Different Drums from Different Cultures

Introduction

The following lesson introduces different drums from different cultures. Every culture throughout the world has its own version of the drum. Each one has a different history, origin, and use. Read and watch the following information to help you understand the various drums used worldwide.

Djembe

The djembe (jem-bay) is a goblet-shaped drum from West Africa. The djembe is tuned using a corded rope, made from African hardwood and animal skin, and often has jingles attached to the drum. Djembe performers rely on the three sounds most common to djembe playing: bass, slap, and tone. Bass is performed by striking the middle of the drum with an open palm, slap is performed using the tips of the fingers on the edge of the drum, and tone is performed using the fingers slightly away from the drumhead center. See if you can hear the slap and tone sounds in the video below:

Video: Djembe Solo by Master Drummer: M'Bemba Bangoura

wuladrum. (2011, May 12). Djembe Solo by Master Drummer: M'Bemba Bangoura. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/FMs3LTtgwY8?si=kwyYURck3AsBrxke

Click on the Closed Caption icon button at the bottom of the video to access the closed captions.

Taiko

Taiko (tay-kow), literally meaning "drum" in Japanese, has come to refer to the art of Japanese drumming. Believed to have been used for nearly two thousand years, taiko was originally used for military purposes but later took on a more sacred role in the Japanese tradition, including ceremonies. Also known as "kumi-daiko", taiko performances can have many taiko performers playing on drums of different types and sizes. The drums found in typical taiko performances are large drums with a rounded base and are played with two mallets. Watch a few minutes of the video below of a taiko performance:

Video: Eitetsu Hayashi // Fertility of the Sea (Taiko)

Senzoku Gakuen College of Music. (2015, Apr 6). Eitetsu Hayashi // Fertility of the Sea (Taiko). [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/ZagsLrNzg3I?si=Ib70x1eVIExy5cBb

Click on the Closed Caption icon button at the bottom of the video to access the closed captions.

Cajón

The cajón (kuh-hown) is a box-shaped instrument originally from coastal Peru, but is widely used in various types of music. Musicians who play cajón sit directly on top of the instrument and lean over to strike the front, hitting different places on the instrument to make different sounds. Lower tones are produced by hitting the cajón in the center, and higher tones are produced by hitting the top. Watch the video below to hear the unique qualities of the cajón:

Video: cajon mix groove

Daddi Bahmani. (2023, Oct 13). #cajon #mix #groove. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/fWMIh5BYul0?si=Iqf3z-IrongZTNWc

Click on the Closed Caption icon button at the bottom of the video to access the closed captions.

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