The Best Beginner Djembe

In the market for your first djembe but feeling a bit overwhelmed as to where to begin? When confronted with all the sizes, styles, and constructions available, deciding on your first djembe can be a daunting task to say the least. If you, like many other first-time djembe buyers, find yourself growing anxious over which drum to choose, you’ve come to the right place! Without further ado, here are some basic guidelines to keep in mind when making your purchase, as well as a few product suggestions for the beginning player.

Price

Like many things in life, moderation is key. That’s why we don’t recommend spending $500+ on your first djembe and then fretting about taking it anywhere or even playing it for fear that your investment will lose value. Don’t get us wrong, there are some incredible djembes on the market available for a small fortune, but we usually recommend those for the seasoned player wanting to add a collection piece to their ensemble. If you’re simply looking for something to play that has great sound, you can achieve all that and more for a fraction of the price.

On the other side of the coin, we absolutely don’t condone selecting the cheapest, dinkiest djembe you can find, and then expecting to sound like Leon Mobley in no time. In all liklihood, you’ll find that the sub par sounds this type of drum is capable of producing will hinder your playing development and result in frustration. Keep in mind that poor and great quality drums come in all price ranges and knowing what to look for in a quality drum is key in not getting duped.

The Takeaway:

It’s not necessary to invest more than $300 on your first djembe. A first-time buyer can spend as little as in the $100 range and be more than satisfied.

Size

An ideal size for an adult player is what we call the XL size, which measures 23”-24” tall with a 11”-12” playing surface. We find that this size provides the optimum blend of bass and slap tones as well as offers the best level of playing comfort for adults. With that said, this is not the end-all-be-all to sizes. We have a member of our staff who feels most comfortable playing the L size (19”-20” x 9”-10”) and we also find that many taller men prefer the XXL size (25”-26” x 12.5”-13.5”) as it suits their stature and provides the most bass. Sticking to these three sizes and keeping your own personal preferences and comfort levels in mind will insure the most success.

The Takeaway:

For a serious adult player, stick to sizes no lower than 19”-20” tall with a 9”-10” playing surface, while keeping in mind that the ideal djembe size for an adult measures 23”-24” tall with a 11”-12” playing surface.

Construction

Synthetic or wood? Rope-tuned or key-tuned? Which one is the best for me? The answer to that question is, it depends on what you’re looking for, none is really better than the other! Each type has its own advantages and unique sound qualities. Synthetic Djembes such as Fiberglass Djembes are light-weight and durable with a loud, crisp sound. On the other hand, wooden djembes have a more traditional sound and aesthetic. Rope-tuned djembes also have a more traditional look and feel, as well as a tighter sound due to the roping system. Key-Tuned djembes offer the convenience of the ability to manipulate the degree of tuning with a tuning wrench, rather than learning how to perform the Mali Weave tuning method required for a rope-tuned drum. Choosing which construction is best for you is 100% about preference and what matters the most for you. If traditional aesthetic is more important for you, look for a wooden drum. If you’re looking for a durable djembe with a sound that’s tight, crisp, and loud, look for a rope-tuned fiberglass drum. If you’re looking for something durable and convenient, look for a key-tuned fiberglass djembe. For more information on this topic, visit our article on synthetic djembe sound and wooden djembe sound.

The Takeaway:

Decide what’s most important to you: Aesthetics, convenience, durability, etc; then make your selection accordingly.

Beginner Djembe Suggestions

Here are few among many djembes that would be ideally suited for the beginner djembe player while keeping the above factors in mind. You are by no means limited to these, however. If you use the above guidelines, you’ll find that whereever you go, selecting the right djembe will be a whole lot easier!