Drum

[songbird]

Today I bought a drum!

I wasn't even looking for one, but found the most perfect drum for me!

It's not very big, but fits me perfectly!  I feel like I've been playing it forever.  The sounds.....

Amazing.  My son says he feels like I am putting him to sleep with the sound.   

 
I don't have a pic of it yet, but this one is similar:

[songbird]

A djembe (pronounced /ˈdʒɛmbeɪ/ JEM-bay) also known as djimbe, jenbe, jymbe, jembe, yembe, or jimbay, or sanbanyi in Susu; is a skin covered hand drum, shaped like a large goblet, and meant to be played with bare hands. According to the Bamana people in Mali, the name of the djembe comes directly from the saying "Anke dje, anke be" which literally translates to "everyone gather together", and defines the drum's purpose. "Dje" is the verb for "gather" in Bamanakan, and "be" translates as "everyone" in Bamanakan.

It is a member of the membranophone family of musical instruments: a frame or shell (in the djembe's case it is a shell) covered by a membrane or drumhead made of one of many products, usually rawhide. Djembes are commonly about 12" (30 cm) in diameter and 24" (60 cm) in height, varying a few inches. They can also be found at many smaller sizes, from 5" (13 cm) up to 18" (46 cm) in diameter. As a result of the goblet shape, the density of the wood, the internal carvings, and the skin, there is a wide range of tones that can be produced by the djembe. The rounded shape with the extended tube of the djembe body forms a device known in physics as a Helmholtz resonator, giving it the deep bass note. The primary notes are generally referred to as "bass", "tone" and "slap", though a variety of other tones can be produced by advanced players. The slap has a high, sharp sound and the tone is more "round" and full. The bass is the lowest.

Some consider the ashiko to be male and the djembe female.

[songbird]

The djembe is said to contain three spirits: the spirit of the tree, the spirit of the animal of which the drum head is made, and the spirit of the instrument maker. It is legend that the djembe and/or the tree from which it is created was a gift from a Djinn or malevolent demigod, male counterpart to the more familiar Genie. Properly crafted djembe drums are carved in one single piece from hollowed out trees called Dimba, or Devil Wood. Drums made from slats or segments of wood glued together are considered by traditionalists to have no soul of the tree. Properly made drums are not smooth on the interior but have a series of teardrop shaped divots inside that enhances the tonal qualities. The drumheads are typically made from goatskin, but more rarely can be antelope, zebra, deer, camel or calf. In all cases the female is preferred and adult cow is never used. It is a common stereotype that in earlier times and still in some rural areas djembe were used to send messages over long distances, but this allegations have no real background.

[songbird]

~

[♀♥Lady Urania♥♀]

Nice! Theres a music store up the way and I wanna get one for myself eventually. For now I use my thighs or tupperware, im a geek huh? LOL

[songbird]

[songbird]

Nice! Theres a music store up the way and I wanna get one for myself eventually. For now I use my thighs or tupperware, im a geek huh? LOL

LOL

Not a geek.  Ya use what ya got.
 

[♀♥Lady Urania♥♀]

Drum along with these guys and Ill use my thighs:

[songbird]

 

Funny though it's an African drum,  I seem to play it in more of a Native American way.   It's the way that feels most natural to me and the range of sounds I like the best.  I'll experiment with the true djembe style of drumming, too though.

[equinox]

Very cool, song!



 

[♀♥Lady Urania♥♀]

V, this is an awesome video thanks! Im drummin my thighs to them, good thing I got jeans on LOL

[songbird]

Yes, very cool video, thanks equinox!

My drum's quite a bit smaller than these, but one thing I noticed-- that these women are also doing-- to get the best sound,  place the drum either between your legs or under an arm with drum resting on side of ribcage.   

 

[songbird]

Keep hugging that DRUM. The drum is calling the 2 legged back for the Earth Mothers healing. The core of Earth Mother beats continuously. The Earth need healing and so this is why so many 2 legged are being called to drumming and to make their own drums. There are many different forces at work. the Drum is coming into power again to awaken our hearts; it is NOW that we must learn to live from the heart. the heart is the place of balancing and awakening to our wholeness; the heartbeat is one of the reasons people so naturally and strongly connect to the drum. After all, each one of us comes into the world having spent nine months listening to the heart drum in the womb. We are imprinted with the rhythm from the very start the rhythm is the heartbeat of life. There are no special songs or words - no special way to beat the drum - just sit, stand, walk and play with the beats of your drum.

AHO my friend ~ Peace


Rev. Terri Delahanty (Many Feathers)

http://www.fhwisdomkeepers.org/pg05Drum.html