This section of the African Drumming Online Sampler teaches you the basics of how to play a djembe. This sampler focuses on teaching you the correct technique to get the main sounds from your drum – bass, tone, and slap.
The full site contains many more technique videos for other drums, sticks, and percussion instruments, as well and a collection of specific exercises for you to do to develop your sounds, speed, and skill.
Also previewed in this section is one of the ‘Rhythm Power’ exercises. While not appearing to be directly related to how to play a djembe, these are a series of exercises you can do anywhere, anytime, to help develop your co-ordination, understanding of rhythm, independence, and ‘Rhythm Power’. Developing these skills will help you as you learn how to play a djembe.
If you want to learn African drumming, these videos are the place to start. Once you’ve checked them out, sign up to the full site of African Drumming Online, free.
African drumming online will help you learn how to play a djembe. Regardless of whether you have touched a drum before, or whether you have been playing for years, African Drumming Online will have something for you. If you are a beginner, lessons like how to hit the drum without hurting yourself, how to develop your independence, and how to use sticks properly will help you master the basics. If you are intermediate player, it’s still worth checking over the technique videos, to see if there’s anything you could improve, but you can also expand your knowledge with some specific practise exercises, lessons to teach you how to play a djembe solo for specific rhythms, and African performance footage for you to analyse. If you’re advanced, check out some of the more advanced rhythms, all the rhythmic concepts, and the soloing tips and tricks.
So, regardless of where you are in the path of learning how to play a djembe, African Drumming Online will be able to help.