Hand Drum Lessons & Notation for Djembes, Dununs & Bells

Roots Jam 2: West African and Afro-Latin Drum Rhythms

The second volume of Roots Jam rhythm books offers you, in one economical package:

  • convenience of a comprehensive rhythm source – Now you can find over 125 African, Afro-Latin, and Middle Eastern rhythms in a single source. Arrangements of traditional rhythms have been widely researched and compiled, offering you both reliability and flexibility.
  • flexibility of traditional/creative arrangements – You can choose among primary parts and variations for djembe, junjun (or conga/surdo) and percussion.
  • audio/visual practice guides
    • Simple box notation based on Olatunji “gun-go-pa” method indicates different drum notes, rests, and handing, and makes it easy for you to read and line up multiple parts.
    • Full-length practice CD allows you to match sound with notation and play along with (or solo over) popular traditional rhythms and arrangements.
  • tools for self-learning
    • Explanatory material helps you understand underlying pulses and dynamics of polyrhythmic percussion.
    • This book will enable you to record what you hear and play by using simple written notation, which you can then easily share with others.
    • Exercises and generic patterns (for all skill levels) include djembe, junjun, bell and clave parts.
    • Guidance on tradition and improvisation, time signatures and handing, intentions and excellence, new directions for our rhythm culture.
    • Linked resource lists: music, books, websites, online rhythms.
  • ease of use and reference – Ring-bound, 8 1/2 X 11 pages open flat for play-along reference. Rhythm index organized alphabetically, by region/culture, and time signature. Audio CD has 28 demo and play-along practice tracks keyed to rhythms and page numbers.

 RJ2 excerpts and sample lessons 

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