Ask Andy
Ask the wise old man Andy anything drum or rhythm related and he will (try to) answer your query....
From: Chris Little, London EC2A
Dear Andy. My djembe drum has a split head, can you tell me where I can get it repaired or indeed if it's possible to do it myself?
Chris,
To get someone to reskin a djembe drum can be quite expensive. Prices start at £50 plus the cost of the skin. I'd recommend you either buy a new djembe drum - depending on the size of it - or have a go yourself. I've got instructions on my site on what you need to do. It's a time consuming and fiddly process doing it for the first time but rewarding when done properly!!! Have a look at my reskinning page for a full explanation.
From: Alan Wiseman, Leicester
Dear Wise Old Sage Andy. I'd like to buy a drum for my 7 year old daughter who has just started an African drumming class. What sort of sized drum should I think about getting her? Do I want to start small? Great website by the way.
Dear Alan,
Taking into consideration her age, height and the fact she's only just started it, I'd probably recommend you start with a 9" or 10" diameter drum to begin with. The advantage of a smaller drum is that it's lighter, easy to move around and cheaper than a full sized drum but still produces a great sound. Let me know how she gets on!
From: Lisa Francis, Co.Durham
Dear Andy. What is the best way to learn the djembe drum? My friend told me listen a CD of the music but I found this too difficult. Would you recommend anything?
Dear Lisa,
There's all sorts of ways to learn. If a CD wasn't working out maybe it was too complex too soon. Why not try and play along to a simple rhythm that you know to build up your confidence. I'd certainly recommend an instructional DVD - I'll email you my recommendation - If there's one in your area you can join a drum circle or you can find a drum teacher. It's important to get the hand techniques of slap, tone and bass right at the beginning as these hand positions make the best sounds. I'll also email you over info I have on drum circles and drum teacher numbers in your area....Good luck!
From: Clair Marshall. Down in Sunny Devon
Dear Andy. I have a conga with a broken skin, it's seems to be a reasonably thick skin, would I need one of your cowskins to replace it?
Dear Clair,
Yes, go for a cowskin or even a buffalo depending how deep you want the drum to sound. Both sound very good. Goat and calfskin are far too thin for a conga.
From: Pat Pryor. Ipswich, Suffolk.
Dear Mr Andy. Someone told me to buy a double stringed djembe drum and not a single stringed drum? Why is this and what's the difference?
Dear Pat.
Double stringed drums literally have double the strings holding the ring and skin in place. Therefore the ring is less likely to move and go out of tune. Always go for double stringed over single...Hope that helps.
From: Andy Brockhurst. CA USA.
Dear Andy, this may well sound like the dumbest question you've had but why do some drums have the fur left on the drumhead playing area whilst others are shaved...
Dear Andy
Purely for sound reasons, nothing else. Keeping the hair on the drum playing surface - in particular a bougarabou drum or ewe drum - gives the drum a muffled, deeper sound to it, quite often a good foil for a high tone djembe noise. Not a stupid question sir...
From: Tom in London
Dear Andy. You sell broken drums I see, what state are these in and are they reskinnable?
Dear Tom
The drums are in an excellent state unless stated otherwise. Most have split goatskin heads that need reskinning. All have rope and rings attached. Some have splits in the wood where they been damaged in transit that might need a bit of filler. But all are good drums that just need a bit of work. Honestly!
From: Missy. Liverpool.
Stupid question, but what's the difference a 9" djembe and a 12" djembe - apart from the size!
Hello.
The difference is the SOUND. A 9" diameter djembe drum will have a different tone and pitch to a larger 12" djembe drum. The simple rule of thumb is the bigger the drum the bigger the sound. The bass is deeper and much more resonant with a larger 12" djembe and you can get a much higher pitch with the smaller 9" drum.
From: Chris Wilson. Up North.
Dear Andy, my djembe drum has developed a few hairline cracks at the base of the drum. Is this anything to worry about? Should I fill them in with filler? Thanks in advance. Chris.
Dear Chris
Wouldn't have thought this is too much too worry about. It's perfectly normal for all African djembe drums to develop some sort hairline cracks as they have come from a hot and humid environment to dry centrally heated houses in the UK. Some also develop the odd hairline crack if they've been moved around a lot or had a lot of use. It's nothing to worry about..
From: Helen Chambers. UK.
I am absolutely heart-broken!My beautiful djembe is now unplayable because it got damp at a festival & the top skin of playing area has lifted!It looks to be separate from the fury bit on the sides?I always thought it was one piece?Can you re-skin & if so how much is it?
Dear Helen,
Oh dear..if you can't sort the problem out by re-tuning it then it might have to be reskinned. Prices start at about £60 including the skin. Let me know if you want details of the guy I use to reskin my drums now. Or have a go yourself here.
From: Sara Jack. England
Hi Andy, I run a drum circle in the Midlands and have just bought some Ghanaian drums which have similair designs and carvings into the drums as the ones you have on your site. Can you tell me what they mean?
Dear Sara
The carvings you see are Adinkra symbols which appear on lots of everyday objects in Ghana. They lots of different meanings such as peace, good luck or unity. For a full list of meanings and the designs, please go to the Adinkra symbols page.
From Chris Holding:
Dear Andy. Would you recommend any particular skin for a bougarabou drum that has a split in it? Chris
Chris, I'd recommend a cow skin for a bougarabou drum. You need a thick cow hide to give it those warm resonants tones that it can produce. With the hair on the skin it will have an even heavier bass sound.