Editing Djembe (section)

=== Skin ===
The djembe is headed with a rawhide skin, most commonly goatskin. Other skins, such as antelope, cow, kangaroo, or horse can be used as well. Thicker skins, such as cow, have a warmer sound with more overtones in the slaps; thinner skins have a sharper sound with fewer overtones in the slaps and are louder. Thick skins make it easier to play full tones but more difficult to play sharp slaps; for thin skins, the opposite applies. Thin skins are louder than thick ones. Thick skins, such as cow, are particularly hard on the hands of the player and cause more callousing than goatskins.

Skins from dry and hot-climate areas and poorly fed goats are preferred for djembes because of their low fat content. Skins from cold-climate goats with high-value nutrition have more than double the fat content; they tend to sound dull and lifeless in comparison. Even though the fat content of male goats is lower than that of female goats,<ref>{{cite thesis |title=Biological Factors Influencing the Nature of Goat Skins and Leather |degree=Ph.D. |first=Philippa |last=Stosic |date=May 1994 |publisher=University of Leicester |location=UK |url=http://www.nda.agric.za/docs/AAPS/Articles/Goats/Production/R4273.pdf |access-date=January 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708091436/http://www.smallstock.info/research/reports/R5186/R5186-PhdThesis.pdf |archive-date=July 8, 2019 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> many players prefer female skins because they do not smell as strongly and are reputed to be softer.

The skin is mounted with the spine running through the centre of the drum head, with the line of the spine pointing at the player, so the hands strike either side of the spine. Animal skins are thicker at the spine than the sides; mounting the skin with the spine centered ensures that the left and right hand play symmetric areas of equal size and thickness. In turn, this helps to minimize differences in pitch of the notes played by the left and right hand. Normally, the head end of the spine points at the player, so the hands strike the area of the skin that used to be the shoulders of the goat. With thicker skins, such as from a cow or horse, the skin round is usually taken from the side of the hide so it does not include the spine, which is too thick for use on a djembe.

Skins may be shaved prior to mounting or afterwards, or may be de-haired by [[Tanning (leather)#Liming|liming]]. Liming weakens skins; some djembefolas also claim that limed skins are harder on their hands and do not sound as good as untreated skins.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://djembefola.com/board/technical-advice/damn-seriously-t3500.html#p23988 |title=Damn it.....seriously!! |first=Tom |last=Kondas |access-date=January 20, 2012 |archive-date=January 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104010549/http://djembefola.com/board/technical-advice/damn-seriously-t3500.html |url-status=live |publisher=djembefola.com |work=Djembe Forum |date=December 9, 2011 |df=mdy }}</ref>

Factory-made djembes often use skins made from synthetic materials, such as [[FiberSkyn]].