Top Djembe Tips
Once you have your djembe drum, what are the things you can do to keep it sounding superb?
Three very easy tips and one tradtional method of getting your drum to sound alive again. 
The temperature plays a factor in the sound of your djembe drum. Sounds unlikely but is true. The skin and wood react favourably to heat and humidity. Leave you djembe in the sun or by a radiator for an hour and it will sound superb. If you leave it in your cold car overnight it will sound duff and out of tune. Always keep your djembe indoors in a warm environment, preferably a centrally heated house.
You can tune it up, it's not as difficult as you may think. The first time I did it it took me 20 mins but my drum sounded fantastic afterwards. Instructions on how to tune your drum. All you need is the loose excess rope which should be wrapped around your drum, a glove and the strength to pull the rope around the drum. Honestly it's easy and well worth doing.
This tip isn't one for the purists but is effective. If you're not feeling up to tuning the drum with rope in the traditional method, you can tune it by knocking the top ring of the drum down with a hammer. Now, the key to this is not to hit it too hard otherwise you could in theory split the skin by pushing the ring into it. So just go around the top outer ring tapping it with a hammer, quite often you'll hear a cracking, this is the ring settling down and evening itself out. You'll be amazed in the difference in sound quality.
Another easy tip - and it's one somelse told me - is to wipe the skin with a damp cloth, then stand in a heated room. This skin drying out tightens and gives it a bit of extra ping and once again makes it the drum sound alive again.
If you've got any tips for the this section then please contact me and share the knowledge.