Kesslari's advanced Doumbek Rhythms

A word of Caution

Playing any of these rhythms at the typical "Drum Jam" will create havoc and chaos. Most American drummers, even some very good ones, have very little experience (if any) playing in odd time signatures. Playing 11/8 will cause musical turbulence and confusion. It will NOT get you acknowledged as a Drum God. 'Nuff said.If you want to skip the general "Techniques and Philosophy of playing in Odd Time Signatures", go directly to The Rhythms. However, if you don't have much experience in playing these things, you may want to read on.
 
 

Feeling the Pulse - 2's and 3's

Any odd meter can be broken down into groups of 2 and 3. (So can even meters like 4/4). An easy way to approach the 9/8 Karshlama is "2-2-2-3". When you play it, count it to yourself - 1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2-3. It'll all come together.

Another Approach to Feeling the Pulse - put it in your body and Groove!
or "More musings from a sleep deprived but happy drummer".

In another approach to the more interesting time signatures, it is important to note that many of these rhythms are folkdance rhythms. This is another key to understanding them and being able to play them. I used to joke that the Turks must have one leg shorter than the other to have come up with so many dances in 7/8 and 9/8. The truth of the matter is that by feeling these rhythms in your body, you will have a much easier time playing them on the drum.

 Most of the folk dancers I have known don't think of music in terms of twos and threes. They think in terms of "slow" and "quick" steps, thus a 7/8 dance is described as "slow, quick-quick, slow, quick-quick". Using this system, I 've seen little old ladies who couldn't tell you what a 7/8, or even a shuffle is, learn difficult dances in bizarre meters quickly and easily, and positively nail them!

So go to town!

 

The Rhythms

Please remember - there are many, many variations in fill and accent. These are only a starting point.
 
 

Karshlama (Greek - Karsilamas). (9/8)

Probably the most commonly played "Odd Meter" in the Doumbek world. 2-2-2-3.
Check out a Real Audio sample of a Gypsy Karshlama variation from the Farabi album, Taverna.
2 2 2 3
D-tkT-tkD-tkTTT
1-2-3-4-5-6-789
Gypsy variation
D-tkD-tkT-tktkTT
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-89
 
 

Laz (or ?) (7/8)

A great 7/8, generally played pretty fast (through to blazingly fast).
2 2 3
DkDkT-k
1234567
 
 

Devra Hindi (7/8)

Another 7/8, different feel, usually a bit slower.
3 2 2
D-kDkT-
1234567
 
 

Curcuna (pronounced "Jurjuna") (10/8)

A really great 10/8, popular in Armenian music. It should swing like a 6/8.
3 2 2 3
D-kTkD-T-k
12345678910
 
 

Kopanitsa (11/8)

A Bulgarian 11/8, it's almost like taking the two 7/8's above and looping them through each other. Usually played really fast (it's a Bulgarian thang).
2 2 3 2 2
DkDkT-kDkT -
1234567891011
 
 

Finally, just for fun, Zenkov (21/8)

A wild Russian dance rhythm, this can be thought of as a 9/8, a 7/8, and a 5/8 all strung together
2 2 2 3 2 2 3 2 3
D-T-D-T-kD k D k T - k D - T - k
123456789101112131415161718192021
 

 Did I mention that "The Doumbek Video" is now available? Simply the best instructional video for the Doumbek you can get. Check it out!
Other good Doumbek sites include the ever popular Quick and Dirty Guide to Doumbek Rhythms, the Dumbek Rhythms Web Page and Nott's Doumbek Rhythms.
Other good links to be found on my links page.

You can contact me at kesslari@doumbek.com.
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Page created by Kesslari.
Changes last made on: October 2002