MOUNTAIN RYTHYM
SIMPLE TWIST TUNING SYSTEM (PATENTED)

So, you want to tune your drum? Mountain Rythym has made it easy for you to tune your djembe or ashiko in minutes!

flipping

FLIPPING A PEG

Depending on the size and style of your drum, you should be able to get between 2 to 5 flips per peg. When you can't flip any more pegs (don't hurt your hands), you need to pull slack.

  1. Opposite pegs should be flipped, such as tuning a kit drum or changing a car tire. This allows for even tension and therefore a consistent sound from your drum.
  2. You may find it easier to place the drum on the ground or on your lap with the head of the drum to your left. You should have the pegs pointing away from you. It is easier to pull a peg and to push it away from you.
  3. Find the rope with the fewest twists, grab the peg and flip it toward you so that it adds another twist to the rope. Then slide it through by pushing it away from you, and repeat depending on the desired number of twists.
  4. Bang on the drum and see how it sounds. If you want it tuned higher, go to the opposite side of the drum and flip another peg. Remember, when not using your drum, loosen a few pegs to protect and prolong the life of your drum head.
pulling

PULLING SLACK

Pulling Slack is only necessary when no more pegs can be flipped. IMPORTANT: Ensure that your drum is on a soft surface – concrete and asphalt have been known to damage drums by scraping the wood and scuffing the natural goatskin head.

It is easiest to pull slack with the drum on the floor and the head pointing away from you.

  1. Starting at the knot at the handle.
  2. Begin removing one peg at a time. Each time you remove a peg, pull the excess slack from the up-and-down roping (that's the loose rope that remains when you remove a peg).
  3. Continue step 2 until you've removed all pegs and slack from the rope. Try to not shift the head/skin of the drum.
  4. After the twist pegs are removed and all the slack is taken up, untie or loosen the knot.
  5. Pull on the loose end of the rope (the handle).
  6. Retie the knot. The excess rope is used as a handle. Now, re-insert the pegs.
inserting

RE-INSERTING PEGS

  1. Place your drum on the floor in front of you with the head to your left.
  2. Pretend you are a crab and use your hands as pincers.
  3. Try using a thumb on the back of the peg and grabbing or pinching the rope with your fingers.
  4. Slide the peg forward.
  5. With your free hand, grab the peg and flip it toward you. Then slide it through, pushing it away from you. This creates a twist in the rope.
  6. Re-insert pegs in an alternating fashion, as you would tune a drum kit or change a car tire. (CIRCLE DIAGRAM WITH NUMBERS). For more information on this step, see “flipping pegs.”