[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.4.8″ custom_padding=”3px||2px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.11″ custom_padding=”21px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.8″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.11.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
Contents<\/p>
If your drums are a year old or more, then the sound they make will have changed since the day you bought them<\/strong>. This is entirely normal<\/strong> and has nothing to do with the quality of your drum.\u00a0 The natural skin head reacts to the moisture content of the air<\/strong>. The drum head will loosen and soften on a wet\/cold day<\/strong> and your drum will sound dull and muffled.\u00a0 But the skin will tighten and harden if the weather is dry and warm<\/strong> and your drum will sound much brighter.\u00a0 After a series of weather cycles, the skin will have loosened, no matter what the weather is.<\/p>\n Depending on the quality of sound you are looking for, it is essential to know how to “tune” a drum<\/strong>, especially when a drum is “young”, the skin will be elastic and stretch easily.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/songbong.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Childrens-tom-weave.jpg” alt=”tuning system children drums” title_text=”Children drums tuning system” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.10.8″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.13.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_orientation=”justified” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n This process finishes by stretching the hide permanently, and older drums do not need tuning so much. There are different systems for tightening<\/strong> a drum. Originally holes were directly punched through the skin<\/strong> in order to sew and attach them to the body of the drum.\u00a0 Some -like in the case of the Irish Bodhran- were glued onto the drum shell<\/strong>, some -like the Japanese Taikos- were nailed onto the wooden body<\/strong>, some used wooden pegs<\/strong> driven into the bowl of the drum. Drums using these same techniques of fabrication can be found in many cultures<\/strong>. But these ways gave little margin to tune up the drum.\u00a0 Holes pierced straight into the skin can tear<\/strong> and do not provide a strong way of dramatically changing the pitch of the drum.<\/strong> Similarly, securing the skin directly onto the shell with glue or nails do not leave any movement to tune the drum<\/strong>.\u00a0 These techniques of drum-making produce drums with a small and unpredictable range<\/strong> of tuning, and sometimes: none at all.\u00a0 They suit certain types of music and traditions<\/strong>.\u00a0 Other traditions looking for a wider range of percussive sounds in their music,<\/strong> gave birth to new ways of tightening up drums. The modern system<\/strong> used for the Cuban Conga for example is a very efficient arrangement of nuts, bolts and metal brackets<\/strong> that pushes down or releases the drumhead in a mechanically systematic manner.\u00a0 It makes for a highly tuneable drum<\/strong>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.10.8″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n I choose a tuning system that sits in between these two techniques<\/strong>. It is the modern tuning system used for the Djemb\u00e9 drum from West Africa<\/strong>. Following the success of the touring African ballets in the West in the 70s, djemb\u00e9-makers abandoned the traditionally tuning system of wooden pegs and natural ropes to replace it with a modern system of metal hoops and synthetic ropes.<\/strong> The explosive sharp sound of a Djemb\u00e9\u00a0 -along with its allure- is what makes it such a popular drum all around the world.\u00a0 Achieving such a tight loud sound would simply be impossible without that modern technique of fabrication<\/strong>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.11″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.11″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/songbong.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/2-djembes-400×400-1.jpg” title_text=”2 djembes 400×400″ align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|tablet” admin_label=”Image” _builder_version=”4.9.11″ _module_preset=”default” animation=”fade_in” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.10.8″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Open Sans|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”12px” text_orientation=”center” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” text_orientation_tablet=”center” text_orientation_phone=”” text_orientation_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Djemb\u00e9s<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/songbong.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/A-Ashikos-featured.jpg” title_text=”A Ashikos featured” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”4.10.8″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”40px||||false|false” animation=”fade_in” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.10.8″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Open Sans|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”12px” text_orientation=”center” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” text_orientation_tablet=”center” text_orientation_phone=”” text_orientation_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Ashikos<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.11″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.10.8″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n The Diamond Weave<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n For my drums, I use a mixture of mounting techniques<\/strong>.\u00a0 The tightening rope<\/strong> links the crown hoop<\/strong> (top hoop) to the bottom of the drum. Depending on the style of drum, sometimes the skin is pierced, sometimes it is “sandwiched” between two metal hoops.<\/strong>\u00a0 For the bottom of the drum, sometimes there is also a metal hoop (like for my ashikos).\u00a0 In the case of double-headed drums, like the Songbong\u00a0 or my children drums,<\/strong> the bottom skin is directly sewn around a thick rope and the top skin is trapped between two steel rings.\u00a0 It\u00a0all depends on the purpose of the drum and the sound I am looking for.<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.11″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/songbong.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/A-Dununs-gallery-2.jpg” title_text=”A Dununs gallery 2″ align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” animation=”fade_in” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.10.8″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Open Sans|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”12px” text_orientation=”center” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” text_orientation_tablet=”center” text_orientation_phone=”” text_orientation_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Dununs [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/songbong.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/A-Toms-gallery-2.jpg” title_text=”A Toms gallery 2″ align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”4.10.8″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”40px||||false|false” animation=”fade_in” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.10.8″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Open Sans|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”12px” text_orientation=”center” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” text_orientation_tablet=”center” text_orientation_phone=”” text_orientation_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Children drums<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.10.8″ _module_preset=”default” text_orientation=”justified” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Regardless, the tuning system remains the same for all of them.<\/strong><\/p>\n A horizontal cord folds the main vertical cords over each other.<\/strong> This pulls the drum head downwards more effectively than if you just pulled on the main cords with your hands. You magnify your strength<\/strong>, if you like.\u00a0 This is a simple macrame roping system that allows for a “tune up”, and you can rapidly and easily tighten your drum up<\/strong> till it resonates nicely, even on cold mornings.<\/p>\n This system of tuning is called the “Mali weave” or “Diamond Weave<\/span>“<\/strong>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ specialty=”on” _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/songbong.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/David-drawing-diamond-weave.jpg” alt=”how to tune your drum drawing” title_text=”David-drawing-diamond-weave tuning system” admin_label=”David drawing diamond weave” _builder_version=”4.10.8″ animation=”fade_in” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ specialty_columns=”2″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row_inner column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/songbong.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Diamond-weave.jpg” alt=”How to tune your drum” title_text=”Diamond Weave tuning system” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.10.8″ _module_preset=”default” animation=”fade_in” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column_inner][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/songbong.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/DiamondWeave-blank.jpg” title_text=”DiamondWeave blank” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.10.7″ animation=”fade_in” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_cta button_url=”https:\/\/songbong.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Diamond-Weave.pdf” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Diamond Weave” _builder_version=”4.10.8″ body_text_color=”#000000″ body_font_size=”18px” background_color=”#ebf0fc” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”12px” button_text_color=”#F0EFFE” button_bg_color=”#D65F04″ button_border_color=”#D65F04″ button_border_radius=”4px” button_letter_spacing=”3px” button_font=”Open Sans|600|||||||” button_use_icon=”off” button_alignment=”center” button_custom_margin=”|23px||23px|false|true” button_custom_padding=”2px|26px|2px|26px|true|true” background_layout=”light” custom_padding=”50px||50px||true|false” link_option_url=”https:\/\/songbong.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Diamond-Weave.pdf” button_text_color_tablet=”” button_text_color_phone=”” button_text_color_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-23a80e21-bee3-400b-8fdb-013db19dc8f5%22:%91%22button_text_color%22%93}” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” button_text_color__hover=”#1A439B” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”on|hover” button_border_color__hover=”#D65F04″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n However, this tuning system can be slightly confusing<\/strong> when you first try it. I made a drawing for you as a reference.<\/p>\n You can download the printout here.<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.10.8″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=jc5i6wA6nzc” play_icon_color=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)” play_icon_color_tablet=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)” play_icon_color_phone=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)” play_icon_color_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.9.11″ width=”75%” max_width=”75%” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-23a80e21-bee3-400b-8fdb-013db19dc8f5%22:%91%22play_icon_color__hover%22,%22play_icon_color_tablet%22,%22play_icon_color_phone%22%93}” play_icon_color__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” play_icon_color__hover=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.10.8″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Your tom should always be set up so that once you untie the spare tuning cord, there is a “diamond” ready to pull<\/strong>. One diamond probably won\u2019t be enough though, so you\u2019ll need to set up and pull a few others.<\/p>\n The good news is: this work is totally reversible.\u00a0 If \u201cyour\u201d diamond doesn\u2019t look like mine, you can un-do it and try again.<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" How To Tune Your Drum If your drums are a year old or more, then the sound they make will have changed since the day you bought them. This is entirely normal and has nothing to do with the quality of your drum.\u00a0 The natural skin head reacts to the moisture content of the air. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":100128,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/songbong.co.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100818"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/songbong.co.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/songbong.co.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songbong.co.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songbong.co.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=100818"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/songbong.co.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100818\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":102146,"href":"https:\/\/songbong.co.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100818\/revisions\/102146"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songbong.co.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/100128"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/songbong.co.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=100818"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songbong.co.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=100818"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songbong.co.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=100818"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}How drums are tightened<\/span><\/h2>\n
The tuning system I choose for my drums<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/em><\/p>\nHow to tune your drum (video)<\/span><\/h2>\n