X8 Drums Blog

The Nanigo rhythm originated in the Yoruba tribes of Nigeria. It was influenced by Cuban culture after being brought to Cuba from Africa during the years of African-Cuban slave trade. It is thought that the Nanigo rhythm originated from the religious worship of the Orishas during a “Bembe,” or celebration of the spirits. It is the mysterious, voodoo roots of the Nanigo beat, and the perception of its players, that added to the repression of the African culture within Cuba. T …

X8 Drums and percussion is committed to bringing the best drums and instruments to musicians across the globe. Kopf Cajon drums are just one more reason why we are the leader in Djembe, Cajon and Hand drums. This latest addition to the X8 family brings the best in sound, quality and value to our customers and friends, and we are thrilled to carry such an extraordinary line of Cajon drums. Kopf Cajons illustrate the beauty of Cajon drums in the simple des …

Great bougarabou drumming performance. Watch and pick up some new techniques. In modern drum circle situations, the Bougarabou is often used to back up djembes in the percussion group. The Bougarabou can be played as a single drum or in a set of up to four and are normally played with only the hands in a standing position. Percussionists seeking a rich bass melody will choose this drum over a djembe. Tribal Mask Bougarabou …

A drum set, or any type of percussion set, can be enhanced though the addition of more drums, percussion instruments and other accents. In fact, one of the best things about owning drums or a drum set is the ability to customize the sound to the drummer’s taste. Even better, however, is the well-known fact that a drummer can never have too many drums, and that any drum can be modified into an “effects” drum to create an even more unique look, taste and feel to the drum set or collection. After a …

I do a number of Drum Circles in my community, including the one in the video below at our community recreation center. This is with the developmentally impaired community. I have a team of four men I work with in our community venture. We bring joy in our wake.Why do I drum? I was born to drum. As a young child I was drawn to rhythm. I sharpened the edges of my mother’s Revere wear pan lids using them as cymbals. I used boxes, coffee cans and pencils for my first kit. In 5th grade in school I …

One of the great things about playing hand drums is that there are so many options to explore in the world of hand percussion. However, as drummers are inherently picky about the sound of the groove, this is also one of the things that can make deciding on a hand drums difficult. There are countless hand drum options that are popular for beginning drummers or drummers looking to make a change, and new variations of hand drums are released each year. When trying to discover which hand drum is rig …

Buying a drum is an investment in an instrument, as well as in the freedom of self-expression. As with any musical instrument, a drum enlivens and engages the mind and spirit of its player. Because of this connection to our drums, it’s important to understand that when looking for drums for sale a mystical experience may occur. Essentially, when the type or style of drum is right, the drummer will instinctively feel the vibe flow, and the love story will begin…. But getting there is half the fun …

They say that great things come in small packages, and that may be especially true when it comes to hand held musical instruments. Hand held and hand percussion instruments are fun and fascinating, especially considering that each one represents the unique culture from which it evolved into the products we see today. In this light, the kalimba is a phenomenal example of a truly unique instrument that packs a powerful, musical punch, even as it adds a bit of whimsy and nostalgia to the songs we l …

Learning to play a new instrument is always exciting. When the time comes to buy a new instrument, being sure that the instrument is the best fit is vital to the experience of playing music and adds motivation to continue to learn and grow as a musician. Ask any musician, drummer or percussionist how he or she feels when an instrument isn’t “right,” and it is clear to see that when buying a new drum, the decision is ultimately about the connection to the instrument, and not necessarily the visua …

With all of the different sounds in traditional African music and drumming, it can be confusing to know which drums create the different harmonic tones, especially when the sounds can be so similar as the drums vary in size, shape and design. For the novice or beginner drummer, determining which drum is the best for their needs is a process that can only happen through trial and error, by listening to the different sounds that each drum produces and deciding which sound, t …