Rhythms

The Meaning of Rhythms

When you start playing the djembe, you always want to learn new rhythms.
In the beginning, you are already happy if you can play along with someone else who is playing (one accompaniment of) a rhythm. The next step is maybe to remember the other accompaniment(s) that go with it. Then, you will want to remember the name of the rhythm, so that you can say to friends "let's play Soko"!
Later still, you will try to remember the dundun-parts of it. Sometimes, you will learn the song, and maybe you will even learn the dance. Then, if you also know the background of the rhythm (which ethnic group plays it, and on what occasion), you start having an idea of what the rhythm is all about.

Check out the "Cultural Context for Djembe Rhythms " list, where you can find background info on a lot of rhythms.

Books with Rhythm Notation

Mamady Keïta - A Life for the Djembe

Mamady Keïta - A Life for the Djembe
There's a lot of info on all things djembe related in Mamady's book.
It looks a bit ugly and is not very pleasant to read with the three languages presented in columns (German, English and French), but it is great reading for anyone interested in West-African Percussion.
Apart from that, there are also 60 rhythms explained in it, with background and the notations for the djembe and dundun parts. And on top of that, 21 rhythms are explained on the accompanying CD, where each dundun part and each djembe part are played separately and then together. Great stuff! A pity though that there is no Dutch translation.
On sale from Amazon, or here, or here. (ISBN 3-927940-61-5)

The 2nd edition contained some important corrections, so for the early buyers, I have put a text file here that lists them.

Famoudou Konaté - Rhythms and Songs from Guinea

Famoudou Konaté - Rhythms and Songs from Guinea
Another great instructional book, though very different in set-up, is Famoudou Konaté's book.
It contains only 8 rhythms (Lolo - Bala Kulandyan - Somba Koro (Dyidanba) - N'Yerebi - Baga Gine - Kene Foli - Kuku - Ke Bendo), but these come with song texts and standard music notation for the song, the djembe and dundun parts and some solo parts. There's also some info on methodology for teachers, a bit too much "German thoroughness" if you ask me.
The accompanying CD (to be ordered separately!) is absolutely terrific : the eight rhythms are performed by a complete ensemble, but making sure that each part is clearly audible. As a bonus, the beautiful song 'Malin Na Kanin' was added, sung by a 9 year old girl accompanied by Famoudou on the water drum.
On sale here, or here. (ISBN 3-89760-150-8)

Serge Blanc - African Percussion - The Djembe

Serge Blanc - African Percussion - The Djembe
Serge Blanc's book (available in English and French) contains a lot of valuable information as well. It starts off with some background information on Mandingo society, traditional instruments and djembe playing technique. It continues to give 14 exercises to practice polyrythm. These exercises, as well as the rhythms, are transcribed in standard music notation.
22 traditional rhythms are included (no solo's, only accompaniments and duns), and completed with 2 breaks from the Zaouli mask dance and a long Unison Drum Signal.
The book ends with advice on assembling a djembe and a dundun, and lists some famous musicians and reference recordings. The book comes with a CD containing recordings of all the exercises and rhythms.
Overall, this is quality stuff, written with respect for the original sources and allegedly checked by the masters themselves.
Here you can read a long review on the book.
On sale here, or here, or here (look in the instrument database under Djembe Method).

Problem : now you have some transcribed rhythms, but you can't read western music notation. I found myself in the same situation, but it is really not so difficult to translate this stuff into whatever other notation you feel comfortable with (learning to play at sight is too difficult for me too). For some general background on what all these strange notes and lines mean, take a look on this site. This and the accompanying CDs should put you on the right track.

Rhythm Notation on the Web

But let's cut the crap : you want to learn new rhythms, and lots of them. Here are the best sites with rhythm notations on the web :

Teachers

I deliberately don't go into playing technique here. You can read anywhere that there are three basic tones to play, but in my opinion you can never learn them from a book, website or even a video. Besides: the djembe is not (only) a solo instrument! If you are a beginner, do yourself a favour and get a good teacher. You will save a lot of time and trouble, and meet buddies to practice and play with.

If you have already been initiated, it is always a good idea to compare rhythms from different sites, because mistakes are human and studying a rhythm with a typo in it is rather stupid. And in general: don't start discussions with your teacher on why his version of a particular rhythm is different from the one you found in a book/on the net! If you have a reliable teacher, he is always right.

How do you recognize a good teacher? According to Mamady you should ask three questions and get decent answers :

  1. What is the name of this rhythm?
  2. Which ethnic group plays it?
  3. On what occasion is it played?