The djembe is one of the most common instruments of West Africa where they play (don't mind the pun) an integral part of the area's music and tradition.These goblet shaped drums are usually covered in animal hide (primarily goat) and are meant to be played with bare hands.
Up until last September when school was back in session again for me full time, my friends and I took lessons in both traditional rhythms and freestyle. What an amazing feeling when friends get together and drum; all tensions and everyday worries disappear.
If you haven't tried hand drumming, you should!
Here are some djembe sites that I like to visit:
- Freestyle Drumming - Pamela Lynn - my freestyle instructor's website
- Alternative Culture - lessons, playbacks, great site!
- African Drumbeat
- The Djembe Page at Rhythm Web
- Yankadi
- Kenne Thomas
The following rhythms are from my traditional drumming classes. Although it goes against all tradition to write the songs down, I am a visual person and need the notes in front of me. Writing the songs down also keeps Dave, my drum instructor, honest!
CHOKOTO
From a drumming workshop on Gabriola Island with Jambanja, visit http://www.jambanja.com
(With right hand think '2-1-2-3' and left hand fills in)
| BT T B TT 1+ 2 3 4+ |
| B BB B S | B BB BSSS |
CLAVA
| SSS SS 123 12 |
| B - - T | - - T - | - - B - | T - - - |
| S - - - | S - T - | S - - - | S - T - |
| T - T - | T - T - | T - T - | T - T - |
COUCOU
| S - TT - - S - | S - TT - - S - |
| S | B TT S B TT |
| B S B T | BS S B T |
| T - T - | T T - - | B - - - | B - - - |
| T T - B | T T B - | T T - B | T T B - |
| S - - S | S - T T |
FIRST BORN
| S S - S S S | B B B B |
| FL TT - - |FL TT - - FL TT FL TT FL TT FL TT - - |FL TT - - FL TT FL TT FL TT | FL TT - - |
| B TT B T | B TT S - |
| TT B | TT B B | TT B | TT S S |
| B TT B - | B TT B - |
| B B TT B | B B SS B |
| B TT B - | B TT B - |
FANGA
| CoCoPuff CoCoPuff one-trip-let two-trip-let |
| T T S T T S B B B B B B |
| CoCoPuff CoCoPuff |
| T T S T T S BB BB T T |
| CoCoPuff CoCoPuff one-trip-let two-trip-let |
| T T S T T S B B B B B B |
| CoCoPuff CoCoPuff |
| T T S T T S BB S |
| B - B B | - B T T | B - - B | B - T T |
| B - - T | - T T - | B - B - | T T - - |
| S S - - | T T - - | T T - - | T T - - |
| B - - B | B - T T | B - - S | B - T T |
(click here to listen to parts 1 and 2 parts of Fanga)
KAKILAMBIA 6/8
| T T T T - T - T T - T T |
| S - S T T S - - |
| B - T T S - | B S - S T - |
| S - T S - S T S |
LAMBA
| B S BB S | B S T TT |
| TTTTB- -- 1+2+3+ 4+ |
MAKARU
| S-S- | S--- | S-S- | S--- |
| SS-S | SS-S | S--- (x2 ) SS-S | SS-S | SS-S | SS-S | SS-S| SS-S | S--- |
| B - S TT | B S - TT |
| B - - T | B - T - | B S S - | B - T - |
| T T - - | B - - - | B - - - | T - T - | T T - - | B - - - | B - - - | B - - - |
| - - - - GDG - - - - GDG - - - -GDG - - - - GDG |
| GDG GDG GDG GDG | |
| S S S BB | BB TT BB S | BB TT BB - |
| 1 2 3 +4 +1 +2 +3 4 | +1 +2 +3 4 |
SHIKO
| FL - T T | - T - T | T - T - | T - - - FL S S S | - S - S | S - S - | S- - - |
| S - S - | B - B - | S - S - | B B - - |
| B - - - | B - T - | B - - - | B - T - |
| B - S S | B - S S | B - S S | T T - - |
| T - T T | - T T - | S - S S | - S S - |
SOLI 6/8
| B S TTT T B |
| S T S S T S |
| B B TT TT |
ANOTHER 6/8
| B S S B TTTT |
| B B SB S S S |
SONSERNET
| SSS SSS SSS S S S BBB T |
| BBB S B S |
| S T T (S is muted by left hand) |
YANKADY
| TTS TTS TTS TTTT TT |
| FL T T TT | T T S S 1 2 3 4+ | 1 2 3 4 |
| BB TT BB S | BB TT BB -- 1+ 2+ 3+ 4 | 1+ 2+ 3+ 4+ |
| B SS B TT | B S B TT 1 2+ 3 +4 | 1 2 3 +4 |
| T S S T | T S S B |
| S S S - | FL FL S S 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 |
| B SS SS S | B S S SS 1 2+ 3+ 4 | 1 2 3 +4 |
MISC
| B TT TT B T 1 2+ 3+ 4 T r rl rl r r |
| B TT B T TS 1 2+ 3 4 +5 |
| T -S S- T- SS- 1 +2 +3 +4 +5+ |
| l l r l r r Heel Toe Pa Toe Pa Pa Heel Toe Pa Toe Pa Pa Pa (one note off) |
| S - S T | B - B S | T T S T | T S T T r r l r r l r l r l r l r l |