How to Begin Playing the Djembe - 5 Critical Steps

I just walked you through the five critical steps to kick off your djembe journey right—straight from my years of playing and teaching.

1. Source your djembe: Hit a local music store for that hands-on vibe—test different ones and move around to check acoustics. No store? Go online: tomann.de in Europe for killer service, Amazon or eBay in the US, and yeah, Amazon probably works in Asia too.
2. Pick the right one: Go for at least 12 inches in diameter (13-14 for more bass punch). Try traditional rope-tuned (wood, goat skin) vs. modern key-tuned (fiberglass, synthetic like my Remo). Slap-test for tightness—skip the detuned ones.
3. Sit smart: Grab a normal-height chair—not too low or high—so your wrists stay comfy when reaching the center and edge. Drum throne if you're mobile.
4. Tilt for tone: Angle it away from you, starting at about an inch off the ground at the bottom. Experiment: more tilt = more bass roar; less if the room's already booming.
5. Nail the basics: Spread those fingers wide (check my video on that), hit the bass dead-center for depth, and slap the edge for that crisp pop. Dedicated vids on each in the description.

These steps get you sounding solid from day one—no fluff, just results. Like and sub if this helped—it fuels more content.

Questions or video ideas? Drop 'em below. Ready for djembe drum lessons? Masterclasses are waiting at djembemaster.com. Grab a drum and let's groove.