Our djembes are listed with as much information as possible including:
♪ General country of origin, timber and hide descriptions
♪ Specific aesthetic and sonic qualities unique to each drum
♪ Each listing comes with a video so you can see and hear the Djembe in action. Just scroll down and press play!
♪ All of our djembes are covered under our 5 month graduated warranty.
We love connecting people with the drum of their dreams. This guide is an excerpt from our Student Handbook aimed at covering all of the basics a first time buyer should consider.
Having trouble deciding between an Indonesian or Ghana djembe? We created our Ghana vs Indo Guide to help you make a decision.
♪ 155cm – 163cm tall, you’ll need a 59cm -61cm tall djembe
♪ 164cm – 175cm tall, you’ll need a 61cm -63cm tall djembe
♪ 176cm – 185cm tall, you’ll need a 63cm -66cm tall djembe
♪ 186cm or taller, you’ll need a djembe of 67cm height or taller
* This is a guide, please consider other factors which may be relevant, such as what chair you are siting on while playing. For example, if you sit on a tall chair then you probably need a taller drum.
♪ 2 years – 6years: Recommended: The Mini Djembe
♪ 4 years – 12 years: Recommended: The Junior Djembe – see our Kids Starter Pack
♪ 10 years and over: Recommended: The All Rounder or a 10″ Ghana Series
♪ 12 yrs and over: Recommended: The Classic or a shorter drum from the Ghana Series – see our Teen Smasher Pack
♪ 14 yrs and over: Recommended: The Super Series or a drum from the Ghana Series – see our Afro Starter Pack
Keep in mind young drummers can grow fast, so consider getting a drum they can grow into and enjoy in years to come!
Wood
The shell should be made from a single piece of timber.
Entry level drums tend to be made from
medium density woods.
Premium djembes are carved from hardwoods,
lending wide and rich tonal ranges from skilled carvers.
Hide/Skin
For beginners we recommend thin or medium skins.
Thinner skins are more responsive + easier on the hands.
Diameter
Minimum adult sized djembe head is 12”. Look for 12”-15”, depending on your hand size.
Each year we travel to West Africa in search of amazing djembes. Since 1998 we’ve been fostering relationships with the master carvers of Ghana, Mali, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Guinea. We’re also established in Bali where we develop affordable, quality drums that form our Indo Range.
All of our timbers are non-endangered and where possible come from sustainably sourced plantations. We skin the shells locally with carefully selected hides using quality tensile rope with low stretch ratings.
We’d be happy to help you find your first Djembe – how exciting!
Send us your details below, it’s a fast and easy way to hone in on the best drum for you.
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