Djembes come in a variety of models as far as the materials used for their construction are concerned. The shell is made of a single piece of solid wood. The most common woods employed include Lengue/Lenke, Acajou, Iroko, Mahogany, Djalla, and Demba.
Each of these woods comes with particular sonic capacities. That’s why considering the wood used for a certain model calls for great attention when buying such a product. The head usually features goatskin that comes in various thicknesses. However, modern djembes are built with synthetic materials, including mylar and fiberglass.
These materials are altered to sound and feel like natural materials and are thus a great option for those who don’t want to use animal products. Then, there is the tuning system. Traditional djembes come with a rope tuning system, and the ropes are made from nylon, polyester, or other such materials. Modern models have bolts that can be tightened to increase the pitch of the drum.