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Djun Djun Basics
Introduction
In my younger days of drumming I, as many, was drawn towards the very apparent power of the Jembe and Ashiko.
Two percussion instruments that often take the lead role in American drum circles.
These drums, when tuned properly, have a fire and a force and a fame that all participants of a drum circle can not help but notice.
I noticed. I was enamored. I learned the instrument and I blazed, often without regard for the other components of a sonic structure.
I was the Rooster.
This is not to say that the Jembe and Ashiko are only capable of domination. As I grew, I began to explore the more subtle applications of the instruments. Things like playing a simple fill only every once in a while, or a single note placed in an interesting space, or the power of playing a heavy groove, the "Pocket". Much of the time these concepts were employed only as a means to "juice" up the circle and create a foundation for me to blow, or solo, over. As I became much more inclined to play the Pocket I started recognizing an instrument that had been more at the periphery of my awareness, the Dun Dun's.
Egad!! The dun's. What a magnificent instrument. As I began to really invest in the dun's I began to truly understand not only the function of the instrument, but also the power and responsibility it carried with it. The dun's ARE the Pocket. Not to the exclusion of other instruments, of course. A jembe or a shekere can play a deep pocket, but the duns, when played well, create the "bottom" that seems to originate from within you. They are the bedrock upon which everything else is built. Their frequency travels the furthest and is felt by nearly everybody. This means that every member of the circle feels your success and notices your mistakes, and this means that your mistakes directly effect the entire circle. This is no small responsibility.
I am not saying that other instruments do not effect the circle dramatically. A soloist on a Jembe can, also, charge the circle or bring it to a grinding halt though this usually requires the player be "sittin on top" of the sonic structure. The dun's are at the bottom and are ever present. They do not have to push volume or intesity to easily alter the course of the circle. I can not stress enough that you must take great care when you are the dun player.
Instructional Material
Dunun Information
Dunun Basics.
This is an ongoing paper and will be modified as more material is written. Keep in mind that one of the best ways to learn about
playing drums is to listen to music. REALLY LISTEN. Break it apart, try and write it down and then try and learn it. If you do this,
remember not to get stuck in playing just what you have learned. Take it and toy around. Move a note from here to there. Slow it
down, speed it up. Invert it. Have fun with it.
Bongo Informaion
Tuning Bongos
This is a great article at the LP site on how to care for your bongos. Specifically it focuses on tuning.
Reference Material
African Music Dictinoary
This is a fairly comprehensive list of terms associated with African percussion.