djembe
West African drum
A djembe is a goblet-shaped hand drum originating in West Africa, traditionally carved from a single piece of wood with a goatskin drumhead.
Players strike it with bare hands to produce a wide range of tones, from deep bass at the center to sharp slaps at the edge.
The djembe has become popular worldwide in drum circles and world music ensembles.
She learned to play djembe at a community workshop.
West African country
- GuineaWest African coastal nation
- SenegalWest African republic
- GambiaWest African enclave state
- Ivory CoastWest African republic
Burkina Faso · Ghana · West Africa · griot · goatskin
Hard outer covering
- bowlConcave food container
- gobletStemmed drinking vessel
- carvingShaping by cutting away
- hardwoodDense deciduous timber
goatskin · drumhead · rope · tuning · rings · knots · shaving · mounting
Overlapping musical beat patterns
- syncopationStressed unexpected beats
- grooveNarrow cut or routine
- beatRhythmic pulse or strike
- tempoRate of musical performance
cadence · cycle · pattern · pulse · downbeat · swing · soli · break
Deep pitch or fish
- toneQuality of sound
- slapOpen-handed blow
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
- techniqueSkilled way of performing
open · muted · palm · fingers · edge · center · solo · accompaniment
Festive event marking occasion
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- weddingMarriage rite and feast
- harvestGathering mature crops
- riteCeremonial act or practice
passage · initiation · naming · gathering · storytelling · dance · circle · community
Mali
West African country
Ivory Coast · Burkina Faso · Ghana · West Africa · griot · goatskin
shell
Hard outer covering
hardwood · goatskin · drumhead · rope · tuning · rings · knots · shaving · mounting · stretching
polyrhythm
Overlapping musical beat patterns
- syncopationStressed unexpected beats
- grooveNarrow cut or routine
- beatRhythmic pulse or strike
tempo · cadence · cycle · pattern · pulse · downbeat · swing · soli · break · signal
bass
Deep pitch or fish
technique · open · muted · palm · fingers · edge · center · solo · accompaniment · call-and-response
celebration
Festive event marking occasion
rite · passage · initiation · naming · gathering · storytelling · dance · circle · community · healing
drum circle
Communal rhythmic gathering
orchestration · interplay · layering · dynamics · improvisation · unison · lead · support · dialogue · performance
- AfricaEgypt, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania
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- percussionbass drum, bongos, cajon, drum, congas
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- instrumentsguitar, guitars, piano, pianos, drum
- musical instrumentssynthesizer, electric guitar, electric bass, keyboard, theremin