Looking for a good djembe book? Here is a selection of the best ones out there. They are books I've personally read, tried and would recommend. Some will suit different levels of player, so there should be something for everyone.
How to play Djembe
Alan Dworsky, Betsy Sansby, Joh Camara
I have a copy of this. It's a good book for beginners, containing the basics along with a few exercises and a good collection of West African rhythms on CD. You don't need any prior musical knowledge, but it would help.
Definitely not the be all and end of of djembe books as it could have said a lot more, but a good start and very well priced, so worth having.
Djembe: Method for Beginner Djembe Players
Kaan Taprak & Jan Wietse Fokkema
Another good djembe book, of which I have a copy. Unfortunately it's not always easy to find in English.
It teaches the basics, with information on djembe cultural background, exercises, tips and song arrangements. At 32 pages it's a little on the thin side, and English may not be their strong point, but it's well researched and comes with a CD too.
African Percussion
Serge Blanc
This is an advanced book, but it's well worth getting if you're a little more au fait with music theory. The rhythms are written in standard music notation, which takes some working out, but it has a CD too which makes it much easier.
Blanc has done extensive research on the rhythms in the book and has been a student of Adama Drame, one of the djembe world's great. I wrote to him after buying the book to say hi. Nice guy too.
It can be VERY expensive, but is one of the most complete advanced books I have seen.
The Drummer's Path: Ritual and Tradition (Paperback)
Sule Greg Wilson
This book doesn't teach any specific rhythms but is a great book discussing the basic principles behind playing African drums and the spiritual and health-related aspects of playing drums, discussing breath, posture and more.
Sule Greg was also nice enough to leave a comment below mentioning his other book.
Manufacturers description is below:
An introduction to African drumming discusses the principles and power of traditional African rhythms and explains the basics of breath, posture, and orchestration in playing African music.
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Thanks for including my book among the “best”! I do appreciate it!
I have since released Drumpath Rhythms: A Method for Teaching and Learning Percussion, which includes Bass Tone Slap for conga and djembe, proper posture for sitting or standing, stretches and exercises…..as well as The Seven Generics……rhythms that, once mastered, will allow one to sit in with nearly anyone!
Thanks, again.
The revised and updated, 2018 e-book edition of The Drummer’s Path will be available later this Summer, by the way.
You’re welcome, and will check out Drumpath. Let us know when the e-book is out!
I have been studying Learn To Play The Djembe, part of the Hal Leonard series and find the instructional material very good, along with the streaming downloads of the lessons. Excellent beginners book.
Greetings
Wonderful site…Thank you
I see you mentioned that you were able to contact Serge Blanc…
I’ve been trying to find a way to contact him as well without luck.
Can you help with contact information if you have it?
Thank you in advance
Thanks very much. Unfortunately I spoke to him many years ago, and can’t seem to find an email address for him. You could try contacting the book’s publishers – Percudanse Association in Paris.