X8 Drums Blog

The sound of your cajon is very adjustable. There's a bass tone in the middle area, and on the edge there's a slap or a crack. With this guide, you will learn how to adjust the corner crack tone. Start with a far corner of the faceplate - furthest from the body of the cajon. When the plate is less taught, the drum gives a slow dynamic and a rather pronounced crack. That sound might be too much for some people. To adjust the response, take a Phillips Head screwdriver and very gentl …

The cajon is believed to have originated in Peru when the African slaves, brought to Peru from Angola, began using fruit crates as percussion instruments. Displaced from their homeland, the African slaves substituted cod shipping crates for their native drums. In Cuba, small dresser drawers were used for the same purpose. The instrument was refined and became an important part of Cuban and Peruvian music. Early usage of the Peruvian cajon was to accompany Tondero and Zamacueca (old vers …

Four awesome Cajon players are Mario Cortes, Mike Meadows, Nina Rodriguez, and Stephan Maass. A cajon is a type of percussion instrument, or drum that is typically in the form of a box that is slapped on the front face with the hand. While each of these famous players uses a cajon, the way in which they play and how they have used their fame to endorse new cajons show off their personal style. Mario Cortes is one of the most recognized cajon players known for the LP Cajon. The LP Cajon …

Cajon drums are rapidly increasing their unique sound and style in all types of music today. These drums can be found in all venues and recording studios, replacing the need, at times, for a standard drum set and giving the acoustic sound of drums a unique flavor that only serves to add to the overall tone and presentation of a song. For such a seemingly simple instrument, the Cajon drum is a powerful force in the world of music and rhythm today. Cajon drums …

Drum circles are an entertaining and expressive way to join together people from all walks of life. The intention behind a drum circle may vary, whether for charity, health and wellness, fun or strengthening community bonds, and regardless of the drum circle purpose, its overall benefit affects all who participate. Facilitating a drum circle is another step in the life of the drum circle enthusiast. It requires leadership, organization and a willingness to provide an atmosphere th …

Many times when we are playing djembe with our friends or by ourselves, there is no dundun available. There are three dunduns in the dundun family; Kenkeni which is the smallest, Sangban and the Dundunba. The drum is traditionally played with a stick on one side and often a dundun bell on top or in Mali sometimes they use a bell that hangs like a ring on your thumb. In this video we are going to show you how to play a dundun part within the djembe context. That typically …

The Meinl Snare Cajon and Toca Snare Cajon come with a fully adjustable snare on the inside that is in contact with the faceplate. To control the cajon snare effect, tighten or loosen the knob and adjust the snare levels or turn it all the way off. When the snare is in light contact, the snare effect is the strongest. And if you want the snare off, back the knob off and retighten it in position and the snare effect will be gone. If you take the faceplate off of the caj …

How much do you know about the origin of your Djembe? Beyond the actual drum in your hands, the history of the Djembe is rich and full of tradition. Its earliest recorded appearance is in 12th century Mali, and is thought to have been originally crafted by the “numu” or blacksmiths of that time. There is also a legend of its creation being attributed to a woman who broke the bottom of her mortar while pounding grain and attached a goat skin to repair the break. Djembes still …

It's important to understand the fundamentals of playing the djembe when you're first beginning. In fact even if you've been playing for years, it never hurts to go back to reviewing the basics. Too many times players have jumped into playing their instrument without properly understanding correct body positioning and playing technique. And when it comes to playing hand drums this can surely lead to sore hands and painful joints. Playing Positions I would venture to say that th …

When we age, an onslaught of health issues may become a daily part of living. From general aches and pains to battles with illness, growing old can be a graceless experience. For those facing Alzheimer's, or those with loved ones battling Alzheimer's, the feeling of helplessness can be overwhelming. The gradual changes in personality, mood and overall wellness are devastating for the patient. Caregivers and loved ones are also affected, and finding a way to embrace …