You need the best djembe stand out there if you want to maximise your potential when playing the African drum. There’s no debate about it.
That’s because for any Drum player, control and precision are everything, be you at the helm of a full kit or just a solo Djembe. Qualities that are LOT easier to achieve if your drum is being held still. Let’s face it, the last thing any drummer wants is to be sandwiching a Djembe in-between their feet, or worse, fumbling around with it in-between their legs. If you’re on stage especially, a djembe stand is a no brainer!
However, ‘djembe stands’ aren’t all that simple, as no two are made equal. Strong djembe stands grip your drum tightly and allow you to adjust both its angle and height. Useful if you’re on stage. However, other Djembe stands aren’t quite so flexible. By that we mean, they do hold your Djembe, but are susceptible to moving under the pressure of heavy drumming. Some also hold your drum in an upright position too. Perhaps not the best if you’re a polished performer.
So as you can imagine, when it comes to choosing the best Djembe stand, it can feel like you’ve entered a bit of a minefield. Different pros, different cons, different structure, difference costs – all of which can leave you in wonder about which way to go. Hence why in an effort to prevent this brain fog, we’ve taken the time to dissect 8 of the best Djembe stands for sale today + talk you through their features.
After something specific about the best djembe stand? Or just curious as to whether a djembe stand is a better alternative to a strap? Use the menu below to find all the answers you need in 1 click…
The best Djembe stands @ a glance…
| SiteStripe Image | Buy |
|---|---|
  | BEST VALUE! |
  | PRO PICK! |
  | MOST POPULAR! |
  | BEST CAGE-STYLE! |
  | PORTABLE PICK! |
10 of the best Djembe stands you can buy…
Choosing a djembe stand is not as easy as it sounds!
Because aside from having to fit you specific model of djembe, it also has to bode well with how you play. A djmebe stand that doesn’t aid your sound is pretty much pointless. In which case, a bit of expert guidance never goes a miss.
Exactly why we’ve spilled out knowledge of djembes together to bring you a rundown of what are (for us) the best djembe stands for sale today…
1: Meinl Steely II Djembe Stand
2: Pearl PD3000 3000 Series Pro Djembe Stand
3: Gibraltar GDS Djembe Stand
4: Cage-style Remo djembe stand
5: Meinl STDJST-BK Collapsible Djembe Stand
6: Tycoon Percussion TJS-B powder coated Djembe stand
7: Meinl Chromed Djembe Stand
8: Handpan Stainless Steel Djembe Stand
Here’s one of the best portable djembe stands…
9: Tycoon Percussion TJS-C Chrome Djembe Stand
Already got a tripod? Try this…
10: Gibraltar GDMNT Djembe Stand
Which djembe stand is the best? Our editor’s choice
While there are LOT of good djembe stands out there, there was 1 that really caught our attention.
And that’s because, while there are various ways of holding a djembe, the one thing you really need in a drum stand, is stability. Remember: your stand will be under a great deal of pressure when you’re performing, especially if it’s suspended off the ground (the secret to the best sound). So if you cherish your drum as much as your live sound, then making this focal point of your search is just common sense.
And thankfully ‘sturdiness’ is a box that 1 stand on this list does NOT fail to tick. So for that reason alone, we’d be tempted to brand the best djembe stand as the…
Pearl 3000 Series drum stand = Best Djembe Stand
A stand that yes – isn’t the cheapest – but by far does the best job at securing your djembe & keeping it sturdy during play.
For anyone with pricy djembe, this is certainly something to keep an eye out for. Rest assured that with the Pearl 3000, your djembe won’t be going anywhere. Professional drummers, take note! Part of the reason behind this, comes back to the materials used.; you can really tell this is a heavyweight stand.
Every piece of metal that’s part of the construction feels solid & robust. We tried, but we were unable to find any sort of lapse in this ‘toughness’. All the brackets, tightening screws & fixing/ adjustment mechanism feel super solid. The type of solid that gives you a lot of trust in the 3000. It’d take a very vigorous drummer to unsettle this stand!!
So even though the 3000 is anything but the lightest (dock a point off for portability), that’s a trade-off we’d be happy to make. Because aside from not needing to worry about it breaking on you mid-performance, it also means it’s less of a worry when being flung in the back of a tour bus. Team that with the fact that this stand does fold (something not all djembe stands do), & even from a portability perspective it’s not actually that bad – weighty, but compact.
Precisely why for us, it seems pretty natural to suggest that the pearl 3000 is the best djembe stand for sale today. As far as we can see, it ticks virtually every box!
Enjoy this best Djembe stand review & eager for more? Don’t miss out on all our latest Music Instrument Reviews, as well as our knowledge on all things Percussion Instruments. Recently we’ve also done a full in-depth guide to the Best African Drums + another on the Best Snare Drum Stands, which may also be a good read!
Or if your heart’s set on a djembe stand, keep reading to discover even more about why steadying your snare with a stand is SO important…
The lowdown on everything djembe stands & African drums…
Buying a djembe stand when you’re not sure about size, is a bit like buying a car with no service history – it’s one hell of a risk! And while a lot of stands do cater for various sizes, even some of the best djembe stands don’t fit every size of drum!
So, if you’re unsure about what size of Djembe you have, or perhaps which size djembe you should buy, jump into this guide below..
Clue: there’s more than 1 way to hold a djembe drum.
See, Djembe stands are in essence a substitute for a strap – the other way of suspending your drum. Both of which work great, however we think stands do have the edge on straps. Here’s 3 reasons why…
- Stability – Drummers who’re all about precision need a djembe stand over a strap for this very reason. In comparison to as strap, you can keep your djembe a LOT more stable. All of which increases how accurately & precise you’re able to play. An easy way to improve your sound!!
- You’re not tied to it – While both a djembe strap & stand are hands-free, using a djembe stand give you much more variance in how you can play. Stick with a strap & you’ll likely have to play stood up or with the drum close to your chest. Whereas, with a djembe stand, you could play at arm length or even whilst sat down.
- Posture – For any performer, posture is incredibly important, especially when delivering vocals. Yet another reason why investing in the best djembe stand you can (opposed to a strap) makes SO much sense! Transfer the weight of the djembe off your shoulders by using a stand, & performing should become a significantly easier. What’s more, if your drum is heavy, or you have a long set on stage, then you practically eliminate the risk of aching shoulders.
Whether you need a djembe stand really comes back to how serious you are about learning/ performing.
So in the case you’re a pro/ intermediate level player, the answer would be yes – investing in the best djembe stand possible would be a wise idea. Aside from taking the weight of the drum off your shoulders, it also allows you to be a lot more precise in how you play. A healthy advantage if for any performer!!
And even in the case you’re a complete novice, a djembe stand could also be a wise idea. Granted, for most beginners a strap would probably suffice, but having that extra bit of control right from the start would hardly be a disadvantage. Such a perk could certainly increase the pace at which you’re able to pick up the basics.
In short – djembe stands are an advantage for any drummer, but an essential for any pro.
In many respects, yes – a djembe stand does make it easier to learn the djembe.
Not only does it take the weight of the drum off your shoulders, but it also allows you to better position yourself when playing. So especially when it comes to mastering the basics, having a djembe stand could well pay off.
Plus, with the drum not being strapped to your chest, you have better control over your posture. Yet another advantage, particularly if you plan on playing the djembe for a long period of time. Strap a djembe to your chest/ around your neck & long sets can become painful.
Finding the best djembe stand is tricky, but (thankfully) not impossible. Keep an eye out for these key features & you should stand a good chance of tracking it down…
- Stance & strength – Holding a drum isn’t as straight forward as it might sound – in fact, it’s actually quite a punishing task. Hence why stance & strength should be 1st on your agenda when looking for the best djembe stand. Fail to do so & not only do you risk your drum being unstable, but also the likelihood of the stand breaking or falling over mid-performance. Hardly the ideal situation, especially if you’ve invested a lot of £££ into your djembe!
- Holding method – While djembe stands essentially do the same thing, not all of them go about it in the same way. Some stands will cradle your djembe in a static frame, while others will allow you to clamp it in place + adjust the angle at which it sits. So it’s important to consider how you play & what style of stands best suit your playing style, before investing your £££.
- Portability – Not all musicians are the same. For some music is a very ‘at home’ affair, while for others touring is bae. A snippet of self-evaluation that’s worth carrying out, as going on tour with a drum stand that won’t fold is likely going to end badly… just saying! Equally, if you’re a ‘stay at home’ musician, you could likely save a pretty penny by opting for a cheaper non-folding model.
It’s hard to put a figure on the weight of a djembe stand, as each is made out of a different material & designed for a specific type of player.
Cheap djembe stands (usually aimed at beginners) tend to be the most lightweight. We found some that weigh in at under 1kg when finalising this list!! Something that tends to make them pretty cheap & score pretty well in terms of portability. However…
If you ask us, weight isn’t something negative when it comes to a djembe stand. In fact, we’d say some of the best djembe stands you can buy are heavyweights (over 3kgs). A theory that all comes back to what a drum stand is.
It’s a stand designed to keep your drum stable & (importantly) take a LOT of punishment. So especially for any frequent player, a heavy duty stand actually comes as an advantage. Yes, it may not be ideal in terms of portability, but if you want your djembe to be stable & safe, weight is pretty much an essential compromise.
