X8 Drums Blog

Assuming the audience reading this is a drummer, we'd like to know more about your drumming needs as we expand our product offering.We want to know if modern kit drummers and world music hand drummers are interested in the same instruments and accessories. Do kit drummers know what duns, doumbeks and djembes are? Do world drummers appreciate toms and drum pedals? Where do their needs overlap? Would there be more interest in crossing over from one to the other if there was more educational mater …

Percussion instruments can be a paradox. The simplicity of the design of many hand percussion instruments versus the incredible depth of sound they provide can be a challenging concept for anyone to truly understand… except the percussion fanatic, that is. The shekere (pronounced: SHAY-kuh-ray), for example, may be one of the most underestimated hand percussion instruments; yet, it has an incredible versatility in both image and sound that can take rhythm to entire new heights. Shekeres were or …

Many people think of drumming as a youthful or lively activity, found amongst younger generations with able bodies and minds, but drumming has numerous benefits for older citizens as well. In fact, in senior citizen centers and assisted living facilities, drumming programs are being included in the various activities offered, allowing our elders to continue enjoying the music and rhythms of life, through the eyes, ears and hands of wisdom. Drumming helps stimulate the mind while presenting rhyt …

For fans of hand percussion, X8 Drums has always provided a complete, online multimedia experience to help customers find the best djembe, cajon, bongos and other hand drums on the market today. With videos, high-resolution images and sound clips, the X8 Drums website has been the “next best thing” to shopping for instruments in a music store, only with hundreds more drums, hand percussion instruments and other products available to “try” 24/7, 365 days a year, plus live support and advice from …

If you ask a drummer or percussionist the best thing about drumming, the answers will be as varied as the people you ask and the drums and beats they play. Drumming is just as much a passion for life as it is a quest for excellence, but, there are also untold health and wellness benefits that could rival a marathon runner’s experience. A University of Oxford study released in 2012 determined that under the right circumstances, drumming releases endorphins, and drumming within a group setting mak …

Rhythm in music provides the background for the other elements and instruments to fully express the vibe of a song. Through rhythm, and especially drumming, there is an innate ability to take a song and expand on its original meaning, through the interpretation of the phrases and overall feelings and emotions within. Without the drums and percussion, a song cannot first establish a regular rhythm and then improvise the beat to match the mood, communicating more than lyrics or other instruments. …

February is upon us, and the hearts and flowers are being sprinkled around like fairy dust in preparation for Valentine’s Day. While there are plenty of references to romantic rhythms and heart beats during this time of year, when it comes to drummers, there can be a different vibe to dating and relationships. That is not to say that drummers are not like the rest of the world, but, being a drummer or percussionist takes a special commitment. After all, being surrounded by rhythm changes the bra …

Drumming may not seem like a dangerous activity, unless you consider the addictive nature of rhythm and the “rabbit hole” of discovering new drums and percussion instruments. Drumming is a physical activity, no matter which type of drum is played, and as such, can cause injuries to any drummer – whether a beginner or a drummer who has been feelin’ the beat for years. Through proper posture, stretching and an understanding of the various maladies of a drummer, the dangers of drumming can be reduc …

Pregnancy and the first few weeks of a baby’s life are precious times for the mother and infant that is just beginning to be influenced by the world. For many expectant mothers and fathers, the ability to communicate with an unborn baby is one of the most thrilling and speculative parts of the pregnancy, and the addition of music, reading or even speaking to the “bump” becomes a fun way to pass those months.There is, of course, much more to the role of sound and pregnancy, and the connections a …

The unplugged style of Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars's"Libations" takes the band back to its roots of playing inrefugee camps on whatever instruments they could find.Photo from sierraleonesrefugeeallstars.com.With the release of their new album, Libation, reggae band Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars celebrate the 10th anniversary of the making of their first album, Living Like a Refugee. Three more albums later, Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars have literally gone from refugees to all stars.A …