How To Tune a Djembe

A djembe is a work of art. It is a beautifully designed musical instrument creating a sound that is music to my ears. The bass's, tones, and slaps form rhythms so mesmerizing it is hard not to fall immediately in love with this instrument.

Originated in West Africa, the djembe shell is made out of various types of wood. Each piece is carved with a unique and impressive design. The head of the djembe is usually made from the skin of a goat, tied down and laced with sinew.

Of course, just like every instrument, the djembe requires maintenance and upkeep. Without prior knowledge of how to tune the djembe, it can be quite scary. It is imperative however, so that the beautiful sound continues on for the life of the drum.

The main purpose of this Hub is to give detailed instructions on how to tune a djembe. Having two myself, I recently learned how to do so, and would like everyone to be able to do it as well!

• First, you must locate the knot on the vertical tuning rope. This is where you will start the tuning process. This knot will have the excess rope on your djembe. Sometimes it is wrapped around the middle of the drum, and sometimes there is enough to form a handle.
• Unravel the excess rope so that it is hanging loose off of the djembe.

This is going to be your starting point for all subsequent steps, so make sure you have found the right one. It is fairly obvious when looking at the djembe which one it is, so you should have no problem.

This is the most difficult part of the tuning process. Mostly because it hurts your hands if you don't wear gloves or have a special tool!

• Get a pair of gloves. Working or gardening gloves will work best.
• Locate the very first vertical rope to the right of the knot.
• Slip your hand under the single rope, and pull as hard as you can!
• Repeat this step, pulling each individual rope in order from left to right until you reach the knot on the vertical tuning rope.

The purpose of this step is to remove and slack that may have developed in the rope. Over time, it stretches, and it is important to eliminate it before moving on to the next step. Your hands will definitely be sore, so you might want to take a break before moving onto step 3!

In this step, we will learn how to do what is called "interlacing" or more formally, the "Mali Weave".

• Using the excess rope, slip it underneath the first two vertical ropes to the right of the knot on the vertical tuning rope.
• After pulling all of the excess rope through, you will then slip it back over the second rope, and under the first rope.
• Pull the rope down towards the base of the drum head. Get it as low as possible so that you can do this again in the future if need be.
  
• Now, pull up on the rope. You may have to hold the drum down with your feet while you do this, so in order to protect the drum, put a pillow or towel between your feet and the drum.
• You will see that that the two ropes you have just interlaced have now crossed at the base.
• Repeat these steps for each pair of vertical ropes all the way around the drum from left to right.

You're almost done now!

All that is left is to hide the excess rope. There will be less than when you started...if you did it right...

I have done it both ways, but it really depends on how much excess rope there is. If there is a lot, it might be most beneficial to form a handle. I am not quite sure how to do this. All I can tell you is that if you have a handle before you start, remember how it comes apart when you untie it; and try to put it back together the same way!

If there is only a little bit of rope left, you can simply wrap it around the midpoint of the drum and tie a little knot to keep it from unraveling.

O Drum of mine,

Who knows my hands,

Speak to me of times ancient

Speak to others of my voice

Let my pain and passion

Run through you and from you

Let the voice be one of healing

Of love, of power and strength

O great universe full of rhythm

Fill me with your knowledge

So that my hands will know and play

The ebb and flow of the tide

The waxing and waning of the moon

So through me and from me

Mother earth can be heard

Through the beating of my drum

I want to stand alone yet follow

To create yet imitate

The secrets of the past

The knowing of now, that whatever

Rhythms that I may play

Let them not be mine or anyone else's

Let them be…..

Be pure, be simple, be healing, be me

I want to declare to the setting sun

To the waves in the ocean

To the face on the moon

That I, am so deeply in love with

The drum

And that my attention to rhythm

Will flourish, with every beat of my heart

And each day that I live

I want to give face, to one of the

Universes greatest mysteries

Yet greatest truth

Rhythm

-The Djembe Website