The Djembe Beginner's Guide

Everything You Need To Know

Discovering the djembe world is fun and exciting. This guide shall help you get the most out of your new passion right from the start.

Learn To Play Djembe

Want to learn to play drums? Then why not take some drum lessons?

This African percussion instrument has complex playing techniques like any other musical instrument. Although there has been a trend in that direction in recent years, it is not meant to be played just anyhow.

To get started, you may want to read this roadmap to learn to play. It gives you a quick overview of how to approach your new hobby.

Any serious beginner should get a good foundation. You can easily learn drum technique basics with the help of a good instructional DVD.

With this foundation, you are ready to learn your first traditional African rhythms. Why not right now with a free online lesson offered by this African teacher?

Before You Buy A Drum

Nowadays, djembes are offered for sale all over the internet and in most bigger music stores. But finding the right one for you is a bit more complicated, especially when you're new to the drumming world:

djembe guide

Not all that are offered are authentic African instruments and not all retailers are honest about that. So inform yourself about the different types of djembe drums before you walk into a store!

Which type you should pick depends on your ambitions and goals:

Really dive into African culture and learn traditional rhythms?
Or...
Just have fun with informal drumming, no matter what style?

(Read the history page to understand the cultural context and importance of its tradition in West Africa.)

Choose your drum accordingly. But in any case:

If you have the opportunity, it's always an advantage to test various drums before you think of a purchase. When playing for a while, you notice features that you prefer and some that cause you trouble.

Buy a drum that you'll enjoy playing for a long time!

Maintenance And Repair

djembe repair
Kingy Mensah

Your precious new drum needs proper care and maintenance just like any other music instrument. Keep it in shape and it will last you a long time.

Try to tune and repair your drum yourself. You'll get a better understanding of it. It's easy to learn with a bit of help from a professional:

Mensah is a percussionist and drum builder in Ghana, West Africa. Here's a quick overview of the repair, tuning and care topics that he will guide you through.

Ready?

Let's get started with simple repair instructions to fix that ugly crack in the wood of your drum.

Need to replace your old ropes? Learn how to tie the knots to the iron rings.

Accessories & Tools

There's one thing that every new drum owner should get as soon as possible: A good drum case that protects your instrument during transport and storage.

After that, there are some handy items that you may want when you start to perform and repair yourself: