Djembe Tuning

[Héctor]

Hello everybody!

I am a new member and have a question regarding tuning of key-tuned djembes with synthetic heads. I got to be honest and admit that unfortunately I DO NOT have a Pearl Djembe (I do appologise and hope nobody takes any offense). I just bought a Remo Djembe which here in Europe (Germany) is much wider represented and a lot cheaper than the Pearl Djembes . I suppose quality has its price! What I am not sure at all is whether I should tune it as when tuning my congas (unfortunatelly not Pearl either) in a circular way, going from one lug to the next, or rather in a cross way (12 O'clock, then 6 O'clock, 3 O'clock etc.) I would really appreciate it if someone could help me on this. Thank you very much in advance and greetings to you all from good "old" Europe! Héctor

[zaragemca]

Welcome Hector,I also have a rod-tuning Djembe,becouse the need of changing the tuning fast in relation to what I might be playing in a presentation,I also teach this instrument.The tuning should go around making sure that the ring is even on all sides.Gerry Zaragemca.

[Héctor]

Hello Gerry, and thanks a lot for your quick answer. I'll get my hands on it this evening right after work. I reckon I'm going to have to experiment a bit with the tuning. I've already noticed the ringing tone which apparently is caracteristic for Remo Djembes. I've also heard about using some weatherstripping to dampen the tone etc. I am afraid that could make some of the bass tone disappear. I'll let the drum talk to me first experimenting around without any additional stuff. I don't expect a Remo to sound like an African one either. I reckon, I'll have to live with some of the ringing as the price for not having all the other inconveniences of a "traditional" one. Again, muchas gracias and jolly good drumming. Héctor

[zaragemca]

There is not need to worry that much about ringing in the Djembe,in the Arara-Ewe Culture(the creators of this percussion patterns and instruments) those type of ringing are cultivated,some time adding small bells and metal-plates,feathers,etc., to the Djembes,and Djum Djum, drums.I have been jamming with percussionists from South Africa,Senegal,Guinea,Nigeria,Ghana,Brazil,and India,and there are different kind of ringing in their drums.

[iplaydjembe]

Hey hector, what size is your djembe? I have a remo 18" that I paid $275 for, and I was wondering how much of a price difference there was. Also gerry or hector, have you triec using the weatherstripping, ect yet? I kinda wanted to know if there is anything I can do to mod out my drum. Thanks ~Justin

[Héctor]

Hello Justin and sorry for this delayed answer. My computer has been out of order for quite a while so that I was sort of "cut off" the rest of the world. I hope evreybody is well after the christmas feast. Many of us will probably have to do loads of drumming in order to get rid of some of the extra weight gained during the xmas-time. But now to your question. I have a 12" djembe. I haven't spent much time playing it yet but I have tried the wheatherstripping method to dampen the ringing a bit and I can say that it is a tricky thing to do. You certainly have to allow yourself some time to experiment around on how much stripping to use etc. Paulo Mattioli gives explicit info about this under www.drums.org/djembefa/v9aremo.htm. I have come to terms with the fact that the ringing is characteristic to a Remo Djembe and cannot (or should not) be reduced completely. It just would not be a Remo Dejmbe without it. In your case, with an 18" Djembe, I guess it should be less of a problem, as you were probably looking more for the bass-spectrum than for the high-pitch, so that you problably don't tune it to high anyway (I'm just guessing). What the price is concerned, I paid 200Euro (remember I live in Germany) but that was a special offer (only for the kinte-kloth finish). Normaly they cost between 270 and 340Euro, at least here in Germany. Remo is expensive in these wherabouts, you should see the prices for the congas!. To my deepest regret Pearl is even more expensive, much more than LP, and not widely represented either. It can be quite adveturous to buy Pearl Percussion instruments. Knowing what I do now, I do regret a bit, not having waitied until I had enough cash for a Pearl Fiberglas Djembe . I tried one 14" the other day and I wish I had gone for it rather than for the Remo one. However, as Armando Peraza once said, it doesn't matter on what you play, a conga, bongo, fiberglas or wood, calf or goat skin, important is to learn the characteristics of it in order to get the best sound out of it. My best wishes to all drummers around the world for 2005 and jolly good drumming! Héctor

[zaragemca]

keep the machine going Hector,Happy New Year, to all.

[iplaydjembe]

SOrry about my delayed reply, I have been very busy lately. Do you have any Idea of the exchange rate from euros to dollars?
That link didn't work, so it would be great if you could try to post it again.

[Héctor]

Hello, in the meantime I have bought a Pearl Fiberglass Djembe and I love it! Different to the Remo, I would not say better, just different characteristics.

Today's exchange rate is: 1EUR -> 1,30USD.

What the link is concerned, you are right, it doesn't work, but the website still exists. Just go to google and enter: how to tune a remo djembe. It would be the 1st or 2nd link you get.

Good luck and keep those hands dancing on the drums!

Héctor

[iplaydjembe]

hector, that site looks really cool. I am going to try it as soon as I get a tuning key. If anyone has one that will work on djembe (the elbow style) that they would be willing to sell, email me and we could work out a deal. juddybuddy36@hotmail.com
hector, if you have msn, add me. I would like to discuss djembes with you. Actually, all of you could add me and we could talk. Wouldn't that be fun??

[tommy]

I have a 14" remo Black heart key tuned and When purchased they lay me a tool for it look like a mechanic ratchet with the a 7/32 socket and work great. As for "the ringing tone" I just experiment with duct tape on the inside of head and after a couple try I went with what suited me the best. I have still a little ringing but I let one of my firends play my remo and listend to him like 15 feet away from him and i did not ear the ringing only good tone and crisp slap still the base suffer a little from the dampening. wow just realized how old this thread is .....aaaargf i'l post it anyway


tommy

[drummercafe]

The "ring" is part of the sound; it's what projects the sound to the audience. It may sound like too much ring to you when you are playing, but to the audience it will be just right. If you start dampening the drum so that when you play it ... it sounds like it should when you are 15-20 feet away ... well, it will sound terrible further away.

Tuning ... the drumhead is typically table top tight on a Djembe ... traditionally speaking that is. It doesn't mean you can't tune it loser, but I think it's important to know that the Djembe is traditionally played with a very tight head. This makes the slap strokes (Pa or Ta) sound nice ... and easy to play.

Proper tuning will deal with the ring ... no dampening needed.