“Toca timbales come with high quality plastic heads. Your timbales will need to be tuned as they do not come pre-tuned from the factory. First, assemble drums on the stand. Use tuning wrench or drum key depending on the model timbale set you have and remove any ripples in the head that may appear. Pick a tension rod to start at and give it a turn counter clockwise. Do this to all tension rods, moving in a clockwise direction until you reach the point that you started from. Continue this process until you obtain the desired pitch. Once the desired pitch is achieved, tap the head 1″ in from each lug to get the head in tune with itself”.
**There are many different tuning possibilities depending on your preference. The interval of a perfect fourth between the two drums is the most common tuning, however drums can also be tuned to the interval of a perfect fifth.
We recommend the following tunings using a piano keyboard.
Macho F 1 octave above middle C – A
Hembra C 1 octave above middle C – E
(Image from Toca Perc. website)
Information used by kind Permission from Toca / RBIMusic – Mark Petrocelli (April 2023)
“This play-along package presented by Vic Firth has been the world’s top drum method for the past ten years. It has now been re-released with access to online audio for download or streaming for even more ease and flexibility. It features over 6 hours of music, including 47 grooves and feels from all over the world most in two tempos 88 tracks in all, truly professional sketch charts and incisive text by Tommy. An interactive groove experience for all level drummers with rhythm tracks that feature some of New York City’s top musicians. Works in conjunction with the best-selling Groove Essentials DVD. For beginning drummers: simple rock beats with a real band feel; for intermediate drummers: syncopated, 16th-note grooves as well as jazz/swing feels; for advanced drummers: challenging world grooves, as well as jazz shuffles, jazz waltzes and R&B feels. Additionally, you’ll find 3 “Global Tour” tracks that are 15-minute journeys through all the grooves and feels you’ve learned”.
Hal Leonard – DrumSet Method 1, by Kennan Wylie with Gregg Bissonette
Designed for anyone just learning to play the drumset, this comprehensive and easy-to-use beginner’s guide is based on years of teaching drum students of all ages. It includes hours of audio tracks for demonstration and play-along, plus video lessons by drum master Gregg Bissonette! Lessons include: drum setup & fundamentals • tuning & maintenance • basic music reading • grips & strokes • coordination & basic techniques • basic beats for many styles of music • 8th notes, 16th notes, dotted notes & triplets • drum fills • and more.
Alfred’s Kid’s Drumset course, by Steve Houghton and Dave Black (with CD Inside or Online Audio – two different books)
A great introductory book, starting with Pop Rock and Rock beats, … “
“Three irresistible drum experts—a clever, classical dog, one cool cat, and a friendly alligator—keep students’ attention focused by pointing out what’s important on each page and help make learning music fun! This full-color book is specifically designed with attention-grabbing illustrations for use with kids at the elementary level”. 48 pages.
Beginning DJembe, by Michael Marcus, with Joe Galeota
For those wanting to learn DJembe, this is a great starting point and good book with basics, as well as all the rhythms from African tribes. The Hal Leonard book description follows and includes the following information: “traditional djembe rhythms from different regions: Sofa, Dundungbe, Soli, Guinea, Fare, Kuku, Mane, and Sinte; notated djembe ensemble parts, including for djembes and dunduns; techniques for soloing; historical, regional, and traditional cultural conext of the djembe; how to tune, maintain and care for your djembe; and more!
“Learn to play djembe! This hands-on workshop will help you produce a good sound, play with healthy technique, and learn the essential concepts, sounds, and rhythms of West African djembe drumming.
I teach basic to advanced Drum Set and percussion instruments, i.e. hand percussion, Congas, timbales, and auxiliary percussion, at a studio or in your home.If you are interested in Lessons, contact me via the Contact page (or phone) and download the Policy below. Look forward helping you progress on drum set
Kennard Music 