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Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/300447
banjooud - Posted - 03/06/2015: 11:19:05
Today i see a drummer of persian instrument ( Daf ) .
Regulary he nourish carefuly the head with water , In a first time the head his totaly loose but in few hours she become tight and in a better condition to sing well.
Someone have try to do that on a banjo ?
JoePasko - Posted - 03/06/2015: 11:29:33
I know Indian musicians who play the kanjira drum, will "tune" it by applying water to the head. But kanjira heads are made either from the skin of a monitor lizard, or fish skin. I do not think applying water to a calfskin banjo head is a good idea.
beegee - Posted - 03/06/2015: 12:28:42
Back in the calfskin head days, when the humidity was high some banjo players would install small electric lights inside the banjo to heat the head when it stretched. The top-tension banjos would allow easier access to the adjusting hooks to regulate tension. If the relative humidity is too low the head will tighten and possibly break.
I do not think the few contemporary banjo players who use skin heads would be overly concerned with minute changes in head tension as might a drummer who is seeking a certain pitch or certain percussive rebound-factor.
To be sure, head tension is an obsession with certain banjo players, but more as a seasonal factor as opposed to an hourly factor.
John Gribble - Posted - 03/06/2015: 14:05:39
A bodhran (Irish drum) player told me he uses a little vegetable oil on the goatskin head to keep it supple and preventing it from drying out. He also used water (a fine mist) to lower the pitch of the head, and heat to raise the pitch.
banjooud - Posted - 03/06/2015: 14:44:19
Heating or adding oil or waterproof is a bad things for the skin according to the drummer .
Adding water is not for find the right tight but for keep the good health of the skin , it's realy like a living being who needs to drink water
Dan Drabek - Posted - 03/06/2015: 14:46:40
quote:
Originally posted by banjooudHeating or adding oil or waterproof is a bad things for the skin according to the drummer .
Adding water is not for find the right tight but for keep the good health of the skin , it's realy like a living being who needs to drink water
I'm afraid that calf is long dead. 
DD
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