Note: the content of this webpage solely reflects the views of the Tri-Cities Drum Circle founder and facilitator dave espinosa-aguilar and does not necessarily express the views of the organization or its members.New members to the drum circle often ask what drum they should buy. This is a difficult question to answer because there are so many options and so many considerations to take into account in order to answer this question helpfully. Therefore, here are some philosophical, technical and experiential issues to consider:
From a philosophical point of view:
1. People have different preferences as to the sounds they love to hear... including the sounds they love to hear themselves make. Your foremost consideration in purchasing a drum should be the sound it produces: it should be a sound you love to hear yourself make.. This is why i recommend that if it is at all possible, test out as many drums as you can first before buying one. Bang on them in different ways. Have someone experienced bang on them for you to get an idea what their range of sounds are. Attend the drum circle's events for a time to get a sense of what other people are playing to see if anything people already own is something you want to own as well. If you buy a drum which doesn't produce a sound you love to hear, the drum won't get played and you'll be wasting your money.
2. The best things in life are worth waiting for, and it may be worth it to save up your money for a drum you really love to hear yourself play. Some members of our drum circle have saved for over a year to buy the drum they really wanted, borrowing others' drums until they could afford it. This policy also gave them time to really test other drums out and potentially change their mind. Buy a really good drum and you have a really good drum for life. And if you've bought yourself a drum you love to hear yourself play, then you will want to play it more often --- and this in turn will improve your drumming skills. Some people never get good at drumming because they buy a drum they don't like to listen to (in trying to pinch pennies). Don't pinch pennies: save up for a good drum instead which will serve your drumming goals. A drum which produces a sound you love to hear drives your ability to master playing it.
3. How much do you plan to play the drum? An hour a week? 8 hours a week? What will you be playing the drum for? Jams? Performances? No one but yourself? Consider how the drum will hold up based on how much you use it.
4. How much maintenance do you want in keeping the drum playable? Some drums require less maintenance than others. For example, some drums are made synthetically and organically (ex: an organic and a synthetic djembe shown to the right). Synthetic drums can have a good sound but generally don't have as rich a sound as organic drums. However, synthetic drums generally don't take a lot of maintenance and last a long time in all kinds of weather and circumstances. Organic drums on the other hand generally have a better sound than synthetics, but they also break down more often. Their drumheads need to be replaced when they split, their cords need to be re-tightened, and wood can crack from extreme temperature shifts. If you plan to play this drum in all kinds of weather, you may want a drum that holds up in all kinds of weather. On the other hand, you may want to delve into the world of organic drum maintenance, learning to replace your own drumheads, weave and tighten your own cords, treat your wood with wood butters and such. It's all a question of the amount of time you want to spend maintaining your drum's playability.
5. What can your physical body accomodate? A lot of people never think about this aspect of buying a drum, but different drums get played in different ways. For example, djembes get played while sitting down (tilted on the floor), or hung from the shoulders, or saddled like a horse. Do you prefer to sit, stand, straddle, or carry a drum? How much weight can your body physically carry in any of these configurations? Some drummers can only play for about 5 minutes sitting down before needing a rest while others can stand for 8+ hours at a time without resting. Your physical strength determines to some degree the weight and stance for holding the drum and the length of time you can continuously play it. If you have serious back problems, you may not want to purchase a drum that is typically hung from your shoulders. If you have trouble standing, you may not want to purchase a drum that is played standing (like a dunum). If you plan to carry your drum as you play (processional drumming), consider how long your body can carry the weight of your drum.
6. Consider the dominant style of drumming you plan to play. For example, if you intend to play middle-eastern rhythms more than any other rhythm, you may want to examine a dumbek or other typical middle-eastern drum. If you plan to play a lot of African rhythms, you may want to examine the djembe, the ashiko or the dunums. If you plan to play a lot of Indian rhythms you may want to examine the darbouka or the tabla. If you plan to play a lot of Native American rhythms you may want to examine a frame drum. In other words, consider the majority of rhythms you love to listen to (and intend to play) and gear your drum purchase towards the type of drum that best accomodates that rhythm genre and style of playing.
From a technical point of view:
1. Every drum circle has a unique personality and character. It's members typically have a style focus. Some are into traditional forms while others are into eclectic forms. Some drum circles are rooted in the drumming of a particular culture (ex: middle eastern, african, native american, etc) while others are all over the map. Some drum circles play loudly (high energy, ritualistic, dancing) while others place softly (meditational, metaphysical, trancing, etc). If you're looking to 'fit in' with a particular drum circle, you'll want to pay attention to what the drum circle members you're playing with are typically playing on.
Our drum circle is very eclectic. We deliberately rotate the rhythm genres we explore at every monthly jam to keep things fresh and challenging for everyone (for a list of drumming rhythm genres explored in the last 3 years, visit our Workshops page). Some drums are more versatile with this all-over-the-map style of drumming than others. Suggested sources on these drums are available at our Drummin Resources page. The majority of our members have one or more of the following types of drums (organic and synthetic versions of each shown):
Djembe: easily the drum choice of the majority, it is typically played while sitting in a chair or it is ridden like a horse on the floor or it is played standing with shoulder straps. It usually has a rich bold deep penetrating (very primal) bass to it, along with very piercing high tones when slapped properly. The djembe can accomodate most world rhythms, and 95% of the djembes our members own are organic (wood with goatskin drumhead and cords/rings). We have several folks in our circle who can fix or replace parts for djembes, and this style of drum accomodates all of our local drum circle's activities (jams, special events, and performance drumming). Djembes come in all sizes. A good synthetic djembe can cost from $100-$300, a good organic djembe can cost from $150-$600. Ask any owner of a $400+ organic djembe if their investment was worth it and you will get a resounding 'yes'... djembes that expensive are usually incredible in their sound.
Dumbek: the second most popular drum in our particular mix, it is especially designed for middle-eastern rhythms (the kind you hear played for belly-dancing). However, as a smaller drum which is played sitting or carried, it is versatile in sound, very loud when desired, and has a dominant hand striking nature to it (instead of a highly distributed hand striking style like that of the djembe or ashiko). It's a great choice for people who don't want a lot of heaviness or bass to their playing, or for people who want to be able to carry a powerful solo since the dumbek sound can easily rise above the bass of the larger drums. Dumbeks come in organic and synthetic materials (ex: metal, ceramic, some are even wooden). A good dumbek of any material can cost from $50-$250.
Ashiko: easily the third most popular drum type our circle uses, this cylindrical drum comes in all sizes (huge ones that you play standing to little ones you play sitting) and can produce a bass sound almost as deep as a djembe. It's conical shape makes it awkward to hold as a carried or saddled drum (it is best played sitting or standing). What ashiko players love about this style of drum is that it is generally easier to play than a djembe or dumbek and it is usually not as expensive as a djembe, nor is its sound as piercing as a dumbek. Ashikos are a good middle-of-the-road drum, almost always made of wood and goatskin, and cost from $150-$300.2. Hand drums come in two categories: organic and synthetic. As mentioned above, the category determines drum sound quality, drum longevity and supportability (in terms of the training, maintenance skills and repair resources in your area). There are pros and cons to both categories. The best way to make a decision about the drum category is to hear yourself (or someone else) play both types of drums. Do not be afraid to ask people in the drum circle what their opinions on this issue are. Try both styles out.
3. Drums, like cars, have histories. Take them for test drives. If a store or reseller has an issue with you trying out a drum, it's time to seek out a new store or reseller as this is a highly impractical policy (would you buy a car without test driving it?). While places like ebay may seem to have 'deals', you never know what you're getting if you can't examine it first-hand or hear what kind of sound it makes. Some drums that look really nice have horrible sound. Some drums that look crummy have incredible sound. Don't fall for what 'looks good' ---- focus on what you hear when you play the drum. As a teacher once told me, a neat looking drum gets a minute of attention while a good sounding drum gets a lifetime of it. Look for wood cracks (especially inside the neck of the drum), drumhead wear and tear, the tightness and strength of the cording if corded, and above all else, examine the drumhead rim for cuts, tears, slits, scrapes, bruises, thin patches, and other signs of one-inch-shy-of-breaking. Have others who have drummed a lot look at it too if possible.
From an experiential point of view:
1. There is no rush. Take your time with this investment and it will pay off in spades. Try out the whole buffet before you sink money into a single dish. Ask others what they like and why. Take your time trying other drums out at jams. Visit several stores and get a sense of the people who run it as well as the products they sell. Don't just examine drums in your area. Check out serious drum stores in neighboring larger cities when traveling. This is your one-time and only investment for the entire hobby, so make it count. Save up for a while if necessary. Few things will improve your drumming skill more than falling in love with your drum's sound and character. Few things will kill your passion for drumming more than playing a drum you don't enjoy hearing.
2. Generally speaking, online purchases are discouraged simply because they're hard/impossible to hear (unless you're buying from a source that sells nothing but excellent quality drums). You generally also get what you pay for: the more expensive drums generally do sound much better.
3. Consider the political side of your purchase: are you supporting a corporation or an individual by purchasing your drum? This can often be a driving decision alone for some drummers. Some companies produce synthetic drums of high quality who can fix your drum anytime anywhere. On the other hand, there are individuals in Africa, India, etc that hand-carve superior drums and may get their products co-op'ed thru certain distributers that believe in getting the majority of the money paid back to the drum makers. Know your sources and who you're really funding. Drumming political? For some it can be.
4. Who else might be playing this drum? Anyone? Kids? Consider how well the drum will hold up with others playing it: do you intend to let others play it? Are other people who will play this drum equally happy with the sound the drum makes? Will they use it as much as you?
5. Drums perform differently indoors than they do outdoors. If possible, take your test drives in both environments. The drum you thought you loved may not behave the same at an outdoor performance or in a heated indoor studio.
6. Consider the fix-ability of the drum you're thinking of purchasing. If something breaks, what are your options? It's like driving a car--- have a spare tire ready and sign up for AAA if you plan to do a lot of traveling. Be prepared. The total drum cost over the years involves more than just the initial purchase. It is a child with needs which (like people) increase as it gets older.
7. What kind of music do you generally like to listen to? Consider the typical type of drum used to play that kind of music if you see yourself playing solo a lot. If you see yourself playing with others most of the time, then again focus on the types of rhythms they generally play and again consider the drum(s) that lend themselves to those rhythms.
8. Don't forget to consider the portability of the drum. Is it a pain in the butt to haul the drum around? Do you intend to travel with it? If so, will your trunk or the overhead compartment accomodate it? If the drum is cumbersome to transport, this may discourage you from playing it as you travel to drumming venues. The easier the drum is to take with you to places, the more places you'll end up playing it.
9. Consider your long-range goals as a drummer: how serious are you about improving your drumming? A beginner's drum may be all you need. If on the other hand you see yourself really honing your drumming skills, consider getting a damn good drum (hey, if you were thinking about learning to be a professional concert pianist, wouldn't you at least consider the purchase of a Steinway?).
10. And finally, price of the drum may be a big consideration. If you have a specific budget for this investment, toss it out there to others and get some feedback as to what they think your best options are. You can get ripped off very easily by buying what looks like a great drum but has horrible sound or is actually in poor condition. As with purchasing a car, it always pays to turn to the experts for a second or third or fifth opinion. A lot of drummers do own more than one drum. It's not the end of the world if you wind up buying a drum you don't like, but the more thought you put into this purchase, the more likely you'll only buy drums you'll use a lot.
Drumming is a unique hobby in that one piece of equipment is pretty much all the hobby requires. It's not like skiing where you have to buy the clothes, the boots and bindings, the poles, the skis, etc and tweak them or replace them every year (and then there's that huge chairlift fee every time you go). You buy the drum, and you're pretty much set for life. It may take a little maintenance once in a while, but certain drums require no maintenance and even the organics don't cost a lot to keep in tip-top shape. In fact, most drumming veterans eventually maintain their own drums--- which in itself is a lot of fun.
i hope you'll find this counsel helpful as you examine your next drum purchase.
-dave