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First Lessons Djembe
by; Paulo Mattioli

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Hand Drumming Crash Course: Part Two

by Mark Powers

If you’ve worked through Part One of this series, you most likely now have a good understanding of our three basic hand drum strokes: Bass, Open and Slap. It’s time to combine those strokes and create a variety of rhythms!

Take Time To Rest

By simply applying rests (leaving a note or two out . . . NOT playing) to last issue’s Bass & Open combination exercise (Example #1), we discover patterns with a completely different feel! In our boxed notation, a rest will be represented by a dash (-).

Notation Key: B = Bass tone O = Open tone S = Slap stroke - = rest

Example #5: Bass/Open with rests (Pattern A)

Example #6: Bass/Open with rests (Pattern B)

Once that concept of leaving rests is comfortable, things can get fun! Combining half of Example #5 with half of Example #6 gives us a longer, more interesting phrase...

Example #7: Bass/Open with rests (Pattern C)

Examples #5 through #7:

The next two examples utilize Bass and Slap strokes.

Example #8: Bass/Slap with rests (Pattern A)

Example #9: Bass/Slap with rests (Pattern B)

Examples #8 and #9:

And, of course, Open and Slap strokes. Watch out here for the spots where one rest is followed immediately by another. Take it slowly and keep counting!

Example #10: Open/Slap with rests (Pattern B)

Example #11: Open/Slap with rests (Pattern B)

Examples #10 and #11:

Putting It All Together

Put all three strokes (and rests) together, and our combination options are virtually limitless! Here are four ideas to get you started. Use your imagination and you will be able to make up many, many more of your own!

Example #12: Basic strokes with rests (Pattern A)

Example #13: Basic strokes with rests (Pattern B)

Example #14: Basic strokes with rests (Pattern C)

Example #15: Basic strokes with rests (Pattern D)

Examples #12 through #15:

Although these rhythms can certainly be played by just you- alone in a solo environmentthey are even more fun to play in other contexts! Jam them as a duet with another hand drummer; use them at a local drum circle; pop on some headphones and rock out with your favorite recordings; play them along with musicians performing on other rhythmic/melodic/harmonic instruments. Most importantly... have fun! See you next time! www.powerspercussion.com

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About the Authors

Mark Powers is a percussionist and educator residing in Salem, Oregon. He has studied and performed throughout the US, China, Thailand and Ghana, West Africa. Visit Mark online at www.powerspercussion.com

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