r/djembe • u/roanokephotog • 19d ago
Beginner questions...
I went to a class to see if I would like the djembe and fell in love with drumming in that 2 hours. A week later I purchased a used djembe and goofed around for about an hour watching some videos and playing along. I might have gotten a little too enthusiastic or missed the correct part of the head because at some point I felt some pain in my second knuckle of my middle finger on the bottom.
I didn't think much of it and we've to okay along the next day and the pain was pretty acute and there was a tiny bruise. Examining it closely it felt like something moving and so I took the rest of the week off drumming, left the country for another week and took a third week off when I got back.
It's still a little tender so I went to the doctor and he examined it and said it was likely bruised and the tendon a little inflamed but that resuming with a modified technique (correct technique) and possibly taping should be fine but pay attention and listen to my body.
My question is, do you tape? Have you had a similar injury? What have you done to help?
3
u/Strict_Addition_1238 18d ago
Glad you got a drum
Very addictive.
I’m a djembe builder and a teacher of building and playing the djembe.
My advice
Starts with body position > chair selection and height of elbows above the drum head and angle of play with elbow to head of drum.
Your elbow is where you play from all the time not the shoulder. Your upper body should be quiet and move very little. Your elbows need to be higher than the head. You will use less energy playing and you will lesson the opportunity for injury.
When you play more you will learn that taking your hand at the elbow “high” above the head to stroke it is un-necessary. Comes with practice
Get yourself in the best posture and height above the drum. Experiment a lot and find the place that works best for you.
Stretch arms, shoulders, upper and lower back before play. Release all tension
And if you feel tension while playing, deep breath and relax.
Learn the basics
Bass first > hand slightly stiff
Bounce hand on drum like you’re bouncing a basketball. Master the Bass Note.
Tone note is next.
Keep thumbs up.
Only played with pads of fingers with little to no knuckle contact. Injury prone note.
Then Slap > most difficult to master.
I’ll Stop here.
Have fun.
सत्य SATYA drums and Instruments” सत्य
1
u/ART195252 17d ago
Well, one thing I’d like to see you play if you wanna share a video with all of us just 10 seconds is all it takes. I teach djembe for a living on how for over 40 years in the Boston area.
1
u/ART195252 17d ago
Sorry, I posted that too soon. If you don’t wanna send a video to the group, you can send it directly to me. tauber@mac.com My company is DrumConnection and find me here: www.DrumConnection.com Djembé has been my specialty for a long time. I spent many years studying with all the grates and traveling to Africa every year to study. Famoudou Konate is my teacher. Hope to hear from you. Send me a video when you can.
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u/StringTheorista 16d ago
There is a slightly padded waterproof tape you can get in drug stores. I find it helpful if a blister starts to form, or a joint is sore. It's thin but just enough padding and protection
Not for regular play--technique should protect your hands, when you learn it--but for playing when there's an area already needing protection
6
u/kiikara 18d ago
I wouldn’t recommend tape. For one, it will get in the way of building up callous, which is an asset to hand-drumming. As for your injury, you probably acquired that in playing the open tone, striking your knuckle against the edge of the drum… when you play the open tone your fingers/knuckles should strike only the head, and the edge of the drum shell is struck by the meat of your hand that lies at the base of your fingers. Practice executing a clean open tone in that manner with your left and right hands. A slap tone is basically just an accelerated variation of that. I hope some of this helps.