3 Essential Djembe/Hand Drum Rhythms for Beginner/Intermediate Level Players

In this video we cover 3 essential djembe rhythms that will help take your hand drumming to higher level. These hand drum patterns come from different musical traditions around the world including the music of Africa, Latin America, and the Middle-East.

Note: Our goal is to get you comfortable playing the instrument. We are not claiming to teach traditional technique or African rhythms.

The 3 Djembe Rhythms featured in this video are:
- Tresillo (aka Carribean Clave aka Malfuf)
- Basic Hip-Hop
- African/World

Question of the day: How do you use the djembe? Is it for collaboration or personal use? - Write your answer in the comments section below.

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About:

AJ Block is the director of Didge Project and is active as a didgeridoo teacher and performer. In addition to didgeridoo, AJ has spent years studying music traditions from all over the world including jazz (trombone and piano), western classical music, Indian Classical Music, guitar and world percussion. AJ has developed a number of programs for Didge Project including The ABCs of Didgeridoo, The Didgeridoo Skills Course, and Circular Breathing Mastery. He is also the author of Didge For Sleep, a didgeridoo learning method designed specifically for people with Sleep Apnea. As a performer AJ is the leader of the Didge Project Music Collective and a member of Dream Seed: A Shamanic Sound Journey. AJ is a founding member of Sacred Arts Research Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of sacred art traditions through education, ritual and study. As a student of spiritual teacher Maestro Manuel Rufino AJ is an active member of the Golden Drum community.

[jazztrumpetvp]

This is the easiest to follow of the many djembe rhythm videos I've looked at...thank you!

[arrow]

The Djembe is so therapeutic. It can speak yet no one has to know the real message. Very helpful tutorial.

[hectortapia]

Thank you. You have an excellent teaching style. I just bought my djembe at 61. This was my first video.

[flamigno]

I've played percussion of various sorts thru my life and have been looking for just the to settle one and it was the djembe that won it! I find it meditative and calming. I love the power from a circle. Playing while I'm camping rocks as does on my back deck watching the sunset!

[seanmiller]

Just bought a beautiful djembe from a wonderful faire in Washington last weekend, it's been mainly for drum circles and personal meditation thanks for the rythems my friend

[phyllisglessner]

THANK you, so very much, for you posting this. Your fast-flying-hands give me hope to "one day" be as good.

[kristijanstankovic]

I got djembe as a birthday gift! All my friends know that i love to slap with my palms and to make some noise and experimental music!
I want to learn how to play djembe for myself and so i can play with other people around the world! Tnx for this video! Peace

[dianaboughner]

Self learner and adapter due to right hand injury (cannot flatten right hand for base) but I found a way to produce the sound anyway. Would read, practice, and sync with a friend and go to open drum circles. I mostly learned by listening to the tones and watching hand patterns. Then my left wrist was broken and I lost strength and endurance to play. Not one to quit what I really enjoy, I am slowly and gently trying to build strength and endurance to play once again with a smaller djembe and may even get a lighter fiberglass one for easier portability. Your video is excellent and I appreciate seeing the pattern in print. Thank you so much for sharing this.

[ron]

Im a full time college student and I actually have a hand drumming class as my first year seminar. Thats why I'm here trying to find a rhythm to use for my mid-term.

[hamadalhussain]

Great tutorial. Thanks. We need more Djembe videos. It’s such a universal instrument. Basic single hands drum, the sky is the limit.

[stevenbokanoski]

I started 3 months ago and have learned a few basic rhythms from these other rhythms just naturally came to me and I stared experiencing a very calming meditative in the moment closer to being in the moment than I have every had. Kinda awesome! Thank you for your time!

[muchasgracias]

what we have here is a wonderful chilled situation! keep that mission going 🙏🙏❤❤🕉🕉 Thank you.

[shepherdscrook]

love this lesson! thank you! I go to monthly drum circles and new, full moon drumming circles and for my meditation and stress relief.

[challfour]

G'day from Australia I have recently purchased my first 12 " Djembe I will be using it hopefully in a Drum Circle when I have a little more experience

[shmuelshaygross]

actually i'm playing a guitar, but (!) -i find it enormous profounding (and joyfull) to learn rhythm by your djembe lessons. thanks a lot!!

[zayshalabrador]

You’re an awesome teacher. I play guitar in a band with my best friend who is the drum. I appreciate learning from you. Sometimes we switch and I want to get better.

[jadetang]

Thank You for making the beginner Djembe lessons, I am learning to play at home :)

The third rhythm is used for "Reggaeton" it is a Mexican and surrounding nations take on Reggae, the rhythm originates from part of an Arabic rhythm played on the Darbuka.
Reggae music (can we have a Djembe tutorial?) is known as being from Jamaica, with its root being from Africa.

Arabic people may have passed it along to other parts of Africa.
For example Morocco is an Arabic nation in North Africa. Morocco is a short ferry journey off the coast of Spain in Europe, historically Spanish explorers and people visited or settled in Jamaica (Spanish Town?), and many of the nations in the Americas.
The rhythm may also have traveled from Turkey where many Darbuka are made both today (some of the Meinl range) and historically, which is also an Arabic country, which is in Europe, and has long been the gateway between the East and the West, with a fusion of cultures and people passing through its busy trade routes all over the world, it is also a popular tourist destination.
Darbuka are also traditionally made in Egypt, which is part of North Africa & part of the Middle East, and is also a trade and tourism hub, so it is another route where influences of music travel.
There are likely many other routes the rhythm may have taken in its global travel, or combinations of them.

[onarose]

What an amazing video, short and so sweet! May you and your house be greatly blessed!

[ianlamar]

Just learning as of this week. These are my favorite three beginner rhythms I’ve seen. Thanks!

[lsky]

AWESOME!!! Thank you so much!! I teach 5 hours tomorrow and this will be my lesson plan. 😁👍🏽💯👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾