"Simple Twist" TUNING
"Simple Twist" Tuning System, patent #5880385
If you've ever tried to tune a drum using the Mali weave, your life is just about to become a hundred times easier and you're going to see the real advantage of owning a Mountain Rythym drum and our patented 'Simple Twist' tuning system. When you are comfortable with the 'Simple Twist', you will be able to tune your drum in minutes and do a full retightening in under 10 minutes.

FLIPPING A PEG


So, you want to tune your drum? Well at Mountain Rythym, we've tried to make it as easy as possible for you to keep your djembe or ashiko tuned and ready to play. 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.
I find it easiest to sit the drum on the ground or on my lap with the head of the drum to my 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 least amount of 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 drumhead.

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. (It can scrape the wood and scuff 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, you want to pull the excess slack from the up and down roping (that's the loose rope that's left 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.and 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 (next section)  

RE-INSERTING PEGS
1.Place your drum on the floor infront of you with the bead to your left.  
2.Pretend you are a crab, using your hands as pincers  
3.I like to use my thumb on the back of the peg and my fingers to grab or pinch the rope.
4.Slide the peg forward.
5.With your free hand, grab the peg and flip towards you. Then slide it though pushing it away from you. This creates a twist in the rope.
6.Re-insert pegs in an alternating fashion - as one would tune a drum kit or change a car tire. (CIRCLE DIAGRAM WITH NUMBERS). For more information on this step, see FLIPPING PEGS

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