Drum Care
Tuning
Keeping your drum in tune will help you get the sounds out of it properly. There is no one right tuning for a djembe. A higher tuned drum will put more stress on the drum head and my reduce it’s longevity. It will be easier for slaps and more challenging for good solid tones. A drum head tuned on the low side will be easier on tones and more challenging for good slaps and will probably last a bit longer. The mechanics of djembe tuning are best shown in person. We’d be happy to show you how to tune your instrument. Just let us know!
Drumhead
The drum head is by far the most vulnerable part of your instrument. Because (in most cases) it is made from a skin of some type (usually goatskin for djembes and cow skin for dunun) it is sensitive and subject to changes in temperature and humidity. We highly recommend a good drum hat (a cover for the drum head) and/or a good drum case. In addition, don’t leave your drum in your car for more than a few minutes. Winter or summer, this could be devastating for your drum head’s lifespan.
Shell
Your drum shell doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. A good time for shell maintenance is during a re-heading. Check the bearing edge for shape and smoothness, repair any cracks with epoxy and apply a fresh coat of coconut oil. If your rope is old and frayed, replace that as well.