How to get started in African drumming

A characteristic element of African music is the frenetic technique exhibited in the drumming music of many tribes scattered over Africa. Drum playing is both art and communication. With the popularity of African rhythms spreading to other parts of the world, percussion is attracting the interest of young people everywhere. This article will help you to find out how to play African drums.

African drum rhythms

When you learn African drumming, you will be in a group of two or more drummers playing together without allowing the separate drumming patterns to become synchronised. Rhythm patterns do not necessarily continue all the way through a song. The chief drummer decides when the rhythm changes. Each player has his own role in the group. In African rhythms, the complexity perceived by the listener is the result of each drummer playing his part as he listens to his fellow drummers.

The djembe

Well-known in Western countries Of all the drums used in Africa, the most well-known in Western countries is the djembe, also called the jembe, jymbe or yembe. The djembe is a piece of wood carved into a shape resembling an hourglass. The history of drums like the djembe goes back to the twelfth century, the time of the Mali Empire. The drum is hollow and the skin is stretched across the top. Technique To play the djembe, the drummer's hands must be placed correctly to allow for ease of playing with greatest effect. Striking the centre of the drum gives a bass note and the outside edge of the drum gives a ringing tone. The djembe is tuned by pulling the ropes holding the skin, which enables a network of metal rings pulls the skin tight. In Africa, the student drummer learns by accompanying his master on ceremonial occasions. In Western countries, lessons for individual students or small groups are conducted by master djembe players.

How to learn African drumming

Learn how to make the basic sounds To begin your career as a drummer, you will need to learn how to make the basic sounds by slapping different areas of the drum with your bare hands. There are also basic rhythms that all African drumming students must learn. Although the rhythms can be written using Western time signatures, the understanding and ability to play the rhythms must be given directly by a teacher. There are places in England where African drummers are giving lessons in djembe drumming to students. Some teachers have set up schools or local halls to give lessons, others travel to schools or adult education centres to give short courses or introductory lessons. You can learn more about percussion music, African music and the Djembe at Alternativeculture.com.