When I first started playing the Djembe drums I started looking at TH-cam videos and most of the so called teachers, I mean most don't know what they are doing. It takes a long time to properly play this drum. THIS MAN IS GIVING YOU A GOOD AND PROPER START. FOR REAL.
I first learned djembe in high school and fell in love with it but after my teacher passed I never picked it up again. Watching these videos reminds me of them and the time my schoolmates and I got to experience such a beautiful instrument and culture. These videos are just a refresher of what we learned but I'm glad that I can pick a djembe up again and do what I love and keeping my teachers memory alive. So thank you for doing what you do ❣
You are an exceptional drum teacher! I am 72 and my wife is a musician, performer, vocalist, songwriter, and plays the guitar and base. I have enjoyed listening to her for 26 years, but never played an instrument with her. Thinking back to elementary school I wanted so much to play drums in the band, but that wasn't an option for girls in the 50's. instead I played the violin but never well. I didn't even enjoy listening to myself practice. You are helping me learn the djemba and I have even played live a few times with my wife. Why are you so good? Because you are teaching to people with all types of learning styles - visual, talking, touch, sound and lots of repetition and examples.
I just got my first Djembe, my first drum of any sort. I have a friend that is a Master who came to visit..I shared the teacher I had selected from TH-cam, Kalani. He watched silently and said 'You found the right one'. Need I say more. Thank you, thank you.
thanks for putting aside the flair of a pro drummer, to demonstrate in a way that allows total novices to see themselves in your examples. A difficult skills to acquire as a teacher, well done!
That's right, it's an extremely big challenge. Most accomplished musicians have a certain air to them, to ask them to humble down to teach is almost impossible.
Just bought my first djembe. Great lesson, in less than 10 minutes I went from graceless thumping to understanding. Now for practice… Thanks for sharing.
I have watched a few of your videos on drumming and find that you approach the task with an understanding of the needs of new drummers. I really appreciate your informed approach and how you provide details on the techniques too be used including proper hand and finger positioning. That is really helpful to me as a novice. Thank you for all these videos!
I used to go to class for this but, undoubtedly I wasn’t interested at all but, since my dad was excited for me I acted like I was. I never practiced since it wasn’t interesting for me. After seeing my Djembe sitting in my closet for the past two years I realized I could make some use of it. Thanks for teaching me this!
Thank you Good Sir. I'm a music producer and my wife bought me a Djembe from Ghana and I want to add it to my compositions. This lesson is going to help my practice sessions.
Thank you so much. I have been really struggling with the difference between an open tone and a slap tone. I have watched bunches of videos and haven't been able to tell the difference even when they are doing it, never mind when I tried it myself. Your video is the only one that has made sense to me. Kudos!
The first time i picked up a Djembe i was 7 years old siting on a beach in Mumbai , and the drum belonged to a man siting close to us he offered it to me in response to my staring at it I did not require prompting I started to playing and when I stopped playing about 300 plus people on the beach were clapping, another man patted my back and said thank you adding ( in Hindi of course ) with this drum you either have it or you don't . I am now 80 years old drumming my way through life.
I played djembe in high-school winter drum line (an offshoot of marching band that has competition in my state) and I will always be grateful for being able to experience this instrument. I really like how particular you are in describing these techniques. You would just have to feel the djembe in order to understand. It's a very light feeling drum but at the same time you have to be loose and natural. A beautiful instrument without a doubt.
This is awesome because I'm also playing it for Winter Percussion and I'm currently watching this to try and get better at my technique. Pretty awesome to see that other people also watched this for the same reason lol!
Just got my first Djembe yesterday, and I love it! But it's a Meinl with more artificial materials, and I don't seem to be able to get much of a slap tone, because I don't get that nice wood "knock" out of it. Still gettin that shirt! Thank you!
Great info. Learned a lot. I have a few djembes at my studio and drum circles but never knew how to play. Really clear instructions. Also thanks for the split screen, so helpful.
I have no idea what Djembe is. I saw Djembe sale in GuitarCenter. I wanted to know more about this instrument. After watching your video, I am thinking of buying a Djembe and practice. You've got the best teaching skill. Love your tutorial.
Thanks for the amazing clear instructions. I've watched even some qualified Djembe experts can't even describe the technique to do a slap properly. They could play well, but just can't explain how they did it.
I just got a djembe with no idea how to use it, I honestly got it because it sounded cool. Definitely gonna use it, this video is very helpful for a beginner like myself.
One of my first Djembe videos. The slap is confusing. But I think you got it right here. It makes sense. I have seen another teacher shows the slap played similarly on the strike part with the tips of the fingers but he goes more forward into the middle of the head than the tone. Yours goes the opposite direction. With his approach the slap brings more bass sound to it. But I think in the slap it should be only treble. If you understand what I mean. Can you comment on this please? Have you seen other people do the slap more on the middle of the head?
Hey. it sounds good, this first lesson I watched. I am about to get one and start playing systematically. I do go to drumming jams and play friend's drums and not in any professional or systematic way but in my own way. I do enjoy thought but I want to improve to connect with my group better and enjoy more. ;-) M
Hey Maestro, I was remembering a great instructional video you produced many years ago, came with diagrams of several boxes laid out in that African box style instead of western notation, so cool and so practical. Was that one called African rhythms, the video? But meanwhile a general technique question; as in the conga open slap, Isn’t the sharp higher tone produced actually by the heel of the palm striking the drum edge first, resulting in a ricochet of those loose fingers, same principle as the finger snap? That’s always how I did it on congas but no one mentions that angle!
Love the video! Just have one quick question, so for the open tone, do we hit the edge with the second joints or the third joints(the ones connect to palm)of our fingers?
do you play electric drums like the Nord Drum 3p pads for example? would be interesting to see you play such drums tother with the acoustic Djembe and make music! :)
Not even 3 min in, and already I have a little problem. Littlerely so to speak. lol (because my djembe is so small you see...?) My Djembe was a spur of the moment purchase on my way out of the huge music store in my town. Therefore I just picked a relatively cheap little piece that is best described exactly like that. cheap and little. (I think it was around 40€, but idk.) I have come to regret this a few times by now, for example, it just doesn`t make a satisfyingly deep bass tone. And now for that exact reason, I am a bit unsure how to smack it! Where do I smack it if my hand is big enough to aim for the center with the fingertips while barely being able to squeeze the tinyest part of my palm on there as well at the same time. (I know, I need a better one, I just wanted something to do a little bit of percussion stuff when I loop, and to see how I like playing a djembe or something similar. (I like!)
Hi, i've just bought a djembe with a 22 cm diamter, 50 cm high. I hope it isn't too small to learn easly! Maybe i should have bought a bigger one... :/
Thank you so much for this video. I have a question about how to make the noise you hear Mr. Bill Summers doing in Herbie Hancock's Butterfly. I'm pretty sure that it's on a conga, but it sounds like a whistle and I am struggling to find an example of it online.
Hi. Your videos are best to learn. I would soon contribute from my end. I have an 8 inch djembe which I bought to start off with. My slap tone sounds identical to open tone. Is it the size of djembe or I may be making mistake in playing? For practice I make slap tone with just index finger near the rim.
When you play the bass tone on djembe, is it just the palm that makes contact with the head, or do you use your whole hand including fingers? I ask because If I use the whole hand including fingers I tend to get a bit of a slap sound along with the pure bass tone. Thanks for the video Kalani!
When I first started playing the Djembe drums I started looking at TH-cam videos and most of the so called teachers, I mean most don't know what they are doing.
It takes a long time to properly play this drum.
THIS MAN IS GIVING YOU A GOOD AND PROPER START.
FOR REAL.
Why all the caps??
Just got a djembe today for my 51st bday. This is my first learning video. Thanks for your teaching. Can't wait to get good!
Awesome!
I first learned djembe in high school and fell in love with it but after my teacher passed I never picked it up again. Watching these videos reminds me of them and the time my schoolmates and I got to experience such a beautiful instrument and culture. These videos are just a refresher of what we learned but I'm glad that I can pick a djembe up again and do what I love and keeping my teachers memory alive. So thank you for doing what you do ❣
Selfless people like you make learning so interesting without any expectation in return. God bless you!!
You're very welcome.
Lol okay i have played djembe for 15 years and play like im in a metal band so idk what all this "not boomy" stuff is but i mean to each their own.
Pete You’re right. As a professional drummer and educator, I make a living by helping people learn.
You are an exceptional drum teacher! I am 72 and my wife is a musician, performer, vocalist, songwriter, and plays the guitar and base. I have enjoyed listening to her for 26 years, but never played an instrument with her. Thinking back to elementary school I wanted so much to play drums in the band, but that wasn't an option for girls in the 50's. instead I played the violin but never well. I didn't even enjoy listening to myself practice. You are helping me learn the djemba and I have even played live a few times with my wife. Why are you so good? Because you are teaching to people with all types of learning styles - visual, talking, touch, sound and lots of repetition and examples.
I just got my first Djembe, my first drum of any sort. I have a friend that is a Master who came to visit..I shared the teacher I had selected from TH-cam, Kalani. He watched silently and said 'You found the right one'. Need I say more. Thank you, thank you.
thanks for putting aside the flair of a pro drummer, to demonstrate in a way that allows total novices to see themselves in your examples. A difficult skills to acquire as a teacher, well done!
That's right, it's an extremely big challenge. Most accomplished musicians have a certain air to them, to ask them to humble down to teach is almost impossible.
Just bought my first djembe. Great lesson, in less than 10 minutes I went from graceless thumping to understanding. Now for practice… Thanks for sharing.
I have watched a few of your videos on drumming and find that you approach the task with an understanding of the needs of new drummers. I really appreciate your informed approach and how you provide details on the techniques too be used including proper hand and finger positioning. That is really helpful to me as a novice. Thank you for all these videos!
I used to go to class for this but, undoubtedly I wasn’t interested at all but, since my dad was excited for me I acted like I was. I never practiced since it wasn’t interesting for me. After seeing my Djembe sitting in my closet for the past two years I realized I could make some use of it. Thanks for teaching me this!
Thank you Good Sir. I'm a music producer and my wife bought me a Djembe from Ghana and I want to add it to my compositions. This lesson is going to help my practice sessions.
Thank you so much. I have been really struggling with the difference between an open tone and a slap tone. I have watched bunches of videos and haven't been able to tell the difference even when they are doing it, never mind when I tried it myself. Your video is the only one that has made sense to me. Kudos!
I haven’t drummed for years and this is a great place to start, doing it right from the beginning! Thank you!
Just got 3 drums for my Montessori School, working with toddlers and I am so glad you had this video up. Thanks so much for this!😍
Merci beaucoup for this vidéo, very helpful and simple to understand.
I am new to all of this. Thank you for the clarity in your teaching!
very good narration and depiction ... the best part was that you treated yourself as a beginner too.
Really clear and informative. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this .
Open and Slap look exactly the same but sound completely different! It’s insane?!? Wonderful lesson. Thank you very much! 🙌🏼
Sir, thank you, super instruction, and as commented before, pure selflessly done. Many blessings.
Thank you
I can't believe I was able to get toned out of this this is amazing thank you so much.
This is such a wonderful lesson! I don’t even have a djembe but I would love to buy one and learn from you.
Thank you so much
The first time i picked up a Djembe i was 7 years old siting on a beach in Mumbai , and the drum belonged to a man siting close to us he offered it to me in response to my staring at it I did not require prompting I started to playing and when I stopped playing about 300 plus people on the beach were clapping, another man patted my back and said thank you adding ( in Hindi of course ) with this drum you either have it or you don't . I am now 80 years old
drumming my way through life.
Thx kalani. Your tutorials are very enjoyable
So good of you to make this freely available
Your videos are great. I just bought my first djembe. Very helpful.
I played djembe in high-school winter drum line (an offshoot of marching band that has competition in my state) and I will always be grateful for being able to experience this instrument.
I really like how particular you are in describing these techniques. You would just have to feel the djembe in order to understand. It's a very light feeling drum but at the same time you have to be loose and natural. A beautiful instrument without a doubt.
This is awesome because I'm also playing it for Winter Percussion and I'm currently watching this to try and get better at my technique. Pretty awesome to see that other people also watched this for the same reason lol!
This was great. Thank you for sharing those tips. It's great for beginners.
Just got my first Djembe yesterday, and I love it! But it's a Meinl with more artificial materials, and I don't seem to be able to get much of a slap tone, because I don't get that nice wood "knock" out of it. Still gettin that shirt! Thank you!
You are an absolutely amazing teacher. U inspire me a lot.
Great info. Learned a lot. I have a few djembes at my studio and drum circles but never knew how to play. Really clear instructions. Also thanks for the split screen, so helpful.
Thank you Mr. Clean, very cool.
Kristians Gerdens Keep’n it clean for the team.
Kristians Gerdens hahahaha
Lmfao
Mr clean lol
Very easy and clear to specific the area.. often people do not teach it ! ;)
I have no idea what Djembe is. I saw Djembe sale in GuitarCenter. I wanted to know more about this instrument. After watching your video, I am thinking of buying a Djembe and practice. You've got the best teaching skill. Love your tutorial.
Thanks for the amazing clear instructions. I've watched even some qualified Djembe experts can't even describe the technique to do a slap properly. They could play well, but just can't explain how they did it.
I just got a djembe with no idea how to use it, I honestly got it because it sounded cool. Definitely gonna use it, this video is very helpful for a beginner like myself.
Very helpful, I'm a drummer and just wanted to try to play different types of drums. Thanks !
Thanks for stopping by.
Excellent instruction - thank you!
Thx learnt basic now will practice
Thanks, your videos are making me a better drummer. I will share the love. 🙏
thank you very much for the teaching
I speak French only, but your explanations are very clear. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge with us. THANKS👍🤗🇨🇦
Nice very useful information bro jai ho
That’s awesome I have a dream to one like that I just got it today and I’m learning how to play it
Absolutely great video, taught me a lot.
Great.
Thank u for these tips! Just got a new Djembe and tried these techniques! Awesome! God Bless! :)
Kerwin Fernandes Thank you!
i usually switch to next video but interesting enough to watch all of your video thks for demo and tips!
Your video helped me with my djembe.
Great to know.
One of my first Djembe videos. The slap is confusing. But I think you got it right here. It makes sense. I have seen another teacher shows the slap played similarly on the strike part with the tips of the fingers but he goes more forward into the middle of the head than the tone. Yours goes the opposite direction. With his approach the slap brings more bass sound to it. But I think in the slap it should be only treble. If you understand what I mean. Can you comment on this please? Have you seen other people do the slap more on the middle of the head?
Wow... great job at teaching your community
Thank you this is great !! 🙏
Thank you, this video helped a lot!
Gluram Happy to Help
Thank you so much for your teaching 🙏
Hey alright! Excellent instruction. Thanks so much for providing this video. It was really helpful.
Hey. it sounds good, this first lesson I watched. I am about to get one and start playing systematically. I do go to drumming jams and play friend's drums and not in any professional or systematic way but in my own way. I do enjoy thought but I want to improve to connect with my group better and enjoy more. ;-) M
Hey Maestro, I was remembering a great instructional video you produced many years ago, came with diagrams of several boxes laid out in that African box style instead of western notation, so cool and so practical. Was that one called African rhythms, the video? But meanwhile a general technique question; as in the conga open slap, Isn’t the sharp higher tone produced actually by the heel of the palm striking the drum edge first, resulting in a ricochet of those loose fingers, same principle as the finger snap? That’s always how I did it on congas but no one mentions that angle!
Very well explained! Thank you 😊
Thank you!
This is marvelous.
Thank you for your teaching , sir 🙏😇
Explained so nice ,,,,, Love from India , Sir Can you please give tutorials on Cajon ?
Amazing work
Dang I gotta start practicing with my djembe! I got it years ago but I never really knew what to do with it til now
Thank from france y have a mini djembé i like this
Amen ...to that post...TY...very helpful
Amazing video. So helpful. Thx!
Nice teaching 👍
Very well explained . Tnx!
great, straight forward teaching 😊👍🏼
Love the video! Just have one quick question, so for the open tone, do we hit the edge with the second joints or the third joints(the ones connect to palm)of our fingers?
Thanks ! Really helpful
thanks for the tips! i really want to play drums in a worship team!
Great lesson!' Thank you !!😁
Phenomenal. Thank you
Thank you for the tips, a beginner by the way.
Mind blowing
have you done a Djembe tuning video?! just curious since the Mali Weave seems difficult to correctly tune...awesome vids on this channel!!!
Could you please say what is the recommended size for beginners?
bob spearz Depends on your hand size and preference, but 12-13” is common.
Best Video ever
I have trouble getting a tone. I restrung my drum several years ago and I get a very echoey bass and a bright slap but I'm not sure where my tone is.
do you play electric drums like the Nord Drum 3p pads for example?
would be interesting to see you play such drums tother with the acoustic Djembe and make music! :)
Awesome! Thank you!
Thank you!
I want to learn how to play the drum. I liked your lesson.
Nice t-shirt, I like it 😎
teespring.com/stores/world-drum-club
nice intro ... just what I was looking for ...
My djembe is so resonant! How do you get such a clean and short release sound? 🤔 Tried tuning it tighter and looser but to no avail.
Not even 3 min in, and already I have a little problem. Littlerely so to speak. lol (because my djembe is so small you see...?)
My Djembe was a spur of the moment purchase on my way out of the huge music store in my town. Therefore I just picked a relatively cheap little piece that is best described exactly like that. cheap and little. (I think it was around 40€, but idk.) I have come to regret this a few times by now, for example, it just doesn`t make a satisfyingly deep bass tone. And now for that exact reason, I am a bit unsure how to smack it! Where do I smack it if my hand is big enough to aim for the center with the fingertips while barely being able to squeeze the tinyest part of my palm on there as well at the same time. (I know, I need a better one, I just wanted something to do a little bit of percussion stuff when I loop, and to see how I like playing a djembe or something similar. (I like!)
Hi, i've just bought a djembe with a 22 cm diamter, 50 cm high.
I hope it isn't too small to learn easly! Maybe i should have bought a bigger one... :/
Dear sir , please tell us is there any specific note to tune the jambe ?
Example - bongo is tune for C and F
nilangasudesh weerasinghe No specific note, just as tight as you like.
Thank you so much for this video. I have a question about how to make the noise you hear Mr. Bill Summers doing in Herbie Hancock's Butterfly. I'm pretty sure that it's on a conga, but it sounds like a whistle and I am struggling to find an example of it online.
Thank you....very useful indeed.
Hi. Your videos are best to learn. I would soon contribute from my end. I have an 8 inch djembe which I bought to start off with. My slap tone sounds identical to open tone. Is it the size of djembe or I may be making mistake in playing? For practice I make slap tone with just index finger near the rim.
When you play the bass tone on djembe, is it just the palm that makes contact with the head, or do you use your whole hand including fingers? I ask because If I use the whole hand including fingers I tend to get a bit of a slap sound along with the pure bass tone. Thanks for the video Kalani!
Entire hand - Just stay relaxed.
Great... thank you Sir....
This is soo nice
Ty!!💯💯
Should the base of the djembe be flat on the ground, or should the drum be tilted while playing?
I love your T-shirt it’s awesome that’s one that I would wear I take a medium in the shirt women’s medium
very nice video!
So is the slap tone just the finger tips hitting the head compared to flat hand in the open which has more surface of the fingers hitting?