How to Play the Djembe Drum : Slapping Techniques for the Djembe

[bobstucki7]

He has killed in 1min49 2'000 years of tradition.

[zz124]

Honestly, this video wouldnt be so bad if it was better quality sound, and phones werent going off in the background and it didnt cut off early. the sound quality is so bad, you cant even really hear the difference in tone when he presses his fingers down

[orangehawk23]

to play Djembe with a ring ( left hand )... is a NO GO!!!

[ShangChi]

No offense to the maker of this video, but honestly, this is NOT how you do a proper slap on the djembe.

[funkfrank1]

no offense brother but i have been studying west African rhythms for many now with several master djembefola and i will like to agree with almost everyone you cant possibly get a proper slap or solo at the rim of the drum. you basically get slap and tone from the same place,the difference between them is that for slap or solo your emphasis should be on the tips of your fingers of and for tone your fingers should be close together. get a master djembefola on this programme they are the EXPERTS

[Jadaj14]

I'm sorry but that is not slap

[tmazzaro]

ahahah



[EvilDestroyerable]

thats ended a bit early? i mean i am much better than that

[Nabakaron]

WHY YOU ALL HATERS?!?!

Make your own "Expert" videos if you think you are hot shat.

This guy is pretty good and I liked this video.

[djembeweaver]

@Nabakaron You're right that many comments are unnecessarily rude. However, the reason this has attracted so many negative comments is because this guy is teaching djembe technique when his own technique is terrible. That really winds a lot of people (including myself) up. Honestly, everything in this video is wrong and will result in many people all over the world picking up bad technique. By the way, I have posted my own videos. Have a look. I am not an expert but a serious student.

[comibama]

The clothing is authentic

[SAHBfan]

There is MUCH worse than this on expertvillage!

[mzmayhem333]

lol, this kinda really sucks. . .

[reyndrasimbolon]

this guy is beginner 

[jessiethe3rd]

This guy SUCKS. SO bad it's funny.

[VicyVic777]

is playing just for fun kool? cuz im thinkin bout gettin some and i kinda dont wanna be "taught" - jus to let it floww.

[cesarfiladelfo]

Expertvillage should be named Noobvillage.

Everything here is horrible!

[gnaed]

rong i used to play there is 3 notes on djembe tone bass flam

[salsoso1]

This is all wrong!!!!!

[jhpable]

The only good thing about expertvillage, is that they show how NOT to do it !!!

[isareturns]

@alexofeire BABATUNDE OLATUNJI IS ON AMAZON. HIS VIDEO IS PERFECT FOR BEGINNERS. I LOVE THIOE DIOP AND RECOMMEND HIS VIDEO ALSO. MAYBE THIONE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR YOU.

[isareturns]

ITS INTERESTING HOW PEOPLE ARE SO WILLING TO TEACH SOMETHING THEY DON'T KNOW. I JUST WISH THAT THEY WOULD STOP THIS NONSENSE.

HOW DO YOU TEACH MISINFORMATION WITH SUCH CONFIDENCE AND BAD TOOLS.

[percashic]

EXPERTVILLAGE IS FUCKING RETARDED!!!!!!!!!

[babbe001]

Don 't try this at home! This man is NOT a djembé player.

[malpais03]

netlass. . .I think you said it perfect!!! haha. I'm gonna kick it old school and call this guy a TOOL!!!!

[netlass]

I think u should Go and practice more NO WAY IN THE WORLD U PRESS THE DJEMBE. GO AND TUNE IT......

[persianpride001]

THIS IS soooo wrong there is no such thing as press slap theres SLAP TONE AND BASS thats it the rest comes from hours of practice everyday to be a true djembe player

[josephinemasih]

the phone rings at 1:00 ahhhaaaa

[FiaBallProduction]

leave it to the pro's, don't try to be a teacher when your a student

[fm2010erro]

YOU FAILE

dá 0 pra ele

[Merakis100]

There is no 'wrong' technique for Djembe - it's ALL technique - the only thing that matters is how you use it and whether it sounds good or not - some people take a long time to wrap their minds around it. My advice it just to find good people to play with that are patient and kind. You'll pick up everything you want to learn on your own. I hate being taught, but I love to learn. This makes for your own unique style of playing and adds brilliance to an already wonderful pastime.

[jhpable]

I totally aggree with mr findingrhytm and other similar comments. This was painful. Wrong playing technique, but also stiff and unrytmical. The fact that Expertvillage has alloved this clip and performance onto their website, makes me wonder about the level of their other stuff.

[BakaryBeats]

u suck

[delucey]

expertvillage sucks! seriously.

[NicholasGreen91]

answer your phone! hahaha.

[therealTOTOfan]

expertvillage only hires experts.. leave em alone!! lolwut!! WTF ..

[yonah5]

I missed it; what were the slapping techniques? New djembe player, and this is not very helpful. He sounds like a drumline, not a djembe player.

[beelerable]

OMG ! Are you really an "expert" ??????

I'm a djembé lover, and sorry but you sound really wrong ....

I've never seen an "expert" playing with such low sound, and without taking off his ring before starting !

I wouldn't recommend your technique ...

[onebigeye]

Cool. Very helpful, thanks.

[MusicManimal4]

wow the racism here is depressing. come on!

[EbonyBlutengel]

Well, it's better than what I can do. Why are people bashing this guy? I'd practice his techniques for a bit when I get my drum, and then look for more lessons from another video. I liked what I heard.

[Infiengham]

thi si not slap and technik is no djembe

[Judahdiah]

i am a white guy...but GOD DAMMIT i hate stupid fucking white people!

[isareturns]

@Judahdiah THAT IS SO FUNNY. ALMOST AS FUNNY AS CHRIS ROCK HATIN' NIGGERS.

[Koreymoore13]

wow that guy does need to practice more lol

[vitongazz]

how do you make this RING tone??

very nice.. like it.

great vid.

[superheromichael]

how come expert village is always just some guy or some girl who seems not too much of an expert?

[palacinki]

omg, what a crap...this is amazing....then ppl cannot play and teach others...so sad:(

[myoung1969]

Best part was when the telephone rings.

[ciclonatural]

very very bad.. puro kaô....

[blizork]

Who is this clown?

[chessdude67]

WOW! This is SO BAD! thumbs way down on this video.

[firehandszarb]

not the tradition grab slap everyone was expecting eh?

[shizlebusta]

good idea to stop playing while ur talking

[OrganicGanjaFarmer]

Aye, ah who dat. Wa gwaan. michael, he ah busy beating drum, noh see. Him ah carl you bak.

[Shellover10]

And please remember dear expert -

never, never play a precious instrument like the djembe with your fingerrings on.

First - you spoil your rings

Second - you spoil the skin

Even beginners know this

[isareturns]

@Shellover10 YOU CAN'T CONCENTRATE WITH THAT PAIN.

I STOPPED WEARING RINGS ALL TOGETHER , INCLUDING MY WEDDING RING, BECAUSE I LOVE JEMBE SO MUCH. SEE THIS GUY DOESN'T KNOW WHAT A SLAP IS, THAT'S WHY HE'S ABLE TO WEAR A RING.

[zarathustra969]

Where did this idiot learn to 'play' djembe?

[lukafrikas]

There is someone who wants to tell people about techinic....but cannot do the technic on his own well enough...i cannot understand that!

Bullshit

[rith5]

another audio turd from expert village

[DjKelavey]

Heres a secret, yes I a blackman, my bloodline and my gene can be traced back to the very first human that walked the earth, your cannot you alien!

[TheBassHeavy]

Get the phone

[TheAppleAustin]

You peolpe are tearing apart the reason we play music with instruments such as the djembe, to bring people together for happyness. but you people are to blnd to see that and another that brings people together is smoking weed(I don't recomend it though).

[missMaylaRea]

hand drumming is a beautiful art, very exciting to play .. never mind the ignorant comments.

[PaiLung]

oh and another thing Dylan. most of the african drummers that i know and have had the honor of playing with and seeing perform were as sober as a new born baby. They got to that other state of mind without having to medicate with anything. and FYI they all played as a TEAM, even the most insignifcant beat had its place and was played as fervently as the lead drum. Too many soloists in a circle equals jumbled crap and noise.

[PlasticExplosive123]

Right, I get where you are coming from with the, simplicity can be the best part of a group of drummer, angle. But why are you getting so worked up about that shit man? If you like drums... play drums, why do you care about other peoples shit so much. You come across as the kind of person that could poke holes in anything. Stop caring so much, take a lesson from the stoners yeah? Just chill man, it's all good. (Not a stoner.. don't freak out)

[PaiLung]

Ah yes the Djembe, the choice of pot smokin slacker white guys.

Ive been to so many drum circles and its always the same. 10 slackers all trying to be cool and all of em want to be soloists. no real rhythm, no idea of what its like to play in unison and it sound decent, just a bunch of pandemonious crap.

The Djembe is overplayed and overrated.

[MIKESCHANNEL]

Well said

[DylanSchaeffer]

Yeah, because the only people in the world who are allowed to enjoy the Djembe smoke weed, right? Thank you ever so much for offering your well-respected expert opinion.

Whatever the lifestyle of the person playing it, it's about the emotion of the music.

[PaiLung]

i take it that struck a nerve with you,GOOD. Put down your bong and go learn what it means to actually have rhythm and be able to express your "Emotion" in a way that doesnt sound like some stoned 3rd grader that has a few techniques. As for my expert opinion,,im not an expert however i have been a drum enthusiast for many years that is proficient in the dumbek middle eastern rhythms and the Yoruba Talking drum. not too many can say that they are able to play that drum and NOT be nigerian.

[SamuraiCab]

k dude your being incredibly pompous. First things first, being a pot head isn't derogative at all. In fact many successful famous people are pot heads, and most of the american population are pot heads, you just don't know this because if you don't smoke pot no body wants you to know they do.  And btw I bet a stoned 3rd grader could play better than you mister enthusiast

[PaiLung]

Who's being the pompous one? I don't have an issue with smoking pot, just dont feel it should be the majority of someone's "high point", especially in a drum circle. Go back and reread what i wrote,or are you too stoned to grok the verbage and the rhetoric? As for people not wanting me to know they smoke pot, why the fuck should they care if i know or not? Go back and reformulate a cohesive paragraph that backs up your views with experience and sober headed information. Otherwise dont bother me

[DjKelavey]

Blacks did truly invent, rock n roll, jazz, rnb. blues. pop. pop rock, punk rock, etc. Just give it up if you say otherwise because you are lying

[mrnarnar]

Oh yeah about the rock statement, theres a big difference between Little Richie and Metallica. Most rock now a days isn't blues based anymore. You could call it metal. Led Zepplin was the birth of metal and it was invented by caucasions. Don't get metal confused with the screemo stuff its much different.

[DjKelavey]

Dude please, you speak like you dont know music at all, thats garbage, Led Zepplin would tell you himself!

[mrnarnar]

Interesting statement Kelavy. Ive been playing the Djembe for ten years and have met plenty of black peeps that have no natural rythim at all. Also they ve asked me to school em on it and I'm european. We also have tribal drums called bodhran but I like djembe because of the different tones. Much love.

[DjKelavey]

Retract on the last statement because blacks invented rock music and I would like to say not all whites play so damn corcky like the ones on youtube, but having the African spirit is a spiritual vibration impulse that is naturally generated from the vibrations of our African DNA, impossible to understand I know its deeper than the hand slapping the drum dude, check out me playing Djembe video to understand!

[DjKelavey]

Im sorry white ppl playing djembe is just funny, no pun intended its cool though just unatural looking and often wierd at times, its like a black dude trying to sing rock music!

[jrmsher33]

The drum isn't tight enough. sounds like crap. Plus he's trying to throw Latin techniques in there. That's not even close to how you slap a drum. Most American's call what he's doing a "pop" He's playing with a ring??

Wow, expert village????

[oceandojo]

I totally saw the ring. Yikes!

[TheSkankinstuff]

What a dork!

[marcospritz2000]

se devo dire una cosa mi sembra proprio che sto "expertvillage" sia solo una grande americanata e basta.... altro che esperti!

[etanielyehuda]

Just answer the phone! All of this "theory" has sucked the essence of Djembe playing. It's always best to learn from the creator of whatever you are interested. Yeah the ring needs to go! Sorry, no offense, but you do not have it. You should not mislead the masses. Shalom Shalom

[biffybeans]

Confusing video. He first refers to it as a slap, which it's not, and then a press slap, which maybe makes a bit more sense - but it's basically a muted note. The djembe he is playing is tuned very, very low, which is giving him the ability to flex the head. Most people I know tend to keep the head screamingly tight, and the slap would be played in an entirely different way.

PS - shouldn't be playing the drum with a ring on - could hurt the drum, your finger or the ring.

[DjFreshmatic]

I played a djembe once just for fun and I love the bass they have really deep you can really feel it I just love it BTW this guy sucks

[DrumWarfare]

This video is pure shit.  TERRIBLE technique and rhythm. There is NOTHING expert about this video.

[djembeweaver]

I agree with you and lukafrikas, awful technique and pretty rich to post a 'how to play djembe' video, but let's not resort to insults. As a long time djembe student I find these sorts of videos very annoying, but I get frustrated with the amount of venom in some people's comments too. The djembe is a joyous instrument so let's not get bitter. Let's just point out the truth and avoid swearing. It's better like this.

[negromarco2]

antes de enseñar algo tenes que estudiar con alguien que te enseñe .

[lukafrikas]

Pardon? what of this shit is a slap?!

Man before you host a "how to play djembe" video on youtube learn it! ... that is foolish. with a ring! omg...tune the djembe! you shell listen to african djembe players!

[bruniwmcf]

never would wear a ring on my finger. sorry. no good example.

[christianconefery]

yeah djembes are good.... but congas are beter

[flufflee]

really? how come?

[christianconefery]

well with congas you can get more tones and they're mor popular than djembes

[malila85]

I disagree but to each his own!

[jrmsher33]

Yeah, conga's have more complex tone variance and can "whale call" even do harmonics on a good conga because of the shell shape. In traditional African djembe they don't even play the bass notes like most westerners. The play sharp bass notes like BOW instead of BOOOoooom.

[djali222]

thats vary tru the conga has a vary soft and smooth kind of sound giving it a cleaner slap. the djembe is is more sharp and ringy cuz they are ment to over power louder noises. for example if the background drumers are playin the base beat then the solo can over power the background.

[ronnysoeberg]

how can one drum be "better" than another...

Also Congas offer no where near the amount of resonant bass a djembe does, so it's not really comparable. Congas are nice acompanied with a kit drummer, but djembes sound cooler by themselves.

Depends on what kind of perc you need. what the situation calls for.

[ThaDeeStylee]

ill tell you... if you're on this video reading/watching... this instructional isnt half bad. HOWEVER... what people fail to understand is that with all hand drums there are regional patterns that are meant for that particular drum. so if you dont know about the history of the Djembe, there is pretty much no way youll know how to play it correctly. they developed the sound to work in ORGANIZED drum circles, to set songs... thus it is tuned to sound best played in that manner.

[blorbin]

Djembefulla-shite

[jointventure78]

hahaha ,white djembefola

[Waylordextreme]

mussungu

[face4radio]

you get what you pay for..

[goolai]

This is a "crap"!! Lousy poser guru trip!!! That is not a conga you stupid!!!

[TheIbanezGuy]

way toooo much bass

[yenyere]

Im just apalled by the number of negative comments on this video, because I just watched a real bad video and it had a number of positive comments, so I wonder what makes people write such bad or good comments?

[eburton55555]

What is interesting is that this inquisitive soul wrote a simple honest question and still people feel the need to rate it poorly!

Wake Up people! just know that we are one and every vibe counts!

[eburton55555]

Yeah I agree. And it is quite interesting how people rate you honest comment, and inquisition thumbs down! it's just an observation. Is this video that terrible?

every vibe counts

"I am within us all"

2012

[nulfrost]

2012 is retarded and your a fuckin moron for beleving it. the myan calender is a freakin circle it has to end somewhere...

[poncin]

The title of this video is wrong. It should be "Tips On How Not to Play the Djembe Drum". On the other hand, setting a bad example can be a good way of how not to do it! :) It's a free world, hehe!

[BramoX]

do this guy honestly think he is helping any body i know a 6 year old with better technique

[LilLadyGansta]

God...i can do a slap with one hand....i bet all you people can too..its simple-why's he teaching people how to do it with two hands? his techniques bad...

[mrnlady]

the first lesson is DO NOT WEAR RINGS!!!!!!! come on!!!! take a few lessons and try again...:)

[findingrhythm]

it's a real shame to see this. very, very wrong. not correct technique at all; not for the djembe.

[lelandky]

If you're a beginner, please ignore this video. This guy knows nothing about djembe. Get a Mamdy Keita DVD or even better, find a qualified teacher if you can.

[maalaeamermaid]

What a shame!! Really sad to think your offering something and it's WRONG!!! Have YOU EVER taken a lesson? don't teach what you don't know, self taught DOES NOT qualify you to teach! What the hell are you thinking???

[3mappa3]

This is terrible, far beyond lame. He's actually teaching bad technique, and his sound isn't even close to what you should be trying to achieve. Nothing to learn here, folks. Where does "Expert Village" come off trying to pass this guy off as an 'expert'? I'd give it negative stars if I could.

[lookup77]

you are f%&@ing high what do call this a lession on who you should and shouldent let give you a drum lesson your drum isent even tuned

[lookup77]

you suck this isent drumming and your so called djimbe sounds like a washing machien

[dungoddess]

Sounds like a Remo... Aargh

[DrumNBum]

i hate how bad these teachers for expert village are. they suck so bad! IT MAKES ME MAD HONESLTY

[Supernova325]

omw this guy is seriously a complete bag of suck! nobody take him seriously, he's worse than horrible! he cant keep time, he has no rhythm, he's teaching you bad technique, PLEASE DON'T HURT YOURSELF, WATCH SOMEONE TALENTED!!!!

[podoz]

God you suck! Do you have any clue how to actually play the djembe???

[jsmudde]

Why don't you get a butchers knife to go with the butching your doing. Totally incorrect techniques and you suck bro.

Stop ruining inexperinced percussionists. DO NOT TAKE THIS GUY FOR REAL HES GARBAGE

[TheBestWorstDrummer]

this guy sis wack

[Thezurez]

well, your feel wasn't very authentic, but at least your time sucked.....

[kitewing]

for a start, he shouldn't be wearing a ring, that's just damage time for your skin! If anyone wants to go near my Djembe's i make them take off their watch as well!

Piece out

[kitewing]

for a start, he shouldn't be wearing a ring, that's just damage time for your skin! If anyone wants to go near my Djembe's i make them take off their watch as well!

Piece out

[kitewing]

for a start, he shouldn't be wearing a ring, that's just damage time for your skin! If anyone wants to go near my Djembe's i make them take off their watch as well!

Piece out

[faith218]

Good Tips For Beginners

[blorbin]

please stop teaching Djembe..you make my soul bleed.

[manuntd007]

Viewers, please dont learn the slap from this guy! Its completely incorrect. The slap is done with one hand and the sharpness of the sound comes from the curvature of the hand (it is shaped as though you were holding a soccer ball). Either way I cant explain it on here and dont have the abiility to make a video but if you dont want to screw up your technique ignore anyone who tries to teach slaps like this, its dead wrong. No one who really knows how to play djembe will slap like that... ever!

[peeperdom]

AHA! an american version of 'ellaskins'. check out his conga 'lessons'. a complete joke. all wrong.

[turningleafdrums]

this guy needs to do bongs after drumming,not before

[DrumWarfare]

Balandugu Kan Djembe Foli Kan

Bolokada Conde

Thione Diop

Mamady Keita

Look up anything with the names above for real Djembe masters. Do not watch this video for any lesson on technique or rhythm. This video will start you down the wrong path and it will be very hard to learn the proper way later.

[richardolatunde]

frightening!

[shwillit80]

well yeah but you need to tune that shit,,,,sounds awefull

[ilvostro]

Ibrahima Boka Camara Djembekan

[crazeddrummerboi]

tune that fukin drum..sounds like shit!!

[MiselStarmo]

No rings please :)

[jpsmith89]

That is pretty much completely an incorrect slap.

[pidza21]

You're going to hurt your hands in the long run.

[haldol45]

please do some tunig on your drum and listen to some african maestro's

[TembaCapricorn]

Okay?! It sounds like a tin can with a skin on it.

[justgottalaugh]

lol. that's the sound of poor technique.

[kellie308]

1... it said beginner drum lesson and two, its his wedding ring and he wasnt doing any vigorous drumming in the video as you can see.... geez, if you have nothin nice to say, dont say it!

[berjah1]

he wearing a ring ...isn't that a basic no-no for a hand drummer?

[juzice]

Erm, I, myself, am undergoing percussion lessons and I don't think all that's been thought African drumming at all.

From the sounds, and the techs I see in the clips... Well... No... sadly.

I'm still new in this field, but, I kinda doubt what is being demonstrated here... Sorry =\

[juzice]

Let me correct myself, 'I don't think all that's been shown, are African drumming techs at all'

hehe

[komadich]

I agree that's not African drumming but I dont think the guy ever said this is African drumming. He is teaching a technique of himself obviusly.

Any way beginers should note that they'll not be able to learn djembe listening to this guy and advanced students should note that producing many different sounds (not just tone, slap and bass) is really very important.

[blorbin]

If you watch his other videos he talks about African drumming.

[blorbin]

Wow...I've been studying West African percussion for 6 years with master drummers from Guinea and Mali and all I can say is: Please stop teaching this as Djembe technique. This is not African drumming. Check out: "Ibrahima Boka Camara Djembekan" on youtube.

This will show you what a master drummer sounds like. I don't mean to be rude, but this watered down interpretation of West African Malinke drumming is, from a cultural perspective more harmful than helpful.

[unusual007]

Sorry to disappoint you, but you sound very arogant :) I checked out this "Ibrahima Boka Camara Djembekan" and it's realy cool, but there is no point of comparing "show on stage" with "learning video for beginners" :)

[blorbin]

It is not disappointing to me that you don't see the different in technique between those two videos. It is lack of knowledge, thats all. The guy on this video is teaching really horrid technique. It isn't Djemebe tones and slaps at all, it's as wrong as I have ever seen it taught. I really am not trying to piss anyone off, but it does piss ME off that when people post this kind of video...he talks about African drumming but has obviously never studied with any Africans.

[blorbin]

The Djembe is a subtle instrument with many beautiful tones that can can come from it. The slap technique he's teaching is a cheap imitation for people that don't know how, or don't want to spend the time it takes to learn a proper slap.

[unusual007]

Can you recommend any better videos for beginners? Is Toeknee Bailey better?

[blorbin]

Unusual: The best way to learn this tradition is to find a teach that is either African, or has Studied with an African etc. This music is traditional passed on from person to person. If you can't find someone in your area that teaches, google Drumskull Drums and go to their website you will find an extensive list of dvd's, cds, books etc that can help you to learn beginning West African drumming.

[ronigafni]

What are you talking about, you don't have to have studied with an African, thats like saying the best way to learn how to cook sesame chicken is by finding a Chinese chef. If somebody knows it and understands it you can learn from them no matter where they are from, unfortunately, the guy in this video just cant slap a djembe properly.