African Drumming

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BACKGROUND:

Africa is a huge continent (orange on the picture above), with a rich and diverse history. It has produced many strong musical traditions, both instrumental and vocal.

We are going to focus on the drumming traditions of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Music is performed everyday in some African cultures, at occasions ranging from celebrations and funerals to more mundane, everyday tasks.

The sounds and rhythms of African drumming are like a language that carries across both time and place, communicating messages from one person or tribe to another.

AFRICAN INSTRUMENTS

DJEMBE click here to watch a video on how to play the djembe correctly and what sounds you can produce when playing it.

Drum sound	Hand	Description
Gun (G)	Right	Long, low pitched bass sound made by hitting the middle of the drum.
Dun (D)	Left
go (g)	Right	A medium pitched tone made by striking the drum halfway between the edge and the centre
do (d)	Left
Pa (P)	Right	A short, high pitched slap made by striking the edge of the drum
Ta (T)	Left

�Bells and rattles are used in African drumming to �cut-through� the sound of several drums.

�A popular one is the Agogo, which can create two different pitches when struck (low and high)

Dunun (or dundun): Larger, double-headed drum played with a stick. Often a bell-like instrument is attached to it. Can produce an open sound and a mute sound.

RHYTHMIC DEVICES

�2 rhythmic devices that you need to remember with African Drumming:

�Polyrhythm = when two or more rhythms are combined and played together. Makes the piece sound complex.

�Cross-rhythm (pictured below) = is a complex type of polyrhythm, which uses different �conflicting� rhythms. Often doesn�t follow the same pulse

OTHER MUSICAL FEATURES OF AFRICAN DRUMMING:

Musical element

Details

Melody

�Call and response singing

�Majority of musicians play percussion

�Melodies (if featured) are often short

Harmony/Tonality

�Percussion based � little harmony or tonality
If vocals feature then they either sing the same melody (in unison) or sometimes harmonise in 3rds.

Structure

�Master drummer controls the structure

�Instruments start and stop, as instructed

�Short improvisations are developed around set patterns

�There may be a central vocal melody that keeps returning

Instruments (and timbre)

�Several different drums are used

�Several different sounds can be produced on a single instrument

�Bells, rattles and shakers are used

Texture

�The music consists of several layers of drums and other percussion instruments

�Drums combine in complex layers � polyrhythms

Tempo, metre and rhythm

�There is a strong pulse, usually divided into groups of three or four

�Rhythms are �cyclic� � short repeated patterns

�Polyrhythms

�Triplet rhythms

�Cross rhythms

�Call and response/ call and copy

Other things to consider

�Music (and dancing) performed at weddings, funerals, festivals etc.

�No sheet music � taught by listening, copying and remembering

Musical element	Details
Melody	�Call and response singing �Majority of musicians play percussion �Melodies (if featured) are often short
Harmony/Tonality	�Percussion based � little harmony or tonality If vocals feature then they either sing the same melody (in unison) or sometimes harmonise in 3rds.
Structure	�Master drummer controls the structure �Instruments start and stop, as instructed �Short improvisations are developed around set patterns �There may be a central vocal melody that keeps returning
Instruments (and timbre)	�Several different drums are used �Several different sounds can be produced on a single instrument �Bells, rattles and shakers are used
Texture	�The music consists of several layers of drums and other percussion instruments �Drums combine in complex layers � polyrhythms
Tempo, metre and rhythm	�There is a strong pulse, usually divided into groups of three or four �Rhythms are �cyclic� � short repeated patterns �Polyrhythms �Triplet rhythms �Cross rhythms �Call and response/ call and copy
Other things to consider	�Music (and dancing) performed at weddings, funerals, festivals etc. �No sheet music � taught by listening, copying and remembering