LEARN TO PLAY THE DJEMBE DRUM

MASTERCLASS COURSES BY ENDORSED PROFESSIONAL IAN MIKAEL KIRSS

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PEOPLE LEARNING IN 47 COUNTRIES

I will teach you djembe

Hey, this is Ian and I'm a professional teacher and drummer endorsed by Paiste cymbals since 2004. I'm also responsible for the biggest djembe channel on YouTube.

With my modern method you'll be playing the djembe in no time! Students in 47 countries, on all continents (except Antarctica) are getting incredible value from the Djembe Master learning process.

Beginners, medium and advanced levels are all welcome here - get ready to enjoy an amazing djembe journey with video courses designed to help you play in the most efficient way and get results fast!

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Beginner Level

Courses for people starting from the beginning. Learn fundamental strokes, beats and fills.

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Medium Level

Courses for players with some skill. Learn next level rhythms inspired by drum set beats.

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Advanced Level

Material for hardcore enthusiasts. Learn advanced beats and tricks.

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Bundles

Get the most bang for your buck by choosing more than one course.

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Blog posts

Go through summaries of the most relatable djembe topics. From how to do basic strokes and djembe technique to different tricks to use with your djembe playing. The content of the blog posts are from the Djembe Master YouTube channel.

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  • Solo Part with the Djembe Drum

    Solo Part with the Djembe Drum

    I just opened that video and played the solo for you—here’s exactly how I do it, bar by bar, so you can copy it tonight when you learn djembe. Tempo:...

    Solo Part with the Djembe Drum

    I just opened that video and played the solo for you—here’s exactly how I do it, bar by bar, so you can copy it tonight when you learn djembe. Tempo:...

  • Down-Up Djembe Technique

    Down-Up Djembe Technique

    I just dove deep into the down-up technique—my essential move for doubling your strokes in one fluid motion, making every jam smoother and faster. Here's the core: Down: Hand drops...

    Down-Up Djembe Technique

    I just dove deep into the down-up technique—my essential move for doubling your strokes in one fluid motion, making every jam smoother and faster. Here's the core: Down: Hand drops...

  • 6 Ways of Becoming Great with the Djembe Drum

    6 Ways of Becoming Great with the Djembe Drum

    I just shared my top six ways to master djembe from good to great—lessons pulled straight from my journey, no fluff. Play other instruments: Whether it's piano (built my finger...

    6 Ways of Becoming Great with the Djembe Drum

    I just shared my top six ways to master djembe from good to great—lessons pulled straight from my journey, no fluff. Play other instruments: Whether it's piano (built my finger...

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Testimonials

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Frequently asked questions

Should I even start if I have no musical experience?

Absolutely. The majority of people who have come to me over 20 years to learn djembe have had zero experience with any musical instrument.

Today, they are all enjoying the rhythms they play with their drums thanks to all those djembe classes.

How long does it take to become very good?

The time frame to learn to play djembe can vary quite much.

But roughly, a couple of months of online djembe lessons and practicing will get you well-versed in the basic beats and rhythms.

What are the benefits of drumming?

Whether you take djembe lessons for beginners, join online djembe lessons, or jump into djembe classes, you gain a lot.

Drummers gain advantages including enhanced physical coordination, superior mental skills like memory and focus, stress relief, and increased social connection through teamwork in music.

Drumming is a full-body workout, developing both fine and gross motor skills, and it fosters creative thinking and cognitive flexibility.

Is the djembe hard to learn?

Not at all. In fact, the djembe is one of the easiest instruments to learn.

If you learn African drumming, the process is different to what I teach. But if you take my djembe courses, the learning curve is nice and smooth, especially the djembe lessons for beginners.

What’s the difference between conga & djembe?

While both percussion instruments, the conga is usually longer, used in pairs and has an oval shape.

The djembe is narrower from the center to the bottom and has a lot more bass compared to the conga.

What country is the djembe from?

The djembe originated in West Africa, with its deepest roots in the Mandinka (or Maninka) people of Mali, dating back to around the 12th–13th century during the Mali Empire under King Sundiata Keïta.

Why is the djembe so popular?

It is the best single drum to use when you want to play with other musicians. Add beats to guitar music, for example.

And it's the best because of the wide spectrum of frequencies - from low bass to high pitched muted slap sounds.

Different strokes which I cover in all the djembe drum lessons.

Where did you learn to play?

My father started teaching me the drum set in 1999. Years later, I started to develop my own style of playing the djembe. Now I've been teaching this modern way for over 20 years.

Although, this is not traditional djembe education, in my experience, this modern approach is one of the best things to learn with this drum.

I’ve played all over the world with countless other musicians, and this contemporary djembe style that I play and teach has proven to be practical and surprisingly applicable.

What is the best size djembe for beginners?

If you're ready to start djembe drum lessons, I recommend a djembe with at least 12-inches of diameter.

Personally, I mostly play my 14-inch instrument but if I wanna have a break from that sound, I switch to the 12-inch.

What makes a good djembe drum?

Folks who take African drum lesson know that the best traditional master djembe drums are usually made from different woods which are super heavy and have animal skin on top.

I personally enjoy the key-tuned djembes which do not have a real wood shell, no ropes, no animal skin. Remo drum company, being my preference, has excellent modern djembes - the best quality out there.

Where do I get a djembe?

Best to hop into your local music store. That way you can try out different sizes of djembe for yourself.

If this is not an option, I recommend finding a key-tuned djembe online with a diameter of at least 12-inches.

I personally use a 14-inch Remo Mondo djembe since 2005 and have never looked back. Best key-tuned drum out there to learn djembe with.

How to tune the djembe?

If you learn African drumming, you're going to have to deal with ropes and knowing how to tie those ropes which make the drum head tighter (more high pitched).

These days, I deal with key-tuned djembes only. This means that I use a drum key to occasionally tune my djembe a bit higher.

Watch my video on how to tune a key-tuned djembe here.

How to practice djembe when I have neighbors?

In one word - quietly. This might not always work since the bass stroke is what is most heard through any building.

But if you're going to learn to play djembe, you should find a space where you can also play loud strokes.

Sometimes, djembe drum lessons in groups are where you can play as loud as you need.

What are the main ways of hitting the djembe?

The bass stroke - with your full hand (palm).

The slap stroke - done on the edge, with fingertips touching at the moment of impact, and then resting above the skin.

The quiet slap - just like the regular slap, but executed with a very small amplitude.

How many times a week should I practice?

As a djembe teacher, I recommend at least once a week, 1-2 hours.

Play to instrumental music, if this makes practicing more fun. Or use a metronome to make sure you are staying in stable tempo.

Definitely play slow exercises, check out how fast you can do it, and then come back to slow practicing.

With any djembe course, first practice the exercises slowly - it's the most important thing to remember if you want to get fast results.