Chupacabra wrote:These http://www.drumskulldrums.com/ guys know their stuff and cater to the higher end buyers. You want to go with an authentic hand-carved djembe made in Guinea, Mali, Senegal, or Cote d'Ivoire. There are probably some good djembes made in other parts of western Africa but these countries are better known for their carvers and the type of wood they use. Try to get a djembe that is light enough for you to be able to play for a couple of hours, while you are standing as it is being held by a strap around your back and shoulders. Most djembes are made with goat skin but some have calf which also sound great. The size is a matter of preference for the player so you will just have to try some on and see how they fit.
The subject of "djembe 101" is way too big to write about in a thread so the best thing to do is just get started! For inspiration, go onto YouTube and look up Mamady Keita or Famoudou Konate. These guys will set you on your way to seeing how djembe and west African music should be played. Of course there are many others but these guys are the most famous.
With west African percussion music it is important to balance your djembe playing by becoming proficient with the dununs (bass drums) as well. And, according to most teachers I've had you should also learn some of the dancing aspect too.
Happy drumming!
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