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Alternative Culture Magazine

Rhythm of the Week...

Free Online Drum Rhythm Lessons

Free video lessons (on YouTube) for:
* beginning djembe players | * dunun players

Introduction to African drum rhythm notation

free music education resources and drumming tips for beginning or advanced drummers...or anyone just wanting to groove with world beat and alternative music

Roots Jam - hand drum rhythms & lesson books

drum rhythm books

Drumming Music Notation - Hand Drum Lessons with Easy Rhythm Instruction for African Drumming Music, Latin Drumming and other Hand Drum Rhythms.

Free! Friday Night Jam

African drumming blog


How to read the notation

This Week's Lesson:

an original composition for junjun, bell, djembe
by Nowick Gray...

 Tonasket Road
 _______ _______ _______ _______ 
 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Jun Jun
 L   L   H     H   L   H     H   :| repeat and/or go 
 to next line; or play three and go to next on fourth
 L   H     L   L   H     H   H 
 L       H   L   L       H   L   :| bell
 L       H   L   H   H   L   L 
 _______ _______ _______ _______
 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 L   L       H       L   H H       JJ or bell
                     
 Tonasket Road Funk
 _______ _______ _______ _______
 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 g   T       g       g   D G      fast tempo

      mp3 drum samples Click for sound: RealAudio or Wave

Tonasket Road Chorus

with or without--
the universe doesn't care,
nature doesn't mind, either way

so be what you'll be
do what you will
let the chips fall where they may

you can pick up the pieces later
sing or shout--
for now, let the waters run free

Go to Rhythms of the Week, Page One

Go to Rhythms of the Week, Lesson Two

Go to Rhythms of the Week, Lesson Three

Go to Rhythms of the Week, Lesson Four

Go to Rhythms of the Week, Lesson Five

Go to Rhythms of the Week, Lesson Six

Go to Rhythms of the Week, Lesson Seven

Go to Rhythms of the Week, Lesson Nine

Go to my latest African Drumming Blog


See lots more rhythm notation and drum lessons in my Roots Jam rhythm books, with optional audio files (CD or mp3). And read my latest tips and insights about drumming: African Drumming Blog. Learn from my early learning experiences as a hand drummer, with the free ebook, Friday Night Jam.

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