Beginning Djembe

Learn to play djembe!

This hands-on workshop will help you produce a good sound, healthy playing technique, and learn the essential concepts and rhythms of West African djembe drumming. Extensive play-along tracks help you practice every technique in the context of a traditional African djembe ensemble. You will learn:

• Correct, effective djembe playing technique and posture
• The three fundamental sounds on the djembe: bass, slap, and tone
• Exercises and play-along tracks to help you develop good tone, facility, and memorize essential rhythms and their variations
• Traditional djembe rhythms, and how they fit into a traditional African djembe ensemble
• Techniques for soloing
• The history, and traditional cultural context of the djembe
• How to tune, maintain, and care for your djembe