Drumdojo

The following rhythms are presented for a right handed player , they should be reversed for a left handed player.

The thin thilli cane is held in the right hand, it strikes the high pitched end of the drum. The thick bent cane is held in the left hand and strikes the bass end of the drum.

There are a number of strokes which are either single hits or combination hits. The method of learning uses 'bols' (words) and each word represents one of those strokes. Players use these to teach, learn and pass on information. Johnny uses them to tell the players what is coming next, he can even teach over the phone, It is fascinating to experience.

• Na/Ta - Treble side only
• Ge/Gi - Bass side only
• Dha - Bass and treble sides together
• Ke - Bass side struck and stick left on the head to mute
• Kin/Kran - muted bass stroke with open treble stroke

It is most common to hear the rhythms as a 'shuffle' feel almost like a dotted eighth, the rhythms are actually regarded as straight and the 'shuffle' is merely an slight advance of every second beat. For the purposes of this introduction, I'd advise treating the rhythms as a shuffle to get the feel of the flow of the music .

The base rhythm is known as the Chaal, most rhythms use this or variations thereof as the foundation It translates excellently to djembe (and bodhran :)

Dha Na..Na .Na .Na .Dha Dha.Na

B ..L...L.. L ..L.. B.. B.. L
1 ..2 ..3 ..4 ..5 ..6 ..7 ..8

The underlying feel is like a light shuffle, if you play it like a dotted eighth you're close enough, it is bit square [?] when played straight.

Here's what it feels like, note how the beats are grouped, it skips along when played slowly but rocks at 200+ bpm on the dhol! :))

.. ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
B o o o o B B o B o o o o B B o

You can hear it on Johnny Kalsi's New Year's day set for BBC Radio,

There's a different version which realy rocks as a base rhythm, you will hear this in The Dhol Foundation set too

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
o...o o o.. o o o . o o o . o o
B ........B B ..B ........B B

Articles by this Author:

Kids Drum Sets2

Ok so we can all identify this one as a toy, right? Please let a drummer set the drums up for the photograph next time. I've left the price in this one. How possibly could this be made and...

Read More >>

About Frame Drums

Frame Drums Paul Marshall Introduction Framedrums are perhaps one of the earliest forms of drum made by many civilizations across the world, in essence they are a piece of animal skin stretched over...

Read More >>

Sound Defined

So, what is sound? If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it still make a sound?. No. Until there is an ear there is no sound! Sound only qualifies as such...

Read More >>

reheading a bendir

Replacing the head on a framedrum Cooperman 'Randy Crafton' Bendir In 2003 I purchased a beautiful bendir from my good friend and fellow FDG contributor Bill Smith. It was one of my favourite drums...

Read More >>