I get what I want, (from me).
Hand drums are important to me today. They weren’t always. But in moving away from computer drummers to myself on djembe, I’ve discovered some tips that might help someone out in a similar boat.
Take take take a chance.
Experiment is the main rule, so far. Using different mic and mix techniques makes you applicable in more situations. I use all my mics on djembe. They have different sounds and vibes. I used 3 mics for the same project recently. Wasn’t mine. But they loved it. Sounded like different djembes. What I was going for.
Patterns don’t always mean counting.
One thing that helps me is knowing where the pattern is. When I’m learning a tune, it’s broken up in my mind as to where the parts are I play a pattern. Hand drums, to me, shine when they escape the trap set tendencies to play on the 2 and 4 or whatever. That’s a pattern too, but with multiple drums. Sometimes the snare is grating to me. I don’t get that with patterns on hand drums. It’s also often not the same accent notes from measure to measure. I don’t dread that snare pop between each hit. Relief.
I played drums in high-school and some college. I wasn’t into hand drums then. It’s probably why I focused on guitar. Even then, snares made me wince sometimes, as a drummer! Just loud and you know when they hit. Like dread, here it comes, clockwork.
If you are a great drummer, please ignore me.
If you’re like me, hand drums are a relief. I get my drum on, no snare. Like a glove. It’s not all snares that bother me. Listened to Peter Erskine a lot yesterday.. he can play snare all he wants and it doesn’t make me flinch. Also, he and I have the same birthday, June 5. Neither me nor the computer can play a drum set the way he can. So hand drums for me is about getting what I want out of doing it myself. I hear that, I’m good!
It’s important to get away from patterns too, in my opinion. If you’re into multiple tracks, you can make accent tracks, you can double up, you can spread out. Sky’s the limit. Just have to think of it!
Most times I use multiple tracks but not always. I’ve found mid/side recording handy in certain applications. I use conga, or bongos, and even shaker toppers to give the djembe high end. Gives it fullness. Easy to do. The hand drum vibe stays too! Yay!
One great hand drummer out there…
I love Julian Lage as a guitar player. He has a percussionist with him sometimes who plays a whole kit of hand drums. He gave me loads of ideas, recommend. Here he is on Tiny Desk. His name is Tupac Mantilla from Columbia..
He’s what I refer to as a bad ass..
The importance of listening .. not to me.
I think it’s important to listen to folks like Tupac Mantilla and Julian Lage. In fact, I’d say the best tip there is? Listening. You’re going to get ideas listening to that band. If you don’t, you’re not listening.🤷
Many of us are waiting for our turn to speak, either with our mouths or instruments. It’s as if we feel inside we have only a few secs to get our notes in. I find a lot of reasons for that. One of them is not prioritizing the listening. I guarantee every musician like Julian or Tupac is great at just hearing things. I can tell by hearing them. That’s what you want, in my opinion. It gives music a conversational appeal it doesn’t have otherwise. It’s important. Listening. Even just listening to yourself. All important.
Deliver us from percussion hell!
Hand drums have been a way out for me from percussion hell. If I can ever help there, just holler. I’m very happy to talk djembe all day. I love the thing. [email protected]
Bonus perk!
I have a movement disorder called Tardive Dyskinesia. On a personal level, I love the djembe because I can sense playing it is fighting my jerky tendencies in my limbs. I feel happy when I play it. It feels like busting loose on time, mostly. Haha. I recommend for anyone wanting a boost in keeping time. Me and a metronome and a djembe can stay busy a long time and it feels good. Can’t beat that.
Return to home.
I’m Kelly and I made this. Felt great. I still like it. Enjoy and thanks. Take care.