How to Start Up a Drum Circle

Last Updated: February 16, 2023 Approved

Drum circles are universal. A drum circle is a free/amateur/and communicative gathering of people who come together to make spontaneous music. Anyone can join in, and even share instruments. Every person has a natural human-beat, its just a matter of letting it come out into the light.

Steps

1
Get some drums and other percussion instruments. such as: Djembes, Doumbeks, Tablas, Congas, tambourines, Shakers or any other hand drum. Don't forget frame drums! Another good idea is to have some sort of bass drum, such as a sangba or surdo.
2
Steer away from electronics. Drum circles are usually tribal in nature, so crazy electronic or technical instruments such as keyboards, drums sets, and electric guitars are not recommended.

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3
Get enough instruments for one to five people, or more.
4
Don't forget the obvious: a "drum circle" is a circle! Set up in a real circle so that everybody may see and hear one another. Irregular blob shapes make for choppy or chaotic environments.
5
Create circles within circles once the circle is bigger than 20 participants. If it gets too spread out, you lose connection. For massive circles, create levels with center circle on the floor, next on chairs, outside standing.
6
Find a nice outdoor location for your drum circle, like a big backyard, or a nearby park so people from the public can join in.
7
Always welcome those who walk in and want to join the fun.
8
Go indoors if it is going to be chilly, or wet, or dark.
9
Have at least one person who has a little experience so he/she can start the beats and/or maintain a steady motion. This is not really necessary once you have some experience as a facilitator, beginners get the idea very quickly.
10
Understand that rhythms are spontaneous, one person starts a beat or a rhythm then someone else adds on to it, so on and so forth.
11
Start off with slow beats and vibes, eventually the drum circle will rise with adrenaline but you have to let it happen, don't force it.
12
Don't be shy or timid, drum circles are supposed to be fun. start off slow and wait for a good moment for you to come in.
13
Be friendly and admire each others' attempts and making music. good vibes = a great drum circle.
14
Play friendly and supportive, don't get involved in competitive or aggressive playing. One mutually supportive game is to play a few beats, and let others add beats to that, and keep adding a few beats until a whole new and unpredictable rhythm is created!
15
Remember that we all share the space with our neighbors! Playing too loud or too long will not endear your drum circle to the rest of the community. Think about what you REALLY want to accomplish.

Warnings

[NO SNARE DRUMS/OR FULL DRUM SETS]

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Always ask before using some other person's drum.

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Don't give drum sticks to strangers.

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If you allow strangers to join in, make sure you supervise your equipment/instruments. sometimes people might damage your drums by not using them correctly or banging on them with sticks.

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