X8 Drums Blog

Meditation is a great tool for the reduction of stress and anxiety, and the promotion of focus and balance. It is widely promoted in both medical and spiritual circles. Meditation gives your mind and body a break from the chaotic, busy world. This helps to promote a complete sense of healing and relaxation. Many people find that meditation is difficult for them to achieve, and they do not realize the benefits they are missing out on. It can be hard to take your mind off a particularly trying day …

Doumbek drums are a very versatile instrument with a long and ancient history. They have a goblet shaped body and were traditionally used throughout the Middle East and parts of North Africa. The doumbek produces a crisp sound. Traditionally the goblet part of the drum was made of wood, pottery, or metals. Modern doumbeks are typically made of synthetic materials, aluminum, or copper. They are played resting under an arm or on a leg. The light quick strokes played on them make them a really uniq …

Most drummers feel a tenderness for their drums that is evident in the care of a favored Djembe, Cajon or pair of bongos. These drummers have cases and bags that aid in transportation and storage, since the proper amount of care is important in prolonging the life of any drum. However, even the most carefully tended drum will inevitably begin to show signs wear and tear. No drum is indestructible and due to the fragile nature of hand drums, repairs are often best left to experts. There are some …

Cajon drums are gaining popularity throughout the world, and in all genres of music, as they bring a wealth of rhythmic possibilities to music, through what appears to be a very simple instrument. It is, however, more than just a wooden box to beat. This drum can replicate the sound of an acoustic drum set, as well as color the tone of the beat with unique tones and an unparalleled amount of creativity for the drummer.A standard cajon drum is a wooden panel box drum constructed from oak, pine, b …

Drums come in all shapes and sizes, mostly depending on the origin of the drum and the culture that developed its use throughout the ages. Drums, however, have one thing in common – the basis of construction that is seen today in the simple, yet complex, frame drum.In the U.S., frame drums are usually found today in Native American practices and celebrations. The circular wooden frame is covered by an animal skin that is indigenous to that culture’s roots. Circular frame drums are also found in …

After tuning your drum set to produce the resonance and tone you’re looking for, you still may feel as if you want to deaden or dampen your sound a bit. Perhaps your snare is ringing too much. That is when Moongel comes in handy. Moongel is a small, blue rectangle of sticky gel that you can place on your drum for a dampening effect. In the past, drummers have used various products to dampen their sound. Tape has been used for decades for this purpose, but one of the side effects of using tap …

Gretsch, a leader in drum manufacturing, has two great entry level drum sets: Gretsch Energy and Gretsch Renegade. The Renegade drum set features ball-style tom holders, 45-degree bearing edge, two 13” hi-hats and one 18” crash/ride brass cymbals, double-braced hardware that includes stylized Gretsch Renegade pedal boards and drum throne, 1.5mm triple flanged hoops, Remo UC heads, PVC gloss and metallic wraps, and chrome hardware. The Gretsch Energy drum set features telescopic BD spur with an …

Winter often gets a bad rap; whether for the cold and dry elements it brings along or the sheer silence the summer birds have left in their wake. With the chilly season fast approaching, it is often too easy to fall into a slump remembering the good times spring and summer provided. While winter does offer a good excuse to cuddle up with a cup of hot chocolate at home, it is also a time of family and friends, holidays, celebrations filled with music, love and happiness. For many of us, we follow …

Have you always dreamed of becoming a “djembefola”? A “djembefola” is someone who plays the djembe drum and we carry a variety of djembes to make that dream a reality. Djembes make great gifts, whether for yourself or someone else. They provide multi-purpose drumming and can be used for healing and partying alike. Traditionally, djembes have been used exclusively for healing purposes in some cultures or mainly for communicating over long distances in others. Of course, they have also been use …

When recording a djembe session, there are two options for a great sounding recording. One option is a mobile recording setup and the second is a professional studio setup. Both options offer a wonderful sound experience depending upon the desired outcome.When setting up the microphones for a mobile recording session, we use a stereo pair of Rode NT-5 microphones and a Sony Field Recorder PCM. One of the microphones is set to record the sound coming from the top of the drum and the other micr …