Rhythm Evolution
January 31, 2012 by · 1 Comment
This was always a really fun rhythm game….
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SING THIS! It makes playing easy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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This is the Home pattern: | Bass Slap [ ] Tone Tone [ ] [ ] [ ] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Now we add ONE note: | Bass Slap [ ] Tone Tone [ ] Bass [ ] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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And another. Just one note: | Bass Slap [ ] Tone Tone Bass Bass [ ] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Add one bass up front: | Bass Slap Bass Tone Tone Bass Bass [ ] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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And one slap at the end: | Bass Slap Bass Tone Tone Bass Bass Slap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
So sing and play. Singing each line gets it in ya. So to sing is to practice. Once the song is in ya, it can come out of your hands! The base pattern gets stuck in you with all that repetition, and can become a good 4/4 pattern to call up in a song. And you already know how to improvise it into a solo.
You are spectacular, creative musicians…..
Play the base rhythm for a while; slowly and perfectly. Just like that. Don’t worry. Just get the groove. Then after a while when you feel at ease with the pattern, move through the rhythm, adding one new note at a time, then try backing up, subtracting one note at a time. Play each line 4 times before moving on. Maybe throw a little variation in on the last one…..
Handling this pattern: I don’t give much attention to handing most of the time. Guinea teachers will tell you one way, Yoruba teachers will tell you anther. LISTEN TO WHAT YOUR TEACHER TELLS YOU! This is goofing-off style drumming – not traditional! I have found playing hand-over-hand, Guinea style, works best for me with this pattern, but Guinea style is what I am used to. Play the way that is best for you. “If it sounds good, it IS good.” Duke Ellington
The pattern would be played like this if you’re right handed:
Bass Slap [ ] Tone Tone [ ] [ ] [ ]
Bass Slap Bass Tone Tone Bass Bass Slap
Giving the spaces the same hand you’ll play by the last line. It makes it easy to be FAST!
This exercise is from the book, “Have Fun Playing Hand Drums” by Ben James
This is a good time to be alive.
December 16, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
The music of the entire world is accessible. The music I would have missed, being born too late. The music I grew up hearing is still alive. And how cool is it that I can hear traditional and modern music from every corner of the globe?
Rhythm is at the heart of if. But there is more~ Drummers create, manipulate and move time and space, and if we are generous with the space, we invite melodic weavings and swoops and curls to dance in between the one and the two. I feel fortunate to have access to so much of this beauty magic.
Right now, it is the West African Harp called the Kora that is sending me swooning. This will be my sacred/holiday/ atmosphere music this year. I have some new beautiful CD compilations to share. MADOU SIDIKI DIABATE , playing Traditional Kora Music From Mali, and a young man named KELONTAN CISSOHKO following his father’s lead. There are a couple of Mbira albums I can’t wait to hear. I’ll be posting some samples when the order arrives, so I can introduce you to [or remind you of] these treasures, and the musicians who poured them into the world.
As this seems to be turning into a plug for the business end of my job, I shall tell you that we also have books and DVD’s for the new [or used] drum explorer in your life. I have and use many of these if you want my experience and opinion about them. There are some that are great for classes, wonderful for teachers, excellent for personal study and stair steps to cultural traditions. Come play. There is a song, somewhere in the history of world, calling to you.
Baba’s Warm-Up
February 2, 2011 by · 1 Comment
This is our favorite “technique” tool, and a beautiful song. Here are a couple different ways of seeing it, so “hearing” it will be easier…
For the written version, “Gun” [goon] = Bass, “go & do” = tone, and “pa & ta” = slaps. Play, play play!
Lolo Codes
November 13, 2010 by · Leave a Comment
In the Rhythm Kids class on Monday, my Yasha kid stated that “when we experiment” with which sticks or brushes to use on this or that instrument [or bucket or chair or window] “we are actually playing.” I like when kids say actually. They mean ACTUALLY. Like it is really real then. Experimenting IS playing, actually.
But structure gives us the context. The framework of our play. We wouldn’t be able to make up a very playable card game with half of us holding a ball….
I like structure. It gives me something upon which to improvise! We’ve been doing structure this month in the Tuesday Night class. These are the djembe codes for the song, Lolo as we learned it from Famoudou Konate’s book, “Rhythms and Songs from Guinea”
lolo codes . They are really slow and looped the number of times stated in the book [for consistency of practice]. If you’d like a written copy, let me know. If you were in class, you have it! Next month, we’ll see what sort of experimentation we can do playing with this song.
Drum Practice Tip #4
June 3, 2010 by · 2 Comments
When practicing or playing on your djembe drum, don’t forget to use breaks. This is sound advice whether you’re practicing alone or with others. And if you’re performing it’s even more important. It tells everyone when your rhythm starts and when it ends. There’s nothing like starting and stopping on time. That is part of the magic of good percussion. It helps tremendously with timing!
If you’re not using breaks now then give it a try. Once again, you can google for information on breaks or you can use the ones we’ve supplied on this page. Just click on one of the images and when the larger image is displayed right-click and do a Save As… If you’re left-handed click on the link above the images to see the left-handed version of this post.
We use breaks all the time at Failla Drums. We use them during classes before playing rhythms together; we even use them before our warm up exercise (Baba’s Warm Up). And when we perform in public events we use them to let everyone else drumming know when to start and when to end. And often when Failla Drums is performing so is the audience who may be playing along with drums, sticks, bells or just clapping their hands. It’s sounds more professional. Without breaks there tends to be clatter at the end of songs. With breaks it’s crisp and clean endings. So play them loud so everyone can hear.
By the way, these breaks work great for rhythms in 4/4 time signatures. For 6/8 rhythms we use different ones, but we’ll cover that in another post. If you can’t wait try googling for more info. If you like our graphic format for djembe rhythms don’t forget to check out our Hand Charts, Graphic Rhythm Sheets, and Animated Rhythms DVD. They’re reasonably priced and free samples are available.
Go Go Do Do Do Go Pa Pa
Failla Drums
Drum Practice Tip #3
May 24, 2010 by · 3 Comments
Use both hands
Once you get comfortable playing a specific rhythm try starting with your other hand. Download a rhythm from the net and change it so it begins with your other hand. For instance, if a rhythm goes like this: Gun Go Do Pa change it to Dun Do Go Ta. Or better yet, try one of the free sample Hand Charts available on our website. There’s a left-hand and right-hand version for most of the rhythms. If you like these hand charts try using our Hand Charts book which includes many popular West African rhythms. Just place your hands where the pictures display the hands. Remember, if the hand icon is black it means Bass note (Gun or Dun), if a white hand it means Tone (Go or Do) and if the hand icon is red then it’s a slap (Pa or Ta). Practice the pattern (starting with your other hand) over and over again until you can do it without the hand chart. Then you’ll be able to play it with either hand and it will make practicing on your djembe more interesting. Your playing will improve as well; your other slaps, tones, and bass will be consistent with your main ones. If you want to push yourself even furthur try playing the complete rhythm only with your strong hand first and then try it with your other hand because when it really comes down to it, it doesn’t really matter how you play it.
Just play it,
Failla Drums
Drum Practice Tip #2
May 12, 2010 by · 3 Comments
Build up your chops with Baba's Warmup!
(Click here for right-handed version)
A great thing to add to your practice routine is a warmup exercise. In Boise we use a popular version of Baba’s Warmup. You can find copies of this routine on the internet or you can download our Graphics version. We’ve included right-hand and left-hand versions in a PDF file. The idea is to play it through once with your strong hand then play it again with your other hand. You can even play it a third time alternating both hands. Play each line 4 times then move on to the next line and keep going until you get to the end. The PDF file is a FREE download and we don’t have a problem with you sharing this file with your drumming buddies. If you practice Baba’s warmup with friends try to make it sound like one drum by listening to others and playing tight. This is a lot of fun and will help build up your chops. Follow up this exercise with the rest of your practice routine everytime and before you know it you’ll be able to play it without a rhythm sheet. If you teach drumming try starting every class with Baba’s Warmup.
If you like this graphics format check out the other FREE samples available on our website. If you want more order a copy of our DRUMMIN’ BUDDIES Hand Charts Book. If you have any trouble try singing the patterns before playing them. If you’re still struggling check out our Animated Rhythms DVD (there’s even a FREE sample video file you can download). If you have any concerns, feedback or questions remember we’d love to hear from you via our contact form.
Drum On!
Failla Drums
Drum Practice Tip #1
May 11, 2010 by · 3 Comments
Practice! That right, practice everyday. Did you know that Jerry Garcia wasn’t satisfied if he didn’t practice at least six hours a day? So the rumor goes anyway. The point is if you want to get better on your musical instrument (in this case it’s a djembe drum) you have to practice daily. And while it’s ok to just play anything on your drum you should push yourself to learn something specific. Learn a new rhythm, rudiments, or fills. If you have a drum teacher practice what they taught you and show them the next class. If you don’t have a teacher search the internet for djembe rhythms or order a copy of our DRUMMIN’ BUDDIES Hand Charts Book or Animated Rhythms DVD. These are all great ways to practice. If you can’t afford either of these items download one or all of our FREE Graphics Rhythm Sheets. A good friend from Chicago once said “If you don’t like how you play your instrument it’s because you’re not practicing.” So practice. Everyday! Everyone will notice, especially you! Oh yeah, and Have fun!
Peace,
Failla Drums
