Complete_Djembe_Rhythm_Book_Sample.pdf

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The Complete Djembe Rhythm Book Copyright 2013 Daniel Peralta All rights reserved. No portion of this file may be reproduced, copied, transmitted or stored in any mechanical or electronic form without the written permission of the publisher. Published by : DRUMRHYTHMLESSON.COM This PDF E-book may be ordered trough instand download at: Website : www.drumrhythmlesson.com email : [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Book cover photo, design and layout by Daniel Peralta


THE DJEMBE RHYTHMS 1) Aconcon

2) Agaya

3) Akiwowo 4) Ashiko

5) Balakulandjan

6) Denadon 7) Djagbe

8) Djaa

9) Djan 10) Djole

11) Diba

12) Doudoumba 13) Fanga

14) Fankani

15) Garangedon 16) Ibo

17) Kakilambe 18) Kassa

19) Konden

20) Kotoba 21) Kpanlogo

22) Koukou

23) Kundabigoya 24) Liberte

25) Marakadon

26) Mamaya 27) Mandjiani

28) Moribayasa

29) Ngoron 30) Odun

31) Saba

32) Senefoli 33) Shiko

34) Soli Lent

35) Soli Rapide 36) Sofa

37) Sorsornet 38) Sunun

39) Suli

40) Tiriba 41) Timini

42) Toro

43) Wango 44) Woima

45) Yamana


Introduction: About This Book The COMPLETE DJEMBE RHYTHM BOOK presents a huge collection of traditional West African djembe rhythms. The dundun rhythms are also presented. This book can be used for self practice and study, rhythm reference and repertoire ideas for teaching and drum circles. There is a chapter on djembe playing technique and how to play the djembe tones. There is also a chapter on how to understand the rhythm notation. What is the key objective of this book? If you have ever wanted a complete djembe rhythm database this book is for you. The idea behind this book was to gather most traditional West African djembe rhythms in one book for playing reference. The book presents the traditional rhythmic structure, notation and hand posture. Who should use this book? This book is for djembe players, djembe students, percussion performers, djembe teachers, drum circle participants and facilitators. IMPORTANT! The notation in this book serves as a reference for practice and study. If you are not familiar with time signatures and reading notes you should consult a djembe teacher for playing the right rhythmic feel of each rhythm. The author, Daniel Peralta, may be contacted for drum and percussion lessons and consultation trough his interactive educational website: www.drumrhythmlesson.com. Email : [email protected]


THE DJEMBE The djembe is originally played in West Africa. It has become a very popular percussion instrument in most countries and used in a broad range of music styles. The djembe was popularized by African percussion and dance groups that travelled the world showing their cultural dances and rhythms during the 20th century. It was later adopted by other musicians and used as a hand drum in modern music, percussion ensembles and drum circles.

How to play the djembe? The djembe is played with both hands hitting on the skin of the drum. You can produce many different sounds but the basic playing technique differentiates 3 main sounds : - The open tone (Symbol : O) -The Bass tone (Symbol : B) - The Slap tone (Symbol : S). The slap is an accent or high pitch tone that will require practice to master. Traditional djembe rhythms are made up of the variation of these 3 sounds. Many traditional African master drummers play variants of these tones that will require other advanced playing techniques. For example See ADAMA DRAME master drummer. How to play the tones on the Djembe Open tone (Symbol : O)

The open tone is played with a sightly open hand by hitting the skin of the djembe drum. Let the fingers rebound naturally and do not let the fingers pressed on the drum. (Sounds like TUP!).

Bass tone (Symbol : B)

The bass tone is played by hitting the center of the skin with the plam of the hand. Do not let the hand rest on the drum, instead let it rebound naturally. (Sounds like GUNG!).

Slap tone (Symbol : S)

The slap tone is played similar to the open tone by hitting the skin with the tip of fingers using a whip like motion with the hand. The sound must be a crisp accent high pitch tone (Sounds like TA!).


THE DUNDUN The djembe is played together with 3 dundun drums, a set of different sizes of drums. Kenkeni: The smallest one Sangban: the medium one Dununba: the largest one The drums produce 2 tones: - Open tone / struck on the skin of the drum (Symbol : O) - Mute tone / Struck on the skin but press against the drum skin (Symbol : M) The playing of these 3 dundun drums creates accompaniement rhythms for the djembe.

Aditionally each drum has a bell, the Kenken, that is played with a metal stick or other metal object (screw driver). The bell produces 1 tone: - Kenken Bell tone / (Symbol : X)

The Kenken Bell

Playing position for Dundun and Bell

Play drum with right hand Play bell with left hand

Dundun Adaptation on drumset (by 1 person) An adaptation is by playing the dundun on a normal drumset. You may use 3 drumset toms instead of the traditional dunduns. It may be played by 1 person who plays the 3 drums and 1 bell. Put each drumset tom on a stand and add a normal cowbell on a stand as well.


How to read the notation? The notes are presented in different time signatures. Rhythms in 4/4 (eigh notes, sixtheenth notes). In a 4 time feel I) 4/4 time in Eigh notes Count as: One and - Two and Three and - Four and Written as: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + II) 4/4 time in Sixtheenth notes Count as: One e and A - Two e and A Three e and A - Four e and A Written as: 1 e + A 2 e + A 3 e + A 4 e + A 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a II) Rhythms in 6/8 or 12/8. In a 3 time feel - 6/8 time in eight notes Count as: One Ta Ta - Two Ta Ta - Three Ta Ta Written as: 1 + + 2 + + 3 + + 1 + + 2 + + 3 + + Rhythms in 12/8. In a 3 time feel - 12/8 time in sixtheenth notes Count as: One and - Two and - Three and , One and - Two and - Three and, etc. Written as: 1 + 2 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 3 + , etc 1 + 2 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 3 + Djembe (playing and reading the notation) 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a B O O S R R L R The 1st row shows how the time is counted verbally as 1, e, and, a and so forth. The 2nd row shows the tone to be played on the djembe. B means bass, O means open tone and S means slap. The tone is in its respective boxes which indicates were to play the tone in relation to the time being counted. The 3th row shows the letter R or L, which tells you which hand you should be playing for that respective sound. R = Right hand


DunDun (playing and reading the notation) SANGBAN 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

X X X X X X X X X X M O M M O M The 1st row, similar to the djembe notation, shows you how to count the time structure. The 2nd row represents the hit on the kenken, the X symbol. The 3th row represents the hit on the drum, the O symbol means open tone, the M symbol means muted tone.


1) ACONCON Region : West Africa Significance : Celebrating Harvest INTRO CALL 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a oO O O O O O O O O RL R L R L R L R L DJEMBE 1 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a S S S S O O S S S S O O R L R L R L R L R L R L DJEMBE 2

1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a S S O S S O S S O S S O R L R L R L R L R L R L DUNDUN / BELL 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a X X X X X X O O O O O O Play bell and low dundun drum


About the author Percussionist and audio engineer, Daniel has studied music, audio recording, piano, drumset, djembe, conga, bongo, timbales, udu. He has 15 years experience in teaching drum classes and doing percussion workshops. Daniel started out in South America and later Holland, first playing drumset and later taking formal drum lessons and percussion workshops from many well know percussionists worldwide. He also studied classical percussion techniques and percussion reading for many years. Additionally he actively keeps studying as an auto didact with books and video from other drummers, like: Babatunde Olatunji, Kalani, Ed Uribe, Arthur Hull, Poncho Sanchez, David Garibaldi, to name only a few

In the beginnings of 2000, Daniel founded drumrhythmlesson.com. The site initially started out as drumrhythms.com and later underwent a domain name change to drumrhythmlesson.com. The idea behind drumrhythmlesson.com is to teach percussion instruments trough a modern interactive distance approach. Daniel has produced a series of 20 educational drumvideos for percussion instruments like: drumset, djembe, conga, bongo, timbales, shekere, guira. Today, Daniel continues to mentor through his classes, workshops, performances and recordings. He also works as a music producer and audio engineer in his recording studio specializing in professional recording services (visit: www.recordingstudioonline.com) For more information about the author and his work, please visit : www.drumrhythmlesson.com email : [email protected] [email protected]

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Complete_Djembe_Rhythm_Book_Sample.pdf