Overview:
If you need review of hand positions and sounds on your drum, click here
I encourage you to put on any of my lesson and listen to it casually. By this I mean, you don't have to study it, but listen when you cooking, driving, gardening, etc. - even napping! The programs have been constructed so they will soak right in - if you listen to them over and over again. This principle of repetition is the foundation of the rhythm culture that we are part of. It is how we learn language and behavior as children.
General notes on Terminology: I use the terms "main beat", 4 pulse" and "pulse" interchangeably to mean that equally spaced, underlying pulse that connects all the patterns. This 4 pulse can be divided again into either 4 or 3 partials per pulse.
Four Four:
Afoxe', Djesse Muloumbo, High Life and Makuta are based on four partials per pulse. This is the so called “four-four feel". Although technically this type of pattern could be named in several ways, “Four-four” has become common hand drum terminology for this “time feel.”
Twelve-Eight:
The Bembe and Yan Valu ensembles are based on three partials per pulse. Technicaly this is called "twelve-eight". Hand drummers usually refer to this as "Triplets" or “six-eight”.
Occasionally I refer to a "theme" or "signature" rhythm. This is a particular pattern that is unique to the ensemble, in contrast to other patterns that may be part of several ensembles. When listening to the full musical performance, focus on the theme pattern. This will help you to recognize and characterize the different ensemble rhythms.
|
Names of drums. Each culture has its own names for the bell, rattle and 3 drums of the basic African battery.
For example the three Brazilian hand drums are called Rum ("hoom") for the low, Rumpi ("hoompi") for the middle and Le ("lay") for the high. In Calypso drumming the three are called Bass, Fuller and Cutter. In Bata drumming of Cuba they are called Iya, Itotole and Okonlolo. I use the common Cuban Rumba terms Tumba for low, Conga for middle and Quinto for high to name the specific drums. So in the lesson, when I say "the conga part" you know that I'm referring to a middle pitched drum. It is important to play the correct part on the correct drum, otherwise the effect will be different.
|
