The Djembe drum originated in Africa, where it is still used today. Originally, it was produced and used by a class of blacksmiths known as Numu. For some 2,000 years, they migrated around the continent, so the djembe is now found all over Africa. A true handmade djembe is believed to contain three spirits inside it. One belongs to the maker, one to the tree from which the drum is made, and the third to the animal whose skin forms the drum head. Also called a "jembe," these drums are now produced commercially and can be purchased at just about any music store. However, the original drums were crafted by hand, and you can make one of your own if you have a little time and effort to put into it.
Instructions
How Do You Make a Djembe Drum?
1. Soak the drum head. The goatskin drum head is like rawhide and has to be softened before it will be pliable enough to stretch over the shell of the drum. Place it flat in a tub of warm water for two hours, or until it is soft.
2. Put a thin line of glue along the top of the drum shell. Place the wet goatskin head on top of the glue and press it firmly in place, stretching it as you do so. Put glue on the outside of the shell, going down far enough that the goatskin will be anchored in place along the sides.
3. Attach the goatskin drum head to the top of the drum shell. Do this by stretching it tightly across the opening. Secure it in place using the hammer and small brad nails, tapping them into place. As you tap each nail into the drum, pull the goatskin head taut. As the goatskin dries, it will tighten, but you should leave the brad nails where they are. You may need to tap them in a little bit more so they are flush with the goatskin after it is dry.
4. Punch holes around the edge of the goatskin while it is still wet. Make the holes about an inch or two from the edge. Place the metal ring inside the bottom of the drum shell, and tape it down to hold it in place.
5. Attach the lacing. This will keep the drum head tightly in place. Run the cording or rawhide lacing through a hole in the drumhead, down to the bottom of the drum, and inside the metal ring. Then bring it around the metal ring, back up to the drum head, and through the next hole. Repeat until every hole has a piece of lacing going through it.
6. Tie a knot in the end. When you get to the end, tie a knot so that your lacing doesn't come undone. You will need to be able to untie this at some point, to adjust the tone of the drum or to replace the drum head if something happens to it, so make sure you make a knot that you can loosen again later. Sit down, relax, and play your drum.
Tags: drum head, drum shell, metal ring, bottom drum, brad nails