X8 Drums Blog

In this lesson Michael Pluznick will show you how to play the traditional Konowulen Rhythm on Dununba. The lesson runs just over 17 minutes and shows how to play the dununba ballet style so that you can play it with less players while still getting the full sound spectrum. In this video: How to play all the djembe accompaniment parts Solo technique Exercise for learning the feel of this rhythm How to play the dununs ballet style and one at a time Slow mot …

In this lesson Michael Pluznick will show you how to take the traditional Kakilambe Rhythm arrangement and play it on one drum. You will learn three different parts of the Kakilambe rhythm that can be played on djembe. In this video: Introduction to Kakilambe Rhythm with three djembe players Breakdown of the rhythm parts Kakilambe Call/Break Kakilambe accompaniment part 1 Kakilambe dundunba part on djembe Combination of the traditional djembe part wit …

In this video djembe lesson, Michael Pluznick shows the basics of how to do a six stroke roll, which is very useful in soloing. A six stroke roll refers to the number of beats or hits your hand makes per phrase when making a roll. The drum roll starts on "the one" or first down beat and and ends before the second downbeat. In this video: Rear view of the basic phrase. Watch Michael's left leg it is holding the four count or beat. The next section shows the phrase in sl …

How do I learn how to play djembe? At first, the djembe seems easy to play. The first time you hit it, it feels good! It is so exciting to make your first sounds! But for 99% of us, it gets boring pretty fast playing the same one sound and rhythm. And many djembes end up becoming furniture. So how do we really learn to play? Learning to play your djembe is like learning to play any other instrument. It takes a little time and energy and what you put into it will co …

Percussionist Michael Pluznick shares a few exercises from yoga and other sources for limbering up before playing djembe. These exercises also help with increased dexterity, flexibility and also to avoid injuries. You can try these before or after drumming or when you have a break. They are also useful if you are on the computer a lot. In this video Hand and Finger Stretch Back Stretch Arm/Upper Body Stretch --------------- by Michael Pluzn …

When you first sit down to play your drum, you have to start at the root, also known as the Root System. The "root" for djembe playing starts at the feet. You want your feet planted flat. Moving up the body, now focus on the drum position. You want it between your legs with the bowl resting comfortably in the middle of your inner thighs. The drum is on a slight tilt so that the bass and tone can escape from the bottom of the drum as you play. Next, focus on you …

One of the most frequently asked questions from beginner to intermediate level djembe players is How Do I Solo on My Djembe? Today I'd like to show you a fom I've developed that will help you learn to solo, to have more fun and to play in an organized way that will be pleasing to yourself as well as others. In this video we are going to play a solo for the rhythm Diansa however it will work for any rhythm. Today's format will be in 4/4 and what we're going to d …

When a child enters middle school, their whole world turns upside-down. No longer are they given the nurturing support of the elementary school environment, but they are tasked with the responsibilities of changing classrooms and being on time throughout the day, using lockers, navigating new social waters and completing complex homework assignments. Students in middle school are exposed to different subjects and given more responsibilities than they've known previously, and …

Learn proper technique for hitting the djembe! In this digital djembe lesson, Michael Pluznick will teach you how to play the 3 basic sounds of the djembe; open tone, slap and bass. Features: Start with Triangle - The triangle hand position will set your posture and prepare you for hitting the drum Learn to play tone, bass and slap in the proper position on the drum head. Understand how to make contact with the drum. Learn to play an Open Tone Bounce (Rebound) and foll …

Taking up drumming as a hobby can help a person learn patience, dedication, and promote health and wellness. It can also present opportunities to join a community of people with the love of rhythm, music and the sharing of a unique and creative passion. Some drummers are able to pick up a djembe or other percussion instrument and start playing rhythms with little or no training; others may need a little help. If time, money or location is an obstacle to learning how to …