Djembe Lessons

Online djembe video lessons! We love drumming and know you do too. X8 Drums presents these highly informative Djembe Video lessons and Djembe Rhythm exercises for your viewing pleasure. Browse by category:

• Professional Djembe, Bongo and Cajon Lessons
• Caring for your Drum
• Free Amateur Lessons & Rhythms

Use the djembe rhythm video and audio tracks to practice your hand drumming skills before your next performance. Many of the djembe music samples are free, courtesy of X8 Drums. (Be sure to check back frequently as we continue to add cool new videos!!)

Professional Lessons (pay per download)
How to Play the Djembe Learn about drum and hand positioning, staying relaxed & the 3 fundamental djembe notes.	Your First Djembe Rhythm In this digital djembe video lesson, Michael Pluznick will teach you how to play a rhythm called Calypso.	Djembe Solo Technique #2 Learn Michael Pluznick's djembe solo based on traditional phrases and can be used in any 4/4 rhythm.	How to Hit the Djembe Learn how to play the 3 basic sounds of the djembe; open tone, slap and bass.
Kakilambe Rhythm on Djembe Learn how to take the traditional Kakilambe Rhythm arrangement and play it on one djembe drum.	Kuku Rhythm on Djembe Learn how to take the traditional West African dance rhythm, Kuku, on djembe.	Konowulen #1 Rhythm on Dununba Learn how to play the traditional Konowulen #1 Rhythm on Dununba & Djembe.	How to Play Congas, Part 1 Learn how to play congas including how to make the four basic sounds; tone, bass, touch and slap.
Kawa Rhythm on Djembe and Dundun Learn how to play the Kawa West African Rhythm on Djembe and Dundun.	6/8 Bell Pattern Learn how to play both the long and short 6/8 bell patterns.	6/8 Passport Parts Learn how to play basic djembe parts known as passport parts in 6/8 time from Guinea and Mali.	Cajon Drumming 102 Learn 4 different performance possibilities using the hand-to-hand playing technique.
How to Play Shekere Learn how to hold and play the Shekere percussion instrument.	Sunu Rhythm on Djembe and Dundun Learn how to play the Sunu West African Rhythm on Djembe and Dundun.	Heel-Toe Technique Learn the heel-toe technique (drum rolls and flutters) on djembe and cajon.	Solos for Hip Hop, Rock & Funk Apply traditional djembe phrases and combinations to Hip Hop, Rock and Funk music.
Shekere Advanced Techniques Learn advanced shekere techniques, solo parts, accents and how to toss.	Play your Djembe with Brooms! Playing with brooms offers a unique new way to play your djembe outside of just playing with your hands.	Framework for Djembe Solos How to use traditional djembe phrases and techniques to set up your solos.	Secret to the Slap Learn how to master the slap note on djembe.
Fanga Rhythm Learn how to play the Fanga rhythm on djembe.	Cajon Drumming 101 Learn proper seating position and how to play the basic beats on a cajon.	Tumbao Rhythm on Conga Learn a popular style of playing Tumbao on one conga drum. Plus, heel-tip playing technique.	Bongo 101 Learn the basic notes for playing bongo and how to play the Martillo rhythm.
Rumba Guaguanco Rhythm Learn how to play old school Rumba Guaguanco Rhythm on two congas.	Double Sided Tumbao Rhythm Learn to play Tumbao (aka 'mambo') on congas at a very quick tempo.	Makru Djembe African Rhythm Learn the Makru African rhythm on djembe from the Susu people of Guinea West Africa.	Bongo 102 Learn over a dozen new rhythm patterns to play on bongos.
Yankadi Rhythm on Djembe Learn how to play Yankadi Rhythm on Djembe with Solo options.	Funky Latin Conga Rhythm Use this rhythm in popular Latin, Rock and Funk situations.	Pitch Bending & Muting Learn to do the funky pitch bending sound effect on your cajon!	The Secret Hand Technique Learn La Mano Secreta - or the secret hand technique for congas.
Using Hand Percussion with Cajon Learn several ways to combine shakers with your cajon performance.	Macrou Rhythm on Dundun Learn the Macrou rhythm parts for dundun. Instruction by Kalani.	Diansa Rhythm for Cajon How to play Diansa Rhythm parts on one cajon with two people.	Cajon Foot Percussion Techniques Learn how to add some foot percussion to your cajon performance!

Free Djembe Lessons & Rhythms
Djembe Passport Parts 1 and 2 Learn how to play the basic accompaniment parts for 4/4 rhythm arrangements.	How to Make a Djembe Strap Learn how to make a waist strap for your drums out of household items.	Play DunDun Parts on Djembe In this video we are going to show you how to play a dundun part within the djembe context.	Djembe Tone, Slap, Bass & Touch Tone Tone, Slap Slap, Bass Bass, Touch Touch sequencing for improving your djembe technique.
How to Solo on Djembe Learn to play a solo for the rhythm Diansa.	Proper Seating Position for Playing Djembe Learn proper seating position and form for playing the djembe.	Djembe Lesson: Six Stroke Roll Learn the basics of how to do a six stroke roll on djembe which is very useful in soloing.	Advanced Solo Techniques for Djembe Learn an interesting and fun djembe performance technique called crossing over the rhythm.
Djembe Tips with Michael Pluznick Learning to play your djembe is like learning to play any other instrument. It takes a little time and energy and what you put into it will come back to you.	Sokou African Rhythm on Djembe NYC percussionist Brotha Sean performs Sokou rhythm on djembe. (Also known as Soko, Suku, Sökö, etc).	KuKu African Rhythm on Djembe Awesome djembe demonstration of KuKu African Rhythm an X8 Drums Pro Stallion Djembe.	Djembe Rhythms, Play Along Play along and find your own rhythm to add to this session or mimic one of the patterns in the circle.
How to play Sunu African Rhythm on Djembe Learn how to play the traditional African djembe rhythm called Sunu.	Naningo African Rhythm on Ashiko Demonstration of Naningo African Rhythm on Ashiko.	Drum Call African Rhythm on Djembe Demonstration of Drum Call African Rhythm on an X8 Ivory Elite Pro Djembe.	Sorsornet Rhythm on Djembe NYC percussionist Eddie Jones performs Sorsornet rhythm on djembe.
How to play Sinte African Rhythm on Djembe Sinte is a rhythm that is used traditionally with young ladies for celebration, sometimes for initiation purposes.	How to play Mendiani African Rhythm on Djembe Learn how to play the traditional African rhythm Mediani on Djembe.

Caring for your Djembe
How to Tune a Djembe Step by step video guide for tuning a traditional rope djembe.	How To Start A Drum Circle Quick and useful tips for starting a drum circle in your community.	How to Play the Djembe Understand the fundamentals of playing the djembe when you're first beginning.	Djembe Rhythms, Play Along Play along and find your own rhythm to add to this session or mimic one of the patterns in the circle.
Djembe Head Replacement Step-by-step guide in replacing djembe drumheads.	Djembe Tuning Instructions, I Watch this detailed video to learn how to tune your djembe. Part 1 explains the process and how to know when your drum needs to be tuned.	Djembe Tuning Instructions, II Watch this detailed video to learn how to tune a rope djembe. Understand djembe diamonds and how to find the right tone.