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Welcome To
DJEMBE-L FAQ
Table of Drum Dimensions
v8a
|
 ©
Many thanks
to SHADOWgraphix for the © djembe player.
|
Dan
Sterantino's DrumCalc : A nifty freeware tool for the building of staved
Djembes and Ashikos (actually could be used to build any stave cylinder drum
using equal values for top and bottom, I also use it to lay out my knot pattern
for the harness on the rings as well) available by his kindness and generosity
for distribution from "Signa Phi Nothing"
Download
DrumCalc and
Download the HTML manual too!
Please Sign our Djembe-L FAQ Guestbook
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Drum Dimensions and Descriptions
Compiled and edited by Lindsay
Rowlands (click for updates)
Some Comments
This page contains dimensions and details of drums contributed by members of djembe-l.
All dimensions are outside measurements unless otherwise noted. Imperial units with metric
equivalents have been provided where possible.
The drums listed here are ones most likely to be encountered in drum circles and djembe
style performing groups; the list deliberately falls short of being a comprehensive
representation of the complete range of African drums.
There has been no attempt to imply that there exists an 'ideal' set of dimensions or
ratios. Nonetheless, the following 'rule of thumb' ratios for djembes have been floating
around drum circles and may be used by drum makers, though we cannot reliably verify this
- or these statements. They are provided for your information and contemplation only:
| The waist should be at exactly half the height
of the drum, the diameter at the waist should be exactly 1/3rd the diameter of the rim,
and the diamater at the base should be exactly 1/2 of the diameter of the rim. |
Use any of the data and information at your own discretion - no one will take
responsibility in the event of less than ideal outcomes!
I N D E X
ASHIKO
| INSTRUMENT: |
Ashiko |
| HEIGHT: |
650mm (25.5") |
| TOP DIA: |
335mm (13.25") |
| BOTT. DIA: |
150mm (6") |
| WOOD/MATERIALS: |
American Hardwoods, Maple and Black Walnut |
| COUNTRY: |
Massachusettes, USA |
| BUILDER: |
Dean Buchannon of Rythum Alive |
| COMMENTS: |
Drum has a hand worked goat skin head tuned using the Mali weave. Shell is staved
construction in a five star pattern 3 maple staves then1 walnut, 20 staves in all. Very
comfortable to play although somewhat heavy in weight. Close your eyes and you would swear
it was a djembe. |
| CONTRIBUTOR: |
James Walkowiak (CaiMaelNia@aol.com) |
| INSTRUMENT: |
Ashiko |
| HEIGHT: |
23 1/2" |
| TOP DIA: |
12" |
| BOTT. DIA: |
7 1/2" |
| WOOD/MATERIALS: |
Maple Staves |
| COUNTRY: |
USA - West Cliff Percussion product (Business Closed) |
| COMMENTS: |
Drum is 3/4" thick at rim and bottom edges with lathed middle band - most of the
body is perhaps 1/2' thick - drum has good sound for size; full bass tones are a bit crisp
and tinny, but skin (goat) is very thin |
| CONTRIBUTOR: |
Steve Tierra (sctierra@wco.com) |
CONGA
| INSTRUMENT: |
Conga |
| HEIGHT: |
30" |
| TOP DIA: |
11" |
| WAIST DIA: |
14" |
| BOTT. DIA: |
8 5/8" |
| WAIST HEIGHT: |
middle |
| WOOD/MATERIALS: |
stave |
| COUNTRY: |
USA |
| COMMENTS: |
Larger commercial Conga drum |
| CONTRIBUTOR: |
Yendor (ydrums@oberon.ark.com) |
| INSTRUMENT: |
Conga |
| HEIGHT: |
30" |
| TOP DIA: |
9.75" |
| WAIST DIA: |
12 3/8" |
| BOTT. DIA: |
7 5/8" |
| WAIST HEIGHT: |
middle |
| WOOD/MATERIALS: |
stave |
| COUNTRY: |
USA |
| COMMENTS: |
Smaller commercial Conga drum |
| CONTRIBUTOR: |
Yendor (ydrums@oberon.ark.com) |
DJEMBE
| INSTRUMENT: |
Djembe |
| HEIGHT: |
27.95" (710mm) |
| TOP DIA: |
14.56" (370mm) |
| WAIST DIA: |
6.29" (160mm) |
| BOTT. DIA: |
9.84" (250mm) |
| WAIST HEIGHT: |
14.1" (360mm) |
| WOOD/MATERIALS: |
Native cedar (?) |
| COUNTRY: |
Senegal |
| COMMENTS: |
Large, medium weight instrument. The 'pipe' is a constant flare from top to bottom
(not tapered). Walls consistent thickness - about 12mm (0.47") throughout. Clarity in
all strokes. Rich bass. |
| CONTRIBUTOR: |
Lindsay Rowlands (lrowland@metz.une.edu.au) |
| INSTRUMENT: |
Djembe |
| HEIGHT: |
25" (635 mm) |
| TOP DIA: |
12" (304.8mm) |
| WAIST DIA: |
conical, from 6" (152.4mm) to 9" (228.6mm) |
| BOTT. DIA: |
7.75" (196.8mm) |
| WAIST HEIGHT: |
13.5" (342.9mm) |
| WOOD/MATERIALS: |
softwood |
| COUNTRY: |
Somewhere in West Africa. If you really need to know I could ask the place I bought it
- they bring them in regularly. |
| COMMENTS: |
This is a goblet-shaped djembe. The shell's are made somewhere in West Africa and
imported into the US where they are finished up. A moderately-sized instrument, very
hand-hewn looking. Good bass tones but a bit of a ring to the open tone. |
| CONTRIBUTOR: |
Rick Gordon (rickgo@halcyon.com) http://www.halcyon.com/rickgo/ |
| INSTRUMENT: |
Djembe |
| HEIGHT: |
20 7/8" (531 mm) |
| TOP DIA: |
11 7/8' (300 mm) |
| WAIST DIA: |
5 3/4" (145 mm) |
| BOTT. DIA: |
7 3/8" and 7 1/8" (186-190 mm) (not round) |
| WAIST HEIGHT: |
10 1/4" (280 mm) |
| WOOD/MATERIALS: |
Don't know. dark color, very heavy wood. Shell weighs 13 lb |
| COUNTRY: |
The Gambia |
| COMMENTS: |
Thickness of shell varies from 1/2" to 7/8". above measurements are outside
diameters. |
| CONTRIBUTOR: |
Kay MacLaury (KayMac7864@aol.com) |
| INSTRUMENT: |
Djembe |
| HEIGHT: |
25 3/4 " |
| TOP DIA: |
13 1/2 " |
| WAIST DIA: |
6 1/2" |
| BOTT. DIA: |
8" |
| WAIST HEIGHT: |
13 1/4 " |
| WOOD/MATERIALS: |
Dimba |
| COUNTRY: |
Senegal |
| COMMENTS: |
This is a large but light instrument. The 'pipe' is a constant flare from top to
bottom (not tapered). Walls consistent thickness throughout. Clarity in all strokes. Rich
bass. |
| CONTRIBUTOR: |
Michael Wall (Drum@aloha.net) |
| INSTRUMENT: |
Djembe |
| HEIGHT: |
24" |
| TOP DIA: |
13.5" |
| WAIST DIA: |
7" |
| BOTT. DIA: |
7.75" |
| WAIST HEIGHT: |
13.25" |
| WOOD/MATERIALS: |
don't know (cheneboa LR) |
| COUNTRY: |
Ghana |
| COMMENTS: |
This is a large and heavy instrument. The 'pipe' has a little flare from top to bottom
(tapered). Walls consistent thickness throughout. Clarity in all strokes. Very rich bass. |
| CONTRIBUTOR: |
Ed Haggard (edhaggard@aol.com) |
| INSTRUMENT: |
Djembe |
| HEIGHT: |
24" |
| TOP DIA: |
15" int. 16 1/4" |
| WAIST DIA: |
5 1/4" , 8" |
| BOTT. DIA: |
10 1/2" |
| WAIST HEIGHT: |
12" |
| WOOD/MATERIALS: |
cheap old douglas fir 4/4 staves |
| COUNTRY: |
USA |
| COMMENTS: |
Constructed by owner. Good bass, great cut, walls fairly thick except near the rim |
| CONTRIBUTOR: |
Robert Hartman (hartman@informix.com) |
| INSTRUMENT: |
Djembe |
| HEIGHT: |
21 1/4 " |
| TOP DIA: |
13 " |
| WAIST DIA: |
5 3/8 " (INSIDE: 3 7/8 ") |
| BOTT. DIA: |
8 1/8 " (INSIDE: 6 1/2") |
| WAIST HEIGHT: |
10 3/4 " |
| WOOD/MATERIALS: |
African Mahogany (Red) |
| COUNTRY: |
Africa, unknown country. Purchased in Toronto, Ontario. CANADA |
| COMMENTS: |
The drum is fairly small but has a nice even sound. The bass could be a little
stronger, but it matches the tone and slap nicely. The upper chamber is bell shaped, and
the bottom portion flares out like the mouth of a brass musical instrument. It has a
pleasing shape. My hands are a little too big for the size of the surface, and I would buy
a larger drum if I was looking for a second drum. |
| CONTRIBUTOR: |
Jim Bell (jbell@city.london.on.ca) |
DUNUMBA,
DUNDUN, DJUN DJUN, DUNUNS,
SANGBAN, KENKENI
| INSTRUMENT: |
Dunumba |
| HEIGHT: |
23.25 " |
| DIA: |
15.125" (top .5" inch smaller for stacking) |
| WOOD/MATERIALS: |
Metal can |
| COUNTRY: |
Australia |
| COMMENTS: |
This 60 litre drum makes a quite acceptable instrument. It's light and makes a clear
and loud bass sound. |
| CONTRIBUTOR: |
Lindsay Rowlands (lrowland@metz.une.edu.au) |
| INSTRUMENT: |
Dunumba |
| HEIGHT: |
16" |
| DIA: |
15.75" |
| WOOD/MATERIALS: |
5 ply |
| COUNTRY: |
Australia |
| COMMENTS: |
The shell was originallyformed as a prototype for a house brand drum kit - this is the
floor tom and it has no hardware holes. It was skinned up to be used as a brekete or
gungon, but works quite well as a dunumba. |
| CONTRIBUTOR: |
Lindsay Rowlands (lrowland@metz.une.edu.au) |
| INSTRUMENT: |
Kenkeni |
| HEIGHT: |
20 |
| DIA: |
14 |
| WOOD/MATERIALS: |
Available in Black Walnut, White Oak, Cherry, Birch, Maple and striped combinations. |
| COUNTRY: |
US |
| COMMENTS: |
Commercially made for Morgan drums http://www.msn.fullfeed.com/~morgan/DjunDjun.html |
| CONTRIBUTOR: |
compiled by Lindsay Rowlands (lrowland@metz.une.edu.au) |
Kpanlogo
Drum
| INSTRUMENT: |
Kpanlogo Drum |
| HEIGHT: |
24" |
| TOP DIA: |
10" exterior |
| BOTT. DIA: |
unknown |
| WOOD/MATERIALS: |
Stave construction. Quality kiln dried hardwoods, like poplar, cherry, walnut, maple,
and mahogany |
| COUNTRY: |
USA |
| COMMENTS: |
w/pegs (medium). Jag Drums product http://custwww.xensei.com/ose/jag/hand.html
|
| CONTRIBUTOR: |
compiled by Lindsay Rowlands (lrowland@metz.une.edu.au) |
| INSTRUMENT: |
Kpanlogo Drum |
| HEIGHT: |
24" |
| TOP DIA: |
11" exterior |
| BOTT. DIA: |
unknown |
| WOOD/MATERIALS: |
Stave construction. Quality kiln dried hardwoods, like poplar, cherry, walnut, maple,
and mahogany |
| COUNTRY: |
USA |
| COMMENTS: |
w/pegs (large). Jag Drums product http://custwww.xensei.com/ose/jag/hand.html
|
| CONTRIBUTOR: |
compiled by Lindsay Rowlands (lrowland@metz.une.edu.au) |
| INSTRUMENT: |
Sangba |
| HEIGHT: |
585mm (23") |
| DIA: |
356mm (14") |
| WOOD/MATERIALS: |
American Hardwoods, Maple and Black Walnut |
| COUNTRY: |
Massachusettes, USA |
| BUILDER: |
James Walkowiak, Rodger Osgood |
| COMMENTS: |
Drum shell is of staved construction in a five star pattern 3 maple staves then 1
walnut, 20 staves in all. Heads are extra thick calf skins which give the drum the higher
pitch necessary for it to be classified as a Sangba. It's hardwood shell and size make for
a very dominating sound. |
| CONTRIBUTOR: |
James Walkowiak (CaiMaelNia@aol.com) |
TAMA
These pages were composed, created and compiled by Lindsay Rowlands, 29 November 1997
DJEMBE-L FAQ Volume 8a / Drum Dimensions and
Descriptions (Last Revised
09/20/08)
[Return to FAQ Table of
Contents]