DJEMBESOLO PATTERNS contains a large amount of material, and many students eventually ask the same question: where should I start and how should I organize my progression? Why a roadmap If you are working through DJEMBESOLO PATTERNS, you may at some point encounter the same situation many students have mentioned to me. The course contains … Read more
Shifting is a structural principle in djembe solo playing that allows a simple pattern to generate tension by moving across the cycle in a different metric than the groove. Shifting in Djembe is not about speed. It is not about density. It is not about complex rhythmic vocabulary. It is about repeating a simple pattern … Read more
Kakilambe rhythm is a Guinean djembe rhythm built on a 12/8 cycle (a four-beat measure with a ternary subdivision: three pulses per beat, twelve pulses per measure). In this video, I show you a simple arrangement for three djembes. The structure is clear and accessible. You do not need advanced technique to play it. What … Read more
1990s djembe craftsmanship marked the golden age of traditional djembe making. Before the 1990s, djembe craftsmanship followed standards established by African drummers. The shell had to resonate well while remaining light enough not to exhaust the player carrying it. Pre-stretched ropes were introduced by Westerners, a double-edged improvement in my opinion, along with the “step” … Read more
Your slap is what people will recognize. The way you make it sound will be one of the first things people notice. You may also draw inspiration from other musicians and friends. In solo situations, the slap needs to be bright, clear, and powerful enough to cut through the sound of an entire percussion ensemble. … Read more