Count your knots. Place the drum upside down and tie the exact same number of knots onto the bottom ring. Leave less space between the knots than you did on the crown ring.