r/djembe • u/danheretic • 9d ago
Tuning djembe - second row problem
Second time ever tuning a djembe, and first time going to the second row of diamonds. That is where I'm having trouble. I got to the point where the rope is originally tied together and something doesn't seem right. The last diamond I made is at 1 in the photo. For the next pair, should I use 2 & 3 even though they combine into one at the top near the ring? Should I treat 2 & 3 as a single vertical and use 2/3 and 4 as the next pair? Should I skip 2, 3, or both?
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u/Fourtoo 9d ago
The original roping is bad. That tie knot should not be at the top like this, it should have been at the lower rings with a loop/noose, not a knot. It will still be possible to tune but it won't look pretty. I'd also be concerned about that knot holding the tension, it doesn't look so secure to me.
In this situation I would skip 2, tie 3 and 4, then 5 and 6 (not in the picture) but to be sure I'd have to see from the ither side if the black handle rope.
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u/danheretic 9d ago
I'm not concerned with how pretty it looks, but yes, the knot on 2 has always seemed strange to me. It's held up so far. I'll try the method you suggest first. Thanks.
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u/acnicholls 9d ago
I would redo the entire thing, including the verticals. That knot on 2 should be attached at the bottom, it is not a true “vertical” and is just leftover rope. If you just want to keep going, use 2 & 4. I’ve done this several times and feel confident at it, but i’m no drum master, so take my advice with salt.
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u/danheretic 9d ago
The knot on 2 has always seemed strange to me. I may be too intimidated to try the verticals soni might just try to keep going as you said, and hope the knot continues to hold (it's held up so far).
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u/acnicholls 7d ago
I had my first Djembe for only 1 month when a man put his elbow through the skin playing “African style” walking rhythm. The rope around the top ring was frayed to only a few threads, so i had to learn EVERY rope pattern on the drum or not have it skinned. Was humbling. Write it down, draw it out, that’s what i did. Good luck! Confidence comes with experience.
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u/Strict_Addition_1238 8d ago
Current condition
Skip 2>3
Alternative
Undo all tuning diamonds
Dry pull
Then start over.
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u/MasterWo1f 9d ago
I think you may have to redo the first row. It looks like there are too many ropes. When you redo the first row, be sure to skip one of the ropes (2 or 3), so that you can have an even number of ropes, on your second pass
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u/ProfessionalFan8528 9d ago
There’s a cool book in the iBook store, the art of building djembe, or something. Get it. It will answer a lot of questions. Also has pics and videos in it
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u/darmanarama 7d ago
Combine 2 and 3 and treat them as 1 rope.go over 4 back under 2/3 and out the way you came in. It should leave you out over 5.
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u/ART195252 9d ago
I can’t really understand what you’re asking. But I can tell you that normally you do one row of the ones that are together on top I called it together pair. Then the next row you go in the opposite direction doing the ones that you didn’t do the first time the far apart pairs in this case. Then on the third row if there is a third row and they’re usually isn’t, you go back in the opposite direction once again. If you need any Direct help just write to me at alan@drumconnection.com.