X8 Drums Blog

The Doumbek is a beautiful goblet shaped drum with a sound that differs from any other hand drum. When you hear a Doumbek being played, you can feel its Middle Eastern culture and charm surrounding you. This uplifting experience makes it almost impossible to resist joining in the fun. As with many hand drums, to master the Doumbek you need a basic knowledge of basic hand-drumming techniques. Equally important is a sense of rhythm and timing. The ideal first step for a new Doumbek drummer is …

While the cowbell may seem a simple instrument, the range of sounds, tones and accents available are unmatchable when it comes to giving a song an extra punch. Latin music is the top genre for the cowbell sound, making it the standard for the overall implementation of cowbell style and technique. However, songs like “Don’t Fear the Reaper,” "Funky Cold Medina," and “Rain Dance Maggie,” would not have the same feel or affection without the strategic use of the cowbell. Cowbells are versatile, …

There are drummers content to play along with a favorite song, beating out a rhythm for friends, family and neighbors. There are also drummers happy to play in a drum circle or with friends, making music together just for the sake of music. Then there are drummers that love music, rhythm, performing, and want to devote at least part of their lives to drumming… and get paid to do it. Finding a drumming opportunity or gig can be a challenging undertaking for even the most seasoned drumm …

Another fundamental stroke you can put in your arsenal of skills is the Open Tone, or Open Stroke. The open stroke requires a slap of the hand across the head of the drum to create the desired effect.Start by positioning the palm of your hand above the rim of the drum and slightly cupping your hand. Your fingers should be extended straight and relaxed with your thumb to the side in a comfortable position.To begin learning this tone you want to start with the fingers closed together. This will pr …

Doing drumstick tricks can add flair to any drum performance. Being able to do these tricks is a simple matter of muscle memory and hand eye coordination. Whether you play a drum set or electronic drums, a little flash can make an incredible impact during any performance. Just make sure that you check your drumsticks for splinters and sand down any rough spots before you start. The Fake Twirl Start with the drumstick between your index finger and your thumb with the rest of your fingers …

The care and maintenance of your conga drums is important when it comes to the life of your drum. Conga drums need to be tuned regularly to ensure quality sound and playability. Even the most carefully handled drum will need this service from time to time. This is because handling your drum can put it out of tune, and you may even want a different sound for different songs. What’s difficult about tuning a conga drum is that there is no one way of doing it. There is no perfect pitch to tune y …

The term “Salsa” music was coined in New York City during the 1960s. Between 1930 and 1970 a lot of Latin musicians traveled to New York City to perform. Salsa, a sauce with many different components, is a perfect word to describe this mixture of music styles. The term salsa also brings with it an idea of spiciness that carries over to the music style. While it is primarily based on popular Cuban music, salsa music is also comprised of Puerto Rican, Dominican, Columbian, and even American mus …

Whether as a gift or for you, the wide range of bongos available for sale today can make choosing the perfect set both overwhelming and confusing. The number of bongos on the market can delight an experienced drummer looking to enhance a current rhythmic sound, but for those just starting out, wading through the drums available and choosing affordable, durable and great-sounding bongos can be incentive enough to just hand out a gift card or take up a new instrument entirely. Instead you …

X8 Drums has a passion for music and rhythm that weaves its way into our daily lives, flowing outward into the music community at large, creating change and encouraging others to join in the joyful beat of their own drum. This passion and dedication for rhythm extends throughout all aspects of music, from performance and music appreciation to music education. As such, we are proud to announce that X8 Drums will attend the Percussive Arts Society International Conference (PASIC) this year, Octobe …

A drummer’s life is never easy. Between the risks involved with spontaneous drumming at the office and the insatiable passion for buying new drums, it can seem more of a chore to drum, than an incredibly satisfying life pursuit. We’re kidding. Drumming is awesome, and we know it. But, as the seasons change and the winds grow colder, drumming can take a backseat to the events of fall, and especially, Halloween. X8 Drums is happy to present our latest list of improvised Halloween costumes for dru …