Djembe and dundun rhythms for West African drumming and dance
Roots Jam 3
Arrangements for West African Drum & Dance
Excerpts from the book . . .
Koreduga – A Time Puzzler
We might well call this eccentric rhythm that of the trickster. The timing is in the oddball signature 9/8, which to our struggling ears we can break into more bite-sized chunks. The basic rhythm is:
o - o - o - O o -
g - d - T - d P -
This group of notes combines familiar phrases from 4/4 and 12/8 rhythms and melds them together. One way we can hear it is like this, 4 + 5:
g - d - | T - d P -
While counting in 5 is generally unheard of, we can recognize the standard triplet phrase, [ T - d P - - ], so really what’s happening is the final rest gets dropped; or rather, the final double rest [ - - ] gets shortened to a single rest. Come to think of it, this isn’t so uncommon after all. Remember the clave pattern [ x - - x - - x - ]?
That’s 3 + 5, where once again the 5 comes from a shortened triplet.
Getting back to Koreduga, our 4 + 5 then is really more of a 4 + 3 + 2. It begins with the binary feel, switches to a triplet feel and then quickly back to the binary.
Another way to hear it is 6 + 3, with the initial 6 having a binary feel:
o - o - o - | O o -
This phrase is reminiscent of the Mendiani sangban in 12/8:
O - O - O - | x M - ...
where the phrase extends by doubling the triplet (thereby increasing the 9 to 12 total notes).
O - O - O - x M - x M - = 6 + 3 + 3
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Take the next step in playing West African drums for dancers, in a group, or just for fun. Learn basic accompaniment parts, selected bass drum (dunun) and bell patterns and variations, and traditional djembe solos. Roots Jam 3 offers you complete and cohesive ensemble arrangements for 16 popular dance rhythms, plus lessons and exercises on rhythmic structure and timing. Learn tips for traditional or improvised lead djembe solos. Choose your own bell or clave parts with a handy reference chart. Practice listening to and playing parts with the optional audio CD. A second, bonus CD features 27 original compositions, for which notation is also provided.
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Roots Jam:
Collected Rhythms for Hand Drum and Percussion
This unique resource contains hundreds of rhythms from the African, Latin and rock traditions, along with inspired improvisations. Easy notation, useful for all levels, from beginners to performers. Includes lesson guide, arrangements, popular styles, practice exercises, and a list of other resources. Fully indexed, 80 pages.
Roots Jam 2:
West African and Afro-Latin Drum Rhythms
An updated (2002) and expanded collection of over 125 traditional West African, Afro-Latin, and Middle Eastern rhythms, arranged for ready reference for individual learning or ensemble play. Covers djembe and dunun/bell parts and variations, in box (grid) notation for clear display of timing. Includes unique exercises, generic patterns and in-depth study of polyrhythm. Optional full-length audio CD with 28 demo and practice tracks.
Nowick Gray has been a teacher and writer for over three decades, and a drummer since 1990. He currently teaches and performs with a number of drum and percussion groups in Victoria, B.C.
