Sunday, May 20, 2012

Five Expert Guidelines on Preserving the Caliber of Your Djembe Drum

By Clare Brady


The UK has noticed a large rise in the popularity of djembe drums. This kind of drum is traditionally from Western Africa, yet has make an impact somewhat further from home. Possibly this can be down to much talked about bands such as U2 and Coldplay utilizing djembe's in their concerts.

Sales of djembe drums are growing among the general public, educational facilities and music groups. For anyone who is the proud owner of a djembe drum, you could be trying to find the correct ways to look after it. To help keep it sounding its best, you ought to undertake regular maintenance on the body and head of the djembe drum. In this article, we take a look at several easy ways for you to keep your djembe in tip-top condition:

Don't Use Sticks

As opposed to when playing a drum kit, cajon and djembe drums should only be beaten with your hands. This particular variety of drum features a particularly fragile head; one that's not made to resist aggressive playing with sticks. Playing with sticks can cause irreversible damage and needs to be avoided no matter what. Instead, play the beats and rhythm with just the hands and fingers.

Detune

So that you maintain the original sound of the djembe, you should make sure you detune it when not in use. Taut strings can damage the head of the drum along with the authenticity of the sound, when left in-tune for long periods while not being played. By simply de-tuning your drum, it is possible to extend the life span of the skin by up to 50-per-cent. This will keep it sounding authentic whenever you re-tune the musical instrument to play once again.

Drum Storage

When storing your djembe drum for any period of time, there are a selection of things you may need to make sure you do. To keep your djembe's patterns and colours vibrant, make sure it is stored in a dry and cool place. This method of storage can also help keep the strings tuned, and the skin of the drum in a great condition.

Accessories

To keep your instrument sounding and looking its best, you should keep it inside a padded bag. These carrying cases shield the instrument as they are built to fit your instrument perfectly. You should also look into buying a strap and protective hat for the drum. These essential items will keep the body, authentic sound and drum head in optimal condition.

Keeping the Instrument Clean

The skin of your new drum may become dehydrated and dry, much like yours. This may cause the skin of the drum to split, really compromising the authenticity of the audio. Apply a modest amount of lotion or oil on to the head regularly to keep it in ideal condition. However, this is only recommended for traditional wood drums though. Fibreglass designs won't benefit from this kind of care.

By using these guidelines, you can keep your instrument in optimum condition, during its life. Djembe drums are a lot more than a random buy, so should be taken care of properly.




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